BT-Baptism

As with many biblical subjects, everyone seems to have his or her own idea about what baptism is for. What we must understand though, is that our own opinions or feelings do not matter. We must turn to the Bible for our answers (II Timothy 3:16, Psalms 119:105) and throw out all of our preconceptions no matter what our mother, grandma, preacher or anyone else has said in the past on this or any other matter related to the Bible. We must realize that when we stand before God we will be judged according to his word (John 12:48) and not what someone else has told us, thus, we must not let others do our thinking for us and lead us astray (Galatians 1:8, Acts 17:11). When we speak on biblical matters we must speak as the oracles or utterances of God (I Peter 4:11). In this bible topic we will discuss some of the verses that talk about baptism. Then in other Bible topics we will discuss the role of faith, repentance and confession as well as other related subjects.

JESUS SAID BAPTISM SAVES US - - -
Jesus said to the apostles in Mark 16:15-16 to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and that he who believes AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE saved. Notice the words SHALL BE which denotes something will happen in the future and is conditional upon one believing AND BEING BAPTIZED. Some may argue that verse 16 ends with Jesus saying he that believeth not shall be damned with no mention of baptism, trying to show that baptism is not necessary. Obviously if one does not believe he will not get baptized. The five steps that one must do to be saved are (1) Hear - Romans 10:14 (2) Believe - Mark 16:16, John 8:24, Acts 16:31 (3) Repent - Acts 17:30, Acts 2:38 (4) Confess - Romans 10:9-10 (5) Be Baptized - Mark 16:15-16, Acts 2:28, I Peter 3:20-21. After this you must live faithfully (Revelation 2:10). In John 10:19 Christ says that he is the door and by him if any man enter in he shall be saved. Here again, shall be saved, is future tense with the requirement of one entering in through Christ. The same people who say you must enter in through Christ to be saved are those who might say that you don't have to be baptized to be saved as it clearly shows in Mark 16:16. In doing so, they render, Mark 16:16 as meaning he that believeth and is saved shall be baptized, when it really says he that believeth AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED. Galatians 3:27 tells us the way into Christ is through baptism and Ephesians 1:3 tells us all spiritual blessings are found in Christ. Two other verses that are related to this subject are Matthew 10:22 and Romans 10:13.

BAPTISM IS A BURIAL AND RESURRECTION - - -
Baptize comes from the Greek work baptizo which means to fully immerse. The doctrine of some denominations is to sprinkle for baptism. This in no way can be fully immersing someone or burying someone. In John's account, John the baptizer was baptizing in Aenon near Salim because there was MUCH WATER. What need would there be for much water if sprinkling was acceptable? In Acts 8:38 we have the account of Philip baptizing the Ethiopian nobleman which tells us that they went down into the water. Mark 1:10 tells us that Jesus after being baptized came up out of the water. In Romans 6:3-6 Paul tells us that as many of us were baptized in Christ Jesus were baptized into his death and therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life and that if we have been united together in the likeness of his death certainly we also should be in the likeness of his resurrection and that knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him that the body of sin might be done away with. Some points to make concerning this are: (1) Paul tells us that as many of us AS WERE baptized in Christ Jesus WERE baptized into his death therefore being buried with him and then raised by the glory of the Father to walk in newness of life. It is clear that you must be baptized in order to partake of this burial and resurrection and to become a new creature and until this happens you are dead still being that old man of sin. (2) The old man of sin was crucified and done away with or buried and as we were raised, we became a new creature to walk in newness of life (II Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). Furthermore, one does not bury a living person, but one that is dead. Ezekiel 18:20 tells us the soul that sins shall die. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:11 and I Corinthians 15:22 tell us that through Christ we are alive. A living person has no need of being buried, therefore, baptism is for one that is dead because of sin. Colossians 2:11-13 tells us also that in baptism we are buried with him in which we are also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Here again, Paul tells us that in order to be raised with him to be made alive we must be buried with him in baptism.

BAPTISM WASHES AWAY SIN - - -
Paul in recalling his conversion in Acts 22:1-16 said he was told arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord. Paul obviously believed, for he asked the Lord what shall I do, and when told, he obeyed. If Paul believed, why then did he still have his sins? It is clear he was told to be baptized to have his sins washed away and until he did so he was still in his sins. In Acts 2:37-38 after Peter preached his message, the people were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what should we do? Peter answered, repent and be baptized for the remission of your sins. This is in harmony with Paul's conversion in that they had their sins taken away after baptism.

PETER SAID BAPTISM SAVES US - - -
In I Peter 3:21 the inspired writer tells us "the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." In verse 20 (I Peter 3) we are told that eight souls were saved through water speaking of Noah and the flood. The "which" that starts verse 21 is the water spoke of in verse 20, not the flood water, but water in general and identified as the water of baptism. The "likeness" spoke of in verse 21, is relating the fact that the water saved those in the ark and separated the saved from those who died by destroying the evil that was in the world, thus, allowing Noah and his family a new start, to the way that baptism today is the final step we take in the plan of salvation in which obedience to his word separates us from those who have not been obedient by being baptized and thus being raised to walk in newness of life (a new start) (Romans 6:3-4). In verse 21 the phrase "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" makes it clear that this is water baptism that is not intended to physically wash away dirt, but rather "the answer of a good conscience toward God." The question being, will I be obedient to God by doing exactly what he has commanded by being baptized or will I be disobedient by not being baptized. The fact that the conscience is said to be good before baptism in no way negates the necessity of baptism for the apostle Paul declared that he had "lived in all good conscience before God until this day" while he was a great persecutor of Christ and his church (Acts 23:1, see also Acts 26:9-11).

REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED FOR REMISSION OF SINS - - -
Acts 2:38 says "Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Here the apostle Peter is preaching to the lost people who were guilty of crucifying Christ. After hearing his message, these people were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do (verse 37 of Acts 2). Instead of telling them your faith has saved you from your sins, he told them to repent AND BE BAPTIZED for the remission of sins. These people understood something needed to be done to make things right, for anyone can believe, but fall short when it comes to obedience. In verse 41 (of Acts 2) the bible says "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls." These people chose to be obedient to the word of God (see also Romans 6:16-18 and I Peter 1:22). Some may say that the word "for" in verse 38 means "because of," meaning you get baptized "because of" remission of sins. This is not accurate. It is clear these people were asking what they must do to obtain forgiveness of their sins. Peter gave them this straight forward answer by telling them to repent AND be baptized FOR remission of sins. If you get baptized "because of" remission of sins then you must repent "because of" remission of sins. In Luke 13:3, 5, Christ says that unless we repent we will all likewise perish. II Peter 3:9 tells us that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Repentance simply means one has Godly sorrow for the sins he has committed and wants to turn his life completely around from this sin, and until one does this, he will not be found acceptable in God's eyes. It is clear from these two instances that repentance is not "because of" remission of sins, but rather repentance leads to remission of sins. Baptism has been shown earlier in this topic to wash away sins and save us, thus, cannot be "because of" remission of sins either. Thus, the Greek word "eis" translated by the King James can mean nothing more than "for" which it most certainly does.

THE CONVERSION OF THE JAILER - - -
In Acts 16:25-34 we have the account of the jailer being saved. The jailer asked in verse 30 "sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied in verse 31 "believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house." Does this mean all they had to do was believe? The next verse explains that there was more to it than this. In verse 32 it tells us "and they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house." Romans 10:17 tells us "so belief cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." It is obvious when Paul told the jailer to "believe on the Lord," it was necessary that the jailer be told WHAT to believe before he could believe, not simply believe only. Now look at verse 33 which says "and he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately." The reason they were baptized is clearly evident that they believed on the Lord and obeyed the word of the Lord. They believed in the word of Christ when he commanded in Mark 16:16 "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." The jailer and his house were saved by faith AND obedience. Faith alone will not save (James 2:14-26). They were all working out their own salvation by complying with the conditions that God has set forth in order to be saved (see Philippians 2:12). John 1:12 tells us when we receive him and believe he then gives us power to become (future tense) children of God. Belief is an important part of salvation, but saying that belief only is enough, is like saying that baptism alone is enough. An interesting point to show you is in verse 33 which tells us that they were taken that same hour of the night, and was baptized. Verse 25 tells us it was midnight, so it was obviously dark. If baptism was not important for salvation, why did they see the importance of going that same hour to get baptized instead of waiting until morning when they had more light or perhaps they could have invited some friends to their "planned ceremony." It is clear that the importance of baptism has been established here as well as other verses in the bible. When one wants to be saved, he gets baptized immediately for this is the means to the end.

THE CONVERSION OF CORNELIUS - ACTS 10:34-48 - - -
In Acts 10:1-2 we are told that Cornelius was a devout man and prayed to God always being very religious, but he was lost. Acts 11:14 says he was to send for Peter so that he could be told the words whereby he and his house shall be saved. Verse 48 of Acts 10 Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. It is clear that they were believers, but this alone was not enough for they had to be baptized into Christ to be saved.

WASHING OF REGENERATION - - -
Titus 3:5 says "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Here it is shown that works of righteousness that does not bring salvation is contrasted to that which does, which is the washing of regeneration or baptism. In Matthew 3:14-15 it tells us that Jesus had come to John the baptizer to be baptized and when John tried to refuse, Jesus said "suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Here it is shown that baptism is part of the way God has chosen to make man righteous, not the righteousness that man tries to do with his works. The spirit was sent to renew man by the word that was preached through the inspired apostles. This word when preached brought about the faith necessary to be saved (see Romans 10:14), and then the final act is obedience to God's word by being baptized.

THE NEW BIRTH - - -
In John 3:3, 5 Jesus said that except a man be born again he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was under the false impression that Jesus was referring to a physical re-birth, but instead was referring to a spiritual birth. Here this new birth is only one birth consisting of two elements which is both spirit and water, just like the natural birth consists of two elements which is conception and then birth which has the father planting the seed (conception) and then being born of the mother (birth). The spiritual birth has the spirit planting the seed (conception) and then being born of water (birth). Luke 8:11 tells us that the word of God is the seed of the kingdom. The apostle Paul in I Corinthians 4:15 told them that he had begat them through the gospel (or the word of God). In Acts 18:8 it is shown that they were baptized (or born of water). These Corinthians had heard the gospel that was preached to them, and when they believed it they obeyed it by being baptized. The word of God was planted by the spirit (conception), through the gospel and then they were born of water (birth). I Peter 1:22-23 also tells us that we have been born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God. Also, the water referred to John 3:3, 5 must refer to water. Some might say that when Christ says one must be born of water that he is referring to the physical birth of man, but this is easily clarified by the fact that Nicodemus understood that he was not referring to the physical birth of a baby because he said how can a MAN be born when he is old and enter a second time into his mother's womb. In verse 3 Jesus emphasized this was a new birth by saying born again and then in verse 5 he further states that this new birth consisted of water and the spirit. Being born again could not have meant the first natural birth of man. The relationship that water has with the kingdom can be nothing else than water baptism as Acts 8:36-38, Acts 10:47 and other verses clearly indicate. As Paul told us in Ephesians 4:5 we have only one baptism today, which is the one commanded by Jesus in the great commission (see Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20).

BAPTISM ADDS US TO THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY - - -
I Corinthians 12:13 says "For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body." In Ephesians 1:22-23 we are told that the church is his body and in Ephesians 4:4 we are told that there is but one body. Acts 2:47 tells us that the Lord added to the church (body) daily such as should be saved. Here again, as taught earlier, in I Corinthians 12:13 we have an example of the spirit teaching what must be done, thus, leading one to be baptized into the body of Christ, not an example of Holy Spirit baptism as will be shown in other bible topics. Paul in speaking of Christ's church said in Ephesians 5:26 "that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. Again, this is another reference to baptism as taught by the word of God.

ARE ALL BAPTISMS SCRIPTURAL? - - -
What if one has been baptized, but done so in a manner that is not in line with the scriptures, meaning what did one believe when he was being baptized? In John 4:24 Jesus said "God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." This makes God the object of rational and intellectual response. One must worship God and worship rationally and sincerely and it must be according to truth which is his word (John 17:17). It is possible to worship God in a manner that is not pleasing in his sight (Matthew 15:1-9, Acts 17:23, Romans 10:2-3, Colossians 2:20-22). In Acts 19:1-5 Paul came across some disciples who knew only the baptism of John, and thus, were not intellectually baptized correctly because John's baptism had ceased and was replaced by the baptism Christ gave in the great commission. Luke 1:17 says John was "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." These people were to receive Christ when he came (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7, John 1:15, Acts 19:4). It is clear they did not understand this, for when they heard Paul's response in verse 4 (of Acts 19), they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5). Understand that there is no evidence that the apostles or any others baptized by John were rebaptized, for their baptisms were accepted. From these things we learn that we have to be baptized intelligently with the understanding of God's word, which is truth, that baptism is for salvation (see Proverbs 2:2, 18:15, 23:12), otherwise, we are either ignorant of God's word, or defiant of God's word, of which neither is acceptable to God. One may indeed be baptized, going down into the water a sinner and then coming up out of the water a wet sinner because they did not understand the gospel message in God's word. Baptism is indeed a necessary requirement for salvation and entrance into the kingdom of God.