38) BAPTISM WITH THE RIGHT PRACTICE
TEXT: Ephesians 4:5
BRIEF RECAP
Ephesians 4:5 clearly states there is only: One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Now if there is so only One Baptism in the Bible,
Then it has to be the Right kind of Baptism for us to follow.
So far in this study we have looked at what Baptism spiritually pictures,
And we have began to explore the fact that the “right Baptism” as we see it through the Scriptures,
Will always have three things – that being:
1) The Right Person; 2) The Right Practice; and… 3) The Right Authority.
THE RIGHT PERSON
Now last week we simply touched on this first point,
Scriptural Baptism must always involve the Right Person.
You see, Contrary to popular religious belief – not just anyone can be baptised at any time.
No - the right person must first be duly considered for Baptism.
Now what determines the “Right Person” – will always come down to the same two things:
1) Are They Saved?... and… 2) Do They Want to Follow Christ?
These are the only two Scriptural Criteria I can find for a person who wants to be baptised.
1) A SAVED BELIEVER OF JESUS CHRIST
So let’s just touch on this briefly in passing.
The proper candidate for Scriptural baptism is always someone who has first been saved.
You see, One must believe in Jesus Christ – before choosing to follow Jesus Christ.
Accepting Christ as your personal saviour – “by Grace through Faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9)…
Will always be the first step to entering into any kind of relationship with God.
Then, having established a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ,
One can stand in a position to Serve the Lord with your life.
Now you might recall how we looked at a number of verses last week to explore this,
Each verse showing Scripturally the order of things that must be followed.
First people believed the Gospel and were saved…
And then if they desired, they made the conscious choice to be baptised to follow Christ.
As an example lets again consider Acts 8:12+13 – Here the Scriptures record:
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Notice what we are told…
First people, both men and women, believed in Jesus – then they were baptised. Verse 13:
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip….
Again – please note the process?
A person first believes – then what follows is baptism.
And please bear in mind this is just one Scriptural example of many we explored last week
Showing the need for salvation before baptism.
2) DESIRE TO FOLLOW AND SERVE CHRIST
Understanding this fact, then led us to consider the second criteria for Baptism.
You see, the right candidate for Baptism must not only be a saved believer of Jesus Christ…
But also be one who has the desire to follow and serve Christ with their life.
Now Believing the Gospel and accepting Christ - is all about Salvation – we know that,
However, for those have the desire to then follow Christ into Baptism – well that is all about Service.
Baptism is the first step taken by true believers who want to serve Christ.
And please remember brethren all that baptism pictures and represents spiritually.
Because not only does it illustrate to us the Gospel…
Through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ,
But it also stands as a sign of the New Covenant we are called to serve and worship the Lord under.
This is a covenant of grace – and it is profoundly taught in the New Testament
As being a Covenant true believers fully experience and serve under within the Church.
This New Covenant relationship was so precious to Christ,
That He Himself was willing to shed His own blood and die in order to secure it.
Ephesians 5:25 says: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Jesus even attempted to prepare and teach His disciples about this…
During their Last Supper together.
In fact, it was at the Lord’s Super that Jesus said:
…This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20)
You see, Christ revealed a link between the blood He was to shed on the cross
And the New Covenant He came to usher in,
The very same Covenant we enter into through baptism.
It was through Christ’s blood that the Old Covenant was fulfilled,
And it was through Christ’s blood that a New Covenant was established for us.
1 Peter 2:21 simply says: For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
Now since Jesus is the ultimate example for us to follow in all things,
And Christ Himself submitted to the Fathers will and was baptised…
This too is the calling for every believer who desires to follow Him.
Baptism is an outward sign and symbolises the commitment made by a believer,
Who desires to follow Christ and serve the Lord under a New Covenant.
Let’s also not forget, how baptism pictures a new kind of life and way of living…
As the old nature and sins of the flesh are to be left behind - as one seeks to follow Christ.
All unrestrained living is to be considered dead and buried in the past,
As one accepts a new calling into a new kind of life in service to your Saviour.
This again is all something Baptism pictures,
And this is a conscious choice and decision made by believers.
One must choose and commit to following Christ.
Now please understand not everyone wants to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Not everyone wants to make the sacrifice or the kind of commitment to God’s kingdom
But for those that do - it will always lead to baptism…
And to a desire to serve the Lord faithfully under the New Covenant.
Baptism is for those who have first been saved…
And then have the desire to want to follow and serve Christ.
However not everyone who gets saved wants to be baptised.
Not everyone who accepts the Gospel of Christ – wants to go on to Serve Christ.
Remember “baptism” is separate from Salvation - and is a part of Service.
Baptism is for those who want to move on and serve Christ with their lives.
Unfortunately, this step is not for everyone - because not everyone has a desire to do this.
Now just before we move on today…
One verse that immediately comes to mind and effectively emphases all of this is found
Is that found in Acts 8:35-38 where we after Philip preached the Gospel to the Ethiopian Eunuch,
This man said in verse 36…See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
In other words, the Eunuch said what is stopping me from being baptized,
So he had a clear desire and intent to want to follow Christ,
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
So then, the Right Baptism – must always involve the Right Person,
That being: 1) Someone Who Is Saved; and… 2) Someone Who Desires To Follow Christ.
Brethren this is what we believe.
INTRODUCTION
So that is what we learnt last week - Scriptural Baptism must involve the Right Person.
Of course that is not all – because Bible goes onto to teach us that…
True Scriptural Baptism must also follow the Right Practice.
And again there is a lot of confusion and debate about this in religion today.
In fact, there are many different practices being used,
Sprinkling, dipping, pouring, dabbing etc etc…
And all of these practices seem to suggest that the method for Baptism is not important.
Brethren that is not true – the “One Baptism” God speaks of in His Word,
Will always follow the Right Practice as laid down and set forth in the Scriptures.
And we must recognise and understand this.
THE RIGHT PRACTICE
So what then is the right method for Baptism?
Well it’s the very same method Christ submitted to when He was Baptised.
It’s the very same practice we see Jesus leaving as an example for us to follow.
Lets see this together - turn to Matthew 3:13-17.
Baptism remains an outward sign of the New Covenant
And stands as a necessary step to any believer…
Wanting to follow in Christ’s footsteps to serve and glorify God.
And all of this, makes Baptism, and the way it is Practiced - very important.
Notice now the example that Christ Himself gave – look at verse 13:
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
Guys Jesus felt so strongly about submitting under this New Covenant,
That He surrendered according to God’s will and was Baptised for all to see.
Let’s now read verse 14:
But John forbad Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee,
and comest thou to me?
John said: “Lord I can’t do this – who am I to be Baptising you?”
15 And Jesus answering said unto Him, Suffer [or rather “permit”] it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered [or “allowed”] him.
Jesus declared to John – that Baptism was necessary to “fulfill all righteousness”.
In other words, Jesus declared Baptism to be necessary
And what was deemed to be right in God’s eyes under the New Covenant.
And this is point is demonstrated even further in verses 16 and 17:
16 And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
So clearly Baptism into the New Covenant was the right thing to do,
And because of this – Christ Himself left us the ultimate example to follow.
And this very act was reaffirmed by the God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit before all - showing all aspects to the Holy Trinity being unified in this act.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit…
Were all ratifying the importance of this New Covenant.
Now if Baptism is that important to our God…
And we see through the Scriptures that it is,
Then it should be important to every true believer.
THE RIGHT PRACTICE – FULL IMMERSION
So all of that is pretty straight forward – right.
But what is the right method we should be practicing when it comes to Baptism?
Well a strong indication to the right practice again comes from what we see in the Scriptures
And directly from the example Jesus has left for us.
To begin with – let’s ask ourselves: “What is Baptism”
The English Word Baptise stems directly from the original Greek word...
That Jesus and the Apostles used in the Bible.
The main Greek Word is “Baptizo” - and it is used 80 times across the New Testament,
Being translated into English in the following ways:
Baptise – 76 times / Wash – 2 times / Baptist – 1 time / Baptised – 1 time.
Now there are indeed other variations to this word found in the Scriptures,
But “Baptizo” is the main Greek terminology used for Baptism.
And interestingly, the word means: “To immerse”, or “to submerge”.
That is critical for us to understand – when it comes to the One Baptism...
That the Lord speaks of in the Scriptures, and to it’s practice in the Right Way.
Baptism - the way that it is referred to in the Scriptures,
Means to immerse or to submerge under water.
The word “Baptizo” never means “to sprinkle” or “to pour”.
There are four other commonly used Greek words used in the New Testament
Which mean to sprinkle or to pour. These words are:
Rhantizo, Proschusis, Ekcheo, and Epicheo
Now although Jesus and the Disciples did use these same Greek Words,
There is not one time in the Scriptures - when they are used with reference to,
Or in the context of - Scriptural Baptism.
That’s because the One Baptism...the Right kind of Baptism...Scriptural Baptism,
Involves full immersion or submerging under water.
Every time Jesus and the Apostles used the word “Baptizo” they understood its meaning.
Now lets consider how Jesus was Baptised back in 16:
And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water:
Now come up out of the water…
You have to first go down into the water,
And that means that there needs to be a significant volume of water first present.
Add this to the fact that we know in verse number 13
That Jesus was Baptised in the River Jordon
Which was a sizeable body of water,
And since the word Baptise itself means to immerse and to submerge,
Then its pretty easy to see and conclude
That the right method for Baptism
Is by the practice of full immersion under the water.
Not by sprinkling, spraying, showering, pouring or any other method.
We also see this practice clearly recorded in Mark 1:9-11
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
So again we see Jesus being Baptised in a sizeable body of water
That allowed for full immersion within the River Jordan.
And again we see the same ratification by the Holy Trinity
That this was in fact the right thing to do – and was pleasing in God’s eyes.
So this was the example Jesus gave,
However it’s the very same practice we see followed again and again in the Scriptures.
Lets turn to Mark 1:5
And there went out unto him [John The Baptist] all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
The River Jordan was a sizeable, ready source of water within the middle east
That allowed the right practice for baptism,
And people came out of all the land of Judea to be baptised there.
And lets not forget about our good friend the Ethiopian.
What was the method and practice of Baptism that Philip followed? Acts 8:38
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
So again what do we see here…
Both Philip and the Eunuch first went down into the water together
The Eunuch was then Baptised – that means fully immersed
Then we are told that they came up out of the water together
So this isn’t just some puddle or a vessel of water that was used for sprinkling, pouring or dabbing.
Lets turn to John 3:23
And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
Why was John Baptising in Aenon…
…because there was much water there:
Water is a reasonably scare commodity in the dessert regions of the middle East
And so John went where there was a lot of water,
They didn’t bring him cups or buckets of water for Baptism.
Full immersion under water requires more than just a sprinkling of water.
This is the practice we see in the Bible.
The right method for Baptism is by full immersion
In a body of water where there is sufficient volume to do so.
That’s what we see in the Scriptures…
And that’s the example Jesus left for us to follow.
Furthermore, everything pictorial and spiritually represented through the act of baptism
Requires the right practice to be followed.
You see, Baptism means something!
It is not just something we do. It is not just a fun day splashing around in the water.
No. Baptism is spiritually pictorial - illustrating to all who see it, some wonderful Scriptural truths.
Now if the right practice is not followed…
Then the spiritual significance behind baptism will be lost.
First of all, the lowering and full immersion a believer under the water
Represents the death and burial of Jesus Christ,
While the raising up of that person out of the water represents His resurrection.
This act is symbolic and cannot be adequately pictured through other methods like sprinkling or dabbing.
Furthermore, Baptism represents the spiritual change that takes place in a true believers life.
Paul talks about how their old manner and sinful ways of living in the flesh…
Is considered dead and buried in Christ,
So that they can be raised up to live a new life to glorify Him.
Again the spiritual significance of this picture is best represented through the biblical method
And the Scriptural example we see left for us to follow.
And that is Baptism by full immersion under the water.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion then, what can we say to all of this?
Well as Paul declared through Ephesians 4:5 – there is only One Baptisim
And we know this to be the Right Baptism for us to follow.
Baptisim that follows any other method than what the bible teaches – is not Scriptural.
And baptisim that is not scriptural it is unscriptural
Many people think that because they have had an experience with water – they are baptised.
No Scriptural Baptisim must follow the right method as seen practiced in the Bible,
And that will always be through submersion and full immersion under the water.
Brethren this is what we believe – because this is what the Bible teaches.
