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Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; 1 of remission of sins; 2 and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life. 3

(1) Rom. 6:3–5; Col. 2:12; Gal. 3:27, (2) Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16, (3) Rom. 6:4

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Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance. 4

(4) Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36–37, 2:41, 8:12, 18:8

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The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 5

(5) Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 8:38

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Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance. 6

(6) Matt. 3:16; John 3:23