Baptism....what??

Acts 19:4-5 “Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Baptism is a subject that has inspired quite a bit of debate among believers. What is baptism? What is the purpose of baptism? Is baptism an essential? Is baptism connected with salvation? The list goes on and on. In this article, I will attempt to give a brief description of baptism as it is presented in the New Testament. Please approach this subject prayerfully as you consider the scriptural evidence.

Baptism has become a hotly contested topic in churches today mainly because of how it impacts the theology of various denominational views. Every view we hold to in faith must be in “harmony” or in sync with all of our other views. This is called Hermeneutics. The dominate denominational view of the day is referred to as a “Faith only” view. While this is, for the most part a very sound scriptural view point; the “faith only” outlook renders some areas of Christian practice non-coherent. (A “faith only” hermeneutic places the sovereignty of God as one of its highest pillars. Because of this, baptism is defined NOT based on scriptural evidence, but rather on fitting the “sovereignty” construct.)

For the purposes of this article, I will prove that the following statement is scripturally sustainable.

The Bible shows that the first century Church practiced water baptism for the remission of sins by the authority of Jesus Christ.

While the following points are by no means an exhaustive look into the topic, I believe they sufficiently defend this statement.

• Baptism by water is scripturally connected to salvation

1 Peter 3:21 “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

The language is quite specific. Here, Peter clearly states that we are saved at baptism through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know this is referring to water baptism because the verse clarifies that it is not a removal of filth, but an answer of a good conscience. This verse links salvation to water baptism through the resurrection of Christ. (Romans 6:4-5 details this for us)

Acts 8:38-39 “So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing”

This event begins in Acts 8:28 with the Ethiopian eunuch reading the prophet Isaiah. Acts 8:35 states that Philip preached Jesus to him beginning in that verse, and the next thing you see is the request of the Ethiopian Eunuch to be water baptized. Clearly, when you preach Jesus, you preach baptism.

• Water baptism by immersion is associated with salvation in connection to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Rom 6:4-5 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:”

Those that view water baptism in a less essential light will often view the many verses of scripture that advocate its importance as referring NOT to water baptism, but to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. While the baptism of the Holy Spirit is also a scriptural essential, we must not overlook Paul's teaching concerning immersion. Romans 6 clearly deals with water baptism and emphasizes that a persons surrender to baptism is their new beginning.

• Water Baptism is for those who believe.

Mark 16:16 “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”

Acts 8:36-37 “Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” 37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

While there are many different traditions associated with baptism, it must be recognized that baptism as seen in the New Testament is a believers baptism. In the words of Philip to the Ethiopian eunuch, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

• Water Baptism is for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Acts 22:16 is extremely telling in the significance of baptism. We have three accounts of Paul’s conversion in the book of Acts. Through these descriptions, we have a good description of Paul prior to his conversion, and the things that led him to Christ.

• Saul (Paul) met Jesus on the road to Damascus in his mission to apprehend Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem. (Acts 9:3-5, 22:6-8, 26:12-15)

• Saul (Paul) called Jesus Lord, asked what he should do and obeyed. (Acts 9:6-8, 22:10) Here we see Saul call Jesus Lord and repent.

• Saul fasted and prayed for three days. (Acts 9:9-11) This confirms the repentance seen on the Damascus road and the trust he had in his heart when he called Jesus Lord – he fasted and prayed and God heard him.

What we see is a man that has repented, has confessed Jesus as Lord, has fasted and prayed to God. Yet in all of this, we see Ananias still instruct him with an urgency to be baptized.

Water Baptism is the putting on of Christ.

Gal 3:26-27 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Some teach that if we include baptism as part of the process of entering Christ, we would be placing salvation as a work of man and not a operation of faith. The above passage shows that this concern is unmerited. Paul actually connects the baptism of the the believer into Christ with their position of being a child of God “by faith in Jesus Christ”

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION!!

As believers, we spend far to much time asking what we “Have to do”. (Do I HAVE TO go to church? Do I HAVE TO tithe? Do I HAVE TO read my Bible?) As people who seek to please God, a much more beneficial question to ask is....

“Is it clearly shown in the Bible that God wants us to be baptized?”

Regardless of theological position, it is safe to say that we would all answer “yes” to this question. So then why do we insist on drawing lines? Wouldn't we all benefit by refraining from asking what we “Have to do” and instead, simply decide that we want what God desires for us to do. If we all do this, then perhaps we would not be stalemated so often by the things that we disagree on theologically.

In Faith unfeigned

Rich

#baptism #salvation