InstaStudy

Entering the Kingdom: Who Was the First Man Water Baptized?

This study explores the biblical requirements for entering the Kingdom of God through water baptism, examining the transition from old covenant practices to the New Testament pattern established by the apostles, and identifying the first individuals to experience this new birth.

1. The Foundation of New Birth and Kingdom Entry

1.1 The Necessity of Being Born Again

Verses: John 3:3-5
  • Jesus taught that one must be 'born again' to see and enter the Kingdom of God.
  • This new birth involves both water and the Spirit.
  • It signifies a spiritual transformation and a new beginning in Christ.

1.2 The Role of Water Baptism in New Birth

Verses: Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12
  • Water baptism is commanded for the remission of sins.
  • It symbolizes burial with Christ and resurrection to new life.
  • It is an essential step in obedience to the gospel for salvation.

1.3 The Promise and Reception of the Holy Spirit

Verses: Acts 2:38-39; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 10:44-48
  • The gift of the Holy Spirit is promised to all who obey.
  • The Spirit empowers believers and seals them for God.
  • It is the second part of the new birth experience, following water baptism.

2. The Transition to New Covenant Baptism

2.1 John's Baptism: A Preparation

Verses: Matthew 3:11; Acts 19:1-5
  • John's baptism was for repentance, preparing the way for Christ.
  • It did not confer the Holy Spirit or remit sins in the New Covenant sense.
  • Those baptized by John later needed to be baptized in Jesus' name.

2.2 Jesus' Baptism: An Example and Fulfillment

Verses: Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22
  • Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, not for repentance.
  • His baptism inaugurated His public ministry.
  • It foreshadowed the New Covenant baptism He would institute.

2.3 The Great Commission and Apostolic Command

Verses: Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47
  • Jesus commanded His disciples to preach the gospel and baptize.
  • The apostles understood this command to be fulfilled by baptizing in Jesus' name.
  • Baptism is a universal requirement for believers.

3. The Day of Pentecost: The Birth of the Church

3.1 The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Verses: Acts 2:1-4; Acts 2:16-18
  • The Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples as promised.
  • This event marked the beginning of the New Covenant church.
  • It fulfilled prophecy concerning the latter days.

3.2 Peter's Sermon and the Call to Repentance

Verses: Acts 2:22-24; Acts 2:36
  • Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus as both Lord and Christ.
  • He convicted the hearers of their responsibility in Jesus' crucifixion.
  • The message led to deep conviction and a question about what to do.

3.3 The Apostolic Response and the First Converts

Verses: Acts 2:37-41
  • Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
  • They were also promised the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  • About three thousand souls were added to the church that day.

4. The Consistent Apostolic Pattern of Baptism

4.1 Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ

Verses: Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 10:48; Acts 19:5
  • The apostles consistently baptized converts in the name of Jesus Christ.
  • This name represents the full authority and identity of God.
  • It signifies identification with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

4.2 The Samaritans and Philip's Ministry

Verses: Acts 8:12; Acts 8:14-17
  • Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans, and they were baptized.
  • Peter and John later came to lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit.
  • This shows the two-fold experience of water and Spirit.

4.3 Cornelius and the Gentile Outpouring

Verses: Acts 10:44-48
  • The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius' household even before water baptism.
  • Peter then commanded them to be water baptized in the name of the Lord.
  • This demonstrated that salvation was for Gentiles too, following the same pattern.

4.4 Paul's Conversion and Baptism

Verses: Acts 9:17-18; Acts 22:16
  • Ananias was sent to Paul to restore his sight and for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • Paul was immediately water baptized.
  • His baptism was for the washing away of sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

5. Identifying the First Man Baptized into the Kingdom

5.1 The Collective Conversion on Pentecost

Verses: Acts 2:41
  • On the Day of Pentecost, about three thousand souls were baptized.
  • These individuals were the first to respond to the New Covenant message.
  • They were collectively the first to enter the Kingdom through water and Spirit.

5.2 The Significance of 'About Three Thousand Souls'

Verses: Acts 2:41
  • The Bible does not single out one specific 'first man' from this group.
  • The emphasis is on the multitude who obeyed the gospel.
  • Each individual among them became the 'first' in their personal experience of new birth.

5.3 The Ethiopian Eunuch: A Prominent Individual Example

Verses: Acts 8:26-39
  • The Ethiopian eunuch was a significant individual convert after Pentecost.
  • He heard the gospel from Philip, believed, and was immediately baptized.
  • While not the absolute first, he is a clear example of an individual entering the Kingdom through baptism.