Peter Brandon emphasizes the significance of baptism, explaining its purpose, the individuals eligible for baptism, and the method of baptism. He highlights that baptism is a command from Jesus, symbolizing the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Brandon stresses that baptism is for those who believe and have received the Holy Spirit, and he advocates for immersion as the proper method, illustrating its meaning through scripture. He concludes by affirming that baptism signifies a believer's new life in Christ, having died to sin and being reborn into a new family.

I used to have a tent in Britain and I used to tour with this tent places where the gospel was not being preached. And right at the end when people came to know the Lord Jesus I would baptise them. But quite frankly some of the people in Britain had never seen a baptism. Therefore we had to explain very carefully to them what this means. And that's what I want to do just for a few minutes. So I'm going to speak on the subject why we baptise, who we baptise, how we baptise and then the meaning. And I think that will take me just under 10 minutes. So we're going to read immediately from Matthew 28. If you haven't got a bible don't worry I'll try and read as correctly as I can. These are the last words of the Lord Jesus to his disciples and he says in verse 18. And Jesus came and spoke unto them saying all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach your nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you all the way even unto the end. Now you will notice he tells us to make disciples of all nations by baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Now why in the name of the Trinity? It was the Father that gave his Son to be the Saviour of the world. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life. It was the Son that came into this world and lay down his life so that our sins might be forgiven. And when he died upon the cross according to the word of God he died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and that he rose again the third day. Thirdly when the Lord Jesus went back to heaven he sent the Holy Spirit. Therefore when a person becomes a Christian a two-fold action that is completely the work of the Lord Jesus takes place in his life. Because the Lord Jesus died and shed his blood that gives the Christian a complete and absolute forgiveness. And that forgiveness is so complete that the Holy Spirit can come and live in your life so that you are born anew. And therefore when a person is baptised he is baptised in the name of the Father who gave the Son, the Son who lay down his life for our sins and the Holy Spirit that comes into our lives to bring regeneration. That means to be born anew. And really that's the main reason. Now why I am so essential on baptism is this. I long constantly to have the presence of the Lord when I'm preaching. Right at the beginning of the gospel they gave the Lord Jesus a name Emmanuel God with us. But he says now if you carry out all these instructions remember lo I am with you. And that I am means God with us, God for us. And I want God with me. And that is why I constantly teach the great truth of baptism. Because without his help I must say this I am totally useless. Now who we baptise? If you have a bible turn to Acts 8. If you haven't it doesn't matter. I'll try and read it as clearly as I can. Acts chapter 8 and we'll read from verse 12. Hundreds of Samaritans had trusted the Lord Jesus through the preaching of Philip. And then the writer, that's Luke, made this wonderful statement. But when they believed Philip's preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God. Notice when they had believed, so they were believers, those things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. They were baptised, now notice this, both men and women. So you can see those that should be baptised are men and women. And those that believe. Now that is fine. Again if we had time to go to another scripture perhaps we can. In Acts 10 we read this. This was the first time the gospel was preached to the Gentiles. And whilst Peter was preaching the Holy Ghost fell on all them that believe. And then Peter says this publicly. Verse 47. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we. And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then asked they him to tarry certain days. So can you see it's not only believers but those who have received the Holy Spirit. And all those who are true Christians have received the Holy Spirit. Now that's vital. Now how should we baptise? Now there are two ways in which people get baptised in the Christian church. For instance in some places they take water and sprinkle it over a candidate. If that be the case you only need a little water. But there are those who believe that they should be plunged into the water. Now they need much water. Now that's clear isn't it. Now if we turn to John 3 we shall see that the scripture makes it very clear concerning the mode in which we should baptise people. John 3 and it's verse 23. 23 and we read this. And John also was baptising in Enon near to Salem because there was much water there. And they came and were baptised. Isn't that clear. Then you will notice this that if we baptise by sprinkling we would go to the water, take the water out and pour it over the candidate wouldn't we. But if it's a matter of baptism by immersion it's a matter of going into the water and may I use the word and dip them and bring them up again. So then can you see it's not going to the water it's going into the water. Now if we read Acts 8 this clears the whole subject up. Acts 8 I read from verse 36 because this was the first time an African had become a Christian and this is what we read. As they went on their way they came unto a certain water and the eunuch he was the African the Ethiopian eunuch he said see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptised. You see they were going through a desert and he saw some water and so he asked to be baptised. And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest and he answered and said I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and so he was a clear intelligent believer. And he commanded the chariot to stand still and they both went down into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptised him he dipped him. Now isn't that clear and then we read this and when they were come up out of the water the spirit of the Lord caught away Philip and the eunuch saw him no more and he went on his way rejoicing. And our friends tonight will go home rejoicing in the Lord. Now what does it mean. Now tonight you will see a three fold action. You will see Dr Victor Wilson go into the water and he will ask them two or three definite questions to make sure they are believers. Then he will take them and very gently and reverently he will plunge them under the water and they will go right under and he will bring them up and you will see them coming up all soaking wet. Now whatever does this mean. In Romans 6 we see the meaning and with this I close. Just turn to it if you have a bible and you will see the beauty of it. Paul is writing and this is what he says. What shall we say then. Shall we continue in sin that breaks me about. Shall we go on sinning completely when God has forgiven us. God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein. Now notice it doesn't say that sin is dead but the Christian dies to a sinning life. And then he explains. Know ye not that as many as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into his death. Now what does the word baptise mean. It comes from a Greek word called baptizo and it is taken from the idea of a white garment being dipped into a purple dye and left there for 48 hours until every part of the white garment becomes identified with the dye. And when it's pulled out and dried if you pulled that garment to pieces you wouldn't find a speck of the original colour of the garment. It has been made one with the purple dye. Now when you become a Christian you are taken right out of the Adamic family that's the sinning family the family of this world by the death of Jesus. And you're put into an entirely new family that's the family of the Lord Jesus. And therefore now you have a new head. It's not Adam and behind that is the power of Satan as you know. But it's Christ. And when you become a Christian you are plunged into the water to say that I've died to the Adamic family. I've died to the sinning family. And then you go under the water to say that it's all been buried. And then you come up out of the water. To me this is wonderful. And to know that you're now linked with a man in the glory. And you belong to a new family completely. And therefore every day you tell your soul I have died to a sinning life. I'm alive to a holy life. And I'm going to. Now may I say this. I've seen sins smashing the lives of millions. I work a lot with young people on drugs. And sometimes early in the morning when I go through the city of London. I see hundreds of them. Can I use hackneyed expressions. Blowing their brains out with drugs. I've never seen Jesus spoil it up. Not once.