WATER BAPTISM
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
The Bible makes it very clear that baptism is not an optional extra. Jesus Himself was baptised. He had no need to repent of sin, because He was without sin, but he set the example for us to follow.
Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.
He was baptized for two reasons:-
- To fulfil righteousness
- To be made manifest to Israel.
Matthew 3:14-15 But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptised by You, and do You come to me? But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now, for this is the fitting way for both of us to fulfil all righteousness, that is, to perform completely whatever is right.
John 1:31 And I did not know Him and did not recognise Him myself; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and revealed to Israel, to be brought out where we can see Him that I came baptising in, with water.
When the Holy Spirit came down from heaven like a dove in Mark 1:10 and the voice of the Father was heard, these events probably brought Jesus to a total consciousness of His divine sonship and unique relationship to God.
Mark 1:10 And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him.
Water baptism or baptism by immersion is also called believer’s baptism. Before a person is baptised he must have first repented of his sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an essential step of the believer.
Mark 16:16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptised, will be saved from the penalty of eternal death; but he who does not believe, who does not adhere to and trust and rely on the Gospel and Him Who sets it forth will be condemned.
Act 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent, change your views, and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and the release of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
There has been some controversy down though the years about the baptism conducted by John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism, but if we look at both the origins and the purpose of both, or either, we will find that the controversy is counterproductive to what the Bible teaches.
John’s baptism could never be regarded as a mere ceremony as some would suggest, only pre-emptive of what was to come. It was always vibrant through and through with ethical meaning….a cleansing of the heart from sin was not only its preliminary condition….but its constant aim and purpose.
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, LIKE CHRISTIAN BAPTISM –
1 Was instituted by God Himself
Matthew 21:25 The baptism of John–from where was it? From heaven or from men? And they reasoned and argued with one another, If we say, From heaven, He will ask us, Why then did you not believe him?
John 1:33 And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
2 Was connected with a radical change of life
LUKE 1:1-17 SINCE [as is well known] many have undertaken to put in order and draw up a [thorough] narrative of the surely established deeds which have been accomplished and fulfilled in and among us, Exactly as they were handed down to us by those who from the [official] beginning [of Jesus’ ministry] were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word [that is, of the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God], It seemed good and desirable to me, [and so I have determined] also after having searched out diligently and followed all things closely and traced accurately the course from the highest to the minutest detail from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed. In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a certain priest whose name was Zachariah, of the daily service (the division) of Abia; and his wife was also a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. But they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren; and both were far advanced in years. Now while on duty, serving as priest before God in the order of his division, As was the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter [the sanctuary of] the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And all the throng of people were praying outside [in the court] at the hour of incense [burning]. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him. But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable]. And you shall have joy and exultant delight, and many will rejoice over his birth, For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother’s womb. And he will turn back and cause to return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the knowledge and holy love of the will of God]–in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state]. [Isa. 40:3; Mal. 4:5, 6.]
John 1:20-30 He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ! They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No! Then they said to him, Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out, the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said.The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet? John answered them, I [only] baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing. It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose. These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan [at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over me [Who takes rank above me] because He was before me and existed before I did.
3 Stood in sacramental relation to the forgiveness of sins
Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming?
Matthew 3:8 Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart];
Mark 1:4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [obligating] repentance (a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.
Luke 3:3 And he went into all the country round about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance (of hearty amending of their ways, with abhorrence of past wrongdoing) unto the forgiveness of sin.
4 Employed the same material element, namely water.
THE BLOOD ATONES FOR OUR SINS….THE WATERS OF BAPTISM ERASE THE STAIN.
There are several aspects of baptism that are closely tied together:-
Faith
Repentance
Conversion
Baptism
FAITH enables you to accept the priceless gift
REPENTANCE brings you to Calvary
CONVERSION takes you out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of light
BAPTISM seals your experience
THE INSTITUTION OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM
It was instituted with Divine Authority
Baptism was instituted by Christ after He had finished the work of reconciliation and this had received the approval of the Father in the resurrection. It is worth noticing that Jesus prefaced the great commission with the words All authority, all power of rule, in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Matthew 28:18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Jesus then, with that authority, instituted Christian baptism and as a consequence made it binding upon all future generations, as follows.
Matthew 28:19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).
This great commission contained three very important elements, each of which requires the same degree of attention as the other, and of course all three are interdependent.
1 The disciples were to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to all nations in order to bring people to repentance and to the acknowledgement of Jesus as the promised Saviour.
2 Those who accept Christ b faith were to be baptised into the name of the triune God as a sign and seal of the fact that they had entered into a new relation to God and as such were obliged to live according to the laws of the Kingdom.
3 They were to be bought under the ministry of the word, not merely as a proclamation of the good news, but as an exposition of the mysteries, the privileges and the duties of the new covenant.
BAPTISM IS FOR BELIEVERS ONLY
Some people are puzzled about being baptised again if they were “christened” as a baby. We need to know what the Bible says about this. If you were christened as a baby, the Scripture strongly suggests that you should be baptised in “believer’s baptism”. Baptism, as we have seen and will see further, is for those who have repented of their sins, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved.
Babies and young children are incapable of making such a decision, hence their christening or infant baptism was not the believer’s baptism.
Baptism always follows conversion. Once you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and comitted your life to Him it is absolutely essential to take that step.
Let us look at the Scriptures that reinforce this point.
Matthew 28:19 Go then and make disciples (this requires teaching) of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ,
Acts 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) (only a thinking, understanding person can do this) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:16 He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned.
Scripture makes it abundantly clear that baptism symbolises spiritual cleansing or purification.
Acts 22:16 And now, why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name, wash away your sins.
1Peter 3:21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism represents primarily an act of the grace of God, but because the professing Christian must voluntarily submit to it, it can also be considered from Man’s point of view.
There is in it an offer and gift of God, but also an acceptance on the part of man. Consequently, baptism also signifies that man accepts the covenant and assumes its obligations. It is a seal, not merely of an offered, but an offered and accepted covenant, that is, of a concluded covenant. Born again – Yes I accept Your offer; Baptism – signing the contract.
WHY BAPTISM BY IMMERSION?
There are many good reasons why baptism should be by immersion, and although there are objections raised by some areas of the church, they are based generally on a “preferred method” basis rather than on a scriptural basis.
Firstly, Jesus set the example for us and as we well know the Bible encourages us to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5v1) and for this reason alone we have a pattern to follow.
Mark 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
Mark 1:10 And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him.
If sprinkling had been sufficient it would not be necessary for Scripture to make the point so plainly in:-
John 3:22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the land (the countryside) of Judea, where He remained with them, and baptized.
John 3:23 But John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, for there was an abundance of water there, and the people kept coming and being baptized.
In Acts chapter 8 we have the story of the Ethiopian eunuch who was led to the Lord by Philip after he explained to him the meaning of the book of Isaiah which he was reading. But the interesting point for us is the eunuch’s response…and the geographical suitability.
Acts 8:36 And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, [here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?
Acts 8:38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him.
Colossians 2:12 [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.
Burial sets the seal on death, so the Christian’s baptism is a token burial in which the old order of living comes to an end, to be replaced by a new order of life in Christ.
We have mentioned that baptism is regarded as the reciprocal of circumcision in Old Testament terms, but this leaves some ambiguity unless we look at the principle in total, and when we do it looks much like this:-
The circumcision of the heart, the crucifixion of the flesh, the death and burial to sin and to the world, the resurrection to newness of life are all implied in baptism and connected with faith of the operation of God and sufficiently prove that our sins are forgiven, our debt is blotted out and cancelled and that we are fully delivered from the curse of the law.
This conformity to the crucified and risen Saviour, was effected through the faith of the operation of God, Who raised Him from the dead, or by a believing reliance on that effectual, saving power of God as displayed in the resurrection of Christ.
Romans 6:3 Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.
Romans 6:5 For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].
Christians being buried and rising with Christian baptism, is not the means by which we die unto sin and live unto righteousness, but is the demonstration of our faith, by which the ordinance is made effectual to its proper purpose, and by which we perceive the matters it is to represent, and seals it for us.
1Peter 3:20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God’s patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water. [Gen. 6-8.]
1Peter 3:21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You will notice that it was not the water that saved the people, but the ark. Therefore baptism in water does not save our souls, but faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ does and baptism is a figure of this. Baptism does not save from moral depravity but is the answer of a good conscience towards God.
Just as the flood spoke of a judgment, which those in the ark were both saved from, and saved by, in order to enjoy a new world, so the water of Christian baptism speaks of the death which fell upon Christ, a death due to sinners, which believers into Christ are both saved from, and saved by, and through which they enter into the enjoyment of new life before God. And so Peter makes it abundantly clear that it is not the mere participation in the outward form of baptism that saves. It is only Christ Who can save through His death and resurrection but baptism gives both the entrance and incorporation into Christ and by genuine open confession of such faith in God of which public baptism signifies.
Despite the conjecture of many theologians regarding the necessity or otherwise for baptism to be by immersion, the Greek word for baptism is bapto which literally means to dip whereas the Greek word for sprinkle is rhantizo.
Now many commentators contend that as long as the fundamental idea, namely that of purification, finds expression in the rite, then the mode is quite immaterial. This then is tantamount to stating that salvation, as long as we believe in it, it doesn’t matter how we go about it. The principle is well established that the word is to be our guide and when there are statements made that the word or the person is to be our example, then there has to be a response to that instruction.
1Peter 2:21 For even to this were you called [it is inseparable from your vocation]. For Christ also suffered for you, leaving you [His personal] example, so that you should follow in His footsteps.
Hebrews 8:5 [But these offer] service [merely] as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain.
1Corinthians 10:6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did.
Jesus when He was baptised was immersed and so left us His example together with the fact that the word says be imitators of God. And so the grammatical explanations of the commentators have to submit to the example of the word, where there is no ambiguity.
The fact of baptism is now well established. However for reference purposes let us group some of the more obvious scriptures for future use.
Matthew 28:19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:38 And Peter answered them, Repent, change your views, and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and the release of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16 And now, why do you delay? Rise and be baptized, and by calling upon His name, wash away your sins.
SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM
Galatians 3:27 For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ.
Colossians 2:12 [Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.
EXAMPLES OF BAPTISM
Believers at Pentecost
Acts 2:41 Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.
Converts in Samaria
Acts 8:12 But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.
The Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him.
Saul of Tarsus
Acts 9:18 And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul’s] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,
Philippian jailer and his household
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night and bathed [them because of their bloody] wounds, and he was baptized immediately and all [the members of] his [household].
Believers in Corinth
Acts 18:8 But Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed [that Jesus is the Messiah and acknowledged Him with joyful trust as Saviour and Lord], together with his entire household; and many of the Corinthians who listened [to Paul also] believed and were baptized.
WATER BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD MANIFESTATION OF AN INWARD WORK OF GRACE
BAPTISM IS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE TOWARDS CHRIST, AN OUTWARD TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD, AND TO YOURSELF A VERY GREAT BLESSING
oOo
Ross Smith 