The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for his own people-that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce his return, when we shall always be with him.
Alan Redpath

Baptism

Baptism

BAPTISM

In ÿthis file I will be presenting a close look at an ordinance of the Church–Baptism. ÿÿIn order to properly worship our Savior we need to be ÿsure ÿthat ÿwe fully understand this area, ÿand use it as ÿit ÿwas intended to be used in the Church. I ÿhave divided our study into six areas: origin, significance, mode, efficacy, subjects and application.

  1. ÿORIGIN OF BAPTISM – Ritual baptism is as old as the Law. The Old Testament is full of instances of ceremonial purifications, which were a ÿtype of baptism. ÿIt was considered a symbol of ÿdivine ÿcleansing (Ezek ÿ36:25). ÿÿThis type of baptism continued right ÿinto ÿthe ÿNew Testament ÿwith ÿthe ÿbaptism of John and ÿJewish ÿproselyte ÿbaptism. Christian baptism, however, was not simply a continuation of these but was a different baptism performed at the command of Christ. (Acts 19:3 ff.) The other baptisms were for the most part commanded by God as an outward act of cleansing, however, ÿtrue cleansing was impossible with water. ÿTrue cleansing could only come from the shed Blood of ÿChrist on ÿCalvary. ÿEven John’s baptism was to cleanse the Jews to ÿprepare them ÿto ÿreceive the true cleansing of Jesus Christ. ÿThe origin ÿof Christian ÿbaptism ÿis ÿfound in the person of Jesus Christ. ÿÿIt ÿis because ÿof ÿand ÿthrough Him that the Christian ÿcan ÿparticipate ÿin complete cleansing through salvation by faith in Christ. Jesus Himself was baptized to complete all righteousness. ÿIt is important to ÿnote that when Christ was baptized, ÿHe was already perfectly clean ÿ(never had, ÿnor could sin). In the same way the Christian is Baptized after Salvation ÿby Faith, ÿto visibly illustrate the perfect cleansing that had already taken place within.
  2. ÿÿSIGNIFICANCE ÿOF ÿBAPTISM ÿ- ÿBaptism ÿis ÿan ÿoutward ÿÿpicture representing the inward purification from the guilt of sin. As stated earlier this removal of the guilt and the responsibility for sin is ÿa result of cleansing, ÿnot by water, but by the Blood of Christ. ÿThis removal ÿof ÿsin ÿby the Blood of Jesus is the Good News ÿof ÿthe ÿNew Testament. ÿÿSo we can say that baptism reflects the meaning ÿof ÿthe gospel and the salvation it brings. ÿAnother way to say this is ÿthat baptism ÿis ÿan ÿidentification with Christ. ÿIn Acts ÿ2:38 ÿÿwe ÿare instructed to, ÿ”Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ…”(NIV). The contemporary Greek usage of the phrase, “in ÿthe ÿname of” ÿwas a technical term of commerce meaning ÿ”to ÿthe account” ÿof someone, signifying ownership. ÿIn many countries of the world ÿtoday, ÿÿthe rite of Christian baptism is ÿhighly ÿsignificant, because ÿit is a sign that the person has made his final surrender ÿto Christ–no ÿmore ÿ”sitting on the fence.” ÿThis person has ÿbecome ÿa Christian ÿand often this is the point where persecution begins. ÿThe impact of identification with Christ in our country is slowly becoming more ÿpronounced ÿas true Christianity becomes more distinct from ÿthe ways of our society. In Cols 2:12 we are given the clearest statement of ÿthe significance of baptism, ÿ”…having been buried with ÿHim ÿin baptism ÿand ÿraised with Him through your faith in the power of ÿGod, who ÿraised ÿHim ÿfrom the dead.” ÿÿ(NIV). ÿÿBaptism ÿis ÿassociating ourselves with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ÿIt is ÿan outward ÿsign ÿof ÿwhat has already taken place on the inside ÿby ÿthe baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  3. ÿÿMODE OF BAPTISM – The mode of baptism is one of the most ÿhighly debated ÿissues ÿof ÿbaptism. ÿThe three ÿdifferent ÿmodes ÿthat ÿare presented are: ÿsprinkling, ÿpouring, ÿand immersion. ÿI ÿÿpersonally believe ÿthat ÿimmersion is the correct mode because it ÿmore ÿclearly fits the meaning (see B above) ÿof baptism in the “death and ÿburial.” However, ÿit should never be a point of division among Christians. We should fellowship with anyone who clearly has accepted Jesus by ÿfaith and ÿfaith ÿalone. ÿÿHowever, ÿÿwe need to look at ÿthe ÿsupport ÿfor immersion ÿin two main areas: ÿWord study and early church ÿpractice. The ÿword “Baptize” ÿis found in the New Testament and the ÿSeptuagint (Greek text of the first five books of the Old Testament). ÿIn 2Kings 5:14 ÿwe find Naaman baptizing himself seven times in the Jordan, ÿand the ÿword ÿused means “to dip or the be moist ÿwith.” ÿÿIn ÿLeviticus 11:32, ÿthe Greek word “bapto” translates, “to refer to immersion,” as the ÿarticles concerned are put into water. ÿBut there are other uses of ÿthis ÿword ÿin ÿthe Old Testament where ÿit ÿis ÿnot ÿspecifically speaking of immersion (Lev 14:6,51; Ruth 2:14). ÿIn the New Testament we find much the same evidence, ÿfor we find the normal meaning of the word “baptize” to mean: to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge, ÿdip, dip oneself, ÿwash, ÿto dip in or under. ÿBut we do find cases ÿwhere baptism ÿis ÿreferring ÿto ÿa ÿwashing of ÿsomething ÿless ÿthan ÿfull immersion (Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38). However, we can easily see that the normal ÿuse of the word is to immerse. ÿBut for further ÿevidence ÿwe need ÿto refer to its use in the context. ÿIn Mark 1:9-10 ÿwe observe Jesus ÿbeing baptized by John in the Jordan. ÿAs Jesus was “coming up out of the water..” (NIV). Also, ÿanother example is in Acts 8:38-39, “Look here is water. ÿWhy shouldn’t I be baptized?…then both Phillip and ÿthe ÿeunuch went down into the water and ÿPhillip ÿbaptized ÿhim. When they came up out of the water…” ÿ(NIV). Thus we find immersion as the implied mode of baptism in the early church of the ÿScriptures. We ÿalso ÿfind ÿthat in the history of the early ÿchurch, ÿÿafter ÿthe closing ÿof the Scriptures, ÿthat baptism by immersion is the accepted mode. ÿIn the Didache (c. A.D. 100) ÿimplied clearly is the fact that immersion is the normal mode of baptism. It must be mentioned that in very ÿspecial ÿcircumstances pouring was ÿalso ÿaccepted. ÿÿImmersion however, ÿÿcontinued ÿto ÿbe ÿthe ÿcommon ÿpractice ÿuntil ÿabout ÿthe thirteenth century.
  4. ÿÿEFFICACY ÿOF BAPTISM – As was stated before, ÿthe ÿsymbolism ÿof baptism ÿis ÿmainly the association of oneself with the ÿsalvation ÿof Jesus Christ. ÿBut we need to ask the question, does baptism have any effect ÿat all on the person being baptized? ÿIs there anything ÿthat results from the rite of baptism? ÿThis question is quickly ÿanswered by ÿmany ÿfalse ÿleaders ÿwho ÿsay that baptism ÿin ÿsome ÿway ÿbrings salvation. ÿThe Mormons, for example, ÿbelieve that water baptism (by their own apostle) is a definite requirement for salvation. The Roman Catholic ÿChurch ÿholds to the lie that baptism removes the ÿstain ÿof original sin. ÿThey have held this false notion for many years, ÿeven claiming that an infant who dies without having been baptized, ÿÿwould not go to Heaven (nor Hell) ÿbut to a place called “Limbo” ÿ(someplace like Heaven but without the presence of Our Lord). The Scriptures are abundantly clear on this point, that baptism has no effect whatever on salvation. ÿThere are over two hundred verses in Scripture that state that ÿsalvation is by faith and by faith alone. ÿBut while baptism is not a part of salvation, it is commanded by Christ. Our gracious Lord and Savior would never ask us to do anything that would harm us, ÿÿbut only ÿrequire those things that would benefit us. ÿÿBaptism ÿproduces nothing ÿexcept the blessing of being obedient to Christ. ÿI ÿÿcannot help ÿbut ÿnotice ÿthat ÿScripture many times state that ÿwe ÿare ÿto, “repent ÿand ÿbe baptized.” ÿ(Acts 2:38). ÿSince we know that ÿit ÿis strictly ÿby faith and faith alone that we are saved, ÿit follows then that the second part of the command (be baptized) is our first command from ÿOur Lord to the new christian. ÿIt reminds me of a ÿperson ÿwho joins the army and is given his first command by the General as a test of the willingness of the new recruit to obey orders. ÿIn the case of Christ, ÿÿI ÿÿbelieve that He realizes that new believers need ÿto ÿgo “public” ÿÿwith ÿtheir new faith. ÿSo many times we have allowed ÿand encouraged ÿ(sometimes ÿby our silence) ÿnew Christians to ÿ”put ÿoff” being baptized until later. ÿWe teach them to obey other commands ÿof Christ but not His first one! Because God honors those who honor Him, I ÿbelieve ÿthat when a person submits to baptism there is ÿa ÿspecial blessing ÿbestowed ÿon him that is not available in any other ÿact ÿof christian worship.
  5. SUBJECTS OF BAPTISM – Who may be baptized? The big controversy in this area is the subject of infant baptism. ÿMost fundamentalists say that ÿonly those who have a personal relationship to Christ should ÿbe baptized. ÿÿThis of course implies that the person has made some sort of ÿa free will commitment to Jesus by faith. ÿTherefore, ÿone ÿcould conclude ÿthat ÿno ÿinfants could or should be baptized. ÿÿAn ÿinfant cannot be a believer. ÿToo many salvation passages speak of free will decisions ÿon ÿthe ÿpart of the believer. ÿFor example, ÿÿ”…if ÿyou confess ÿwith your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is ÿLord you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). This verse leaves all infants out. The ÿWord of God says one is to repent and be baptized in order to ÿbe saved; ÿthus only those who have repented in their hearts and accepted the ÿforgiveness ÿof Christ can be eligible for water baptism. ÿÿThus since ÿrepentance, ÿbelieving and confessing Christ are impossible for infants they are ineligible for baptism.
  6. ÿÿAPPLICATION OF BAPTISM – When we take the basic requirements for baptism ÿas discussed above and try to apply them on the local ÿchurch level we find a wide application.
    1. ÿÿThe ÿrequirement ÿfor baptism should be ÿincluded ÿin ÿthe presentation of the gospel message. ÿIt is a rare occasion when someone ÿtells ÿan ÿunbeliever ÿthat they ÿmust ÿrepent ÿand ÿbe baptized. ÿÿWe ÿoften ÿtimes overly state ÿthe ÿrequirement ÿto believe and to put our faith in Jesus but fail to advise them of the very first command that Jesus will make of the new believer- -baptism! ÿBaptism is really a test which causes them to “count the ÿcost.” ÿIn order to be saved one needs a humble heart that is willing to yield all to Christ, being ready to do whatever He will ÿask ÿof ÿthem. ÿÿThe ÿinclusion ÿof ÿthe ÿÿpost-salvation requirement ÿÿfor ÿÿbaptism ÿtests ÿthe ÿheart ÿof ÿthe ÿÿperson contemplating making a decision for Christ. If the person wants to “Accept Jesus as His Lord and Savior,” ÿbut does not want ÿto yield ÿto ÿbaptism, ÿÿthen his heart is not ready ÿto ÿobey ÿthe commands of Christ.
    2. ÿÿBecause ÿof the unique blessing of being obedient ÿto ÿthe first command of Christ, we should be sure that the new believer is baptized as soon as possible. If we delay his baptism, ÿthen he ÿis cheated from an early blessing from God that he will need during ÿthis ÿcritical ÿperiod ÿfollowing ÿsalvation ÿwhen ÿmany changes ÿand ÿadjustments ÿare being made in his life as ÿa ÿnew believer. ÿAt times churches have believed that the new convert must ÿhave ÿa broad understanding of Christian ÿDoctrine ÿbefore being baptized. ÿThis is not really true. All they really need is to have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
    3. ÿÿThe ÿmode ÿof baptism I would use is immersion ÿand ÿwould prefer that the baptism be a service of its own. This is one of the ÿgreatest ÿopportunities to witness for Christ ÿbefore ÿmany unbelievers. ÿIn our country, ÿbeing baptized is looked upon by most ÿas ÿanother ÿofficial ceremony such ÿas ÿmarriage. ÿÿMany unbelieving ÿfamilies ÿand ÿfriends will ÿcome ÿto ÿa ÿbaptismal service ÿÿand ÿÿthe ÿchurch ÿshould ÿ”make ÿthe ÿmost ÿÿof ÿÿthe opportunity,” ÿÿand build the whole service around the theme ÿof dying to self and living for Christ.
    4. ÿÿLastly, ÿwe must encourage the new converts to give ÿtheir personal ÿÿtestimonies ÿof ÿtheir ÿsalvation. ÿÿWhat ÿÿpowerful testimonies new believers can give because it is still fresh ÿin their minds and in their family’s too. For the person who would have ÿobjections ÿto speaking before a crowd, ÿthe pastor ÿcould assist ÿhim ÿby asking questions he could answer, ÿavoiding ÿthe ones which could be answered by a “yes” or a “no.”

Jesus said, ÿ”Go and make disciples of all nations, ÿbaptizing them in the ÿname ÿof the Father and of the Son and of the Holy ÿSpirit, ÿÿand teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. ÿAnd surely ÿI will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20). Let us go and baptize in a manner that is in accordance to the command and wishes of our Savior, bringing Him glory forever.

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 115
Galveston, IN 46932
MODEM (317)-452-1535
Sep 20, 1986