“Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
We learn from this verse that the Lord did not tell His disciples to make members! He told His disciples to make fellow disciples of Him. And He said, when a person has come to the saving knowledge of the Lord, where he is willing to submit to discipleship, the outward act which demonstrates that willingness, which seals His profession of faith and obedience, is that he should be baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. After having baptized, he then enters into a further life of discipline and training.
The baptizer, or the leaders that are responsible for his spiritual well-being, must then teach him to observe all things that the Lord taught His disciples to observe. And the Lord said, “This process is to go on until I come back.” Then He said, “I’m with you until the end of the age.” In other words, He commanded His disciples, “You go out and make disciples, and when they receive your teachings and are willing to submit themselves to the discipleship, let the outward evidence of their obedience and commitment to discipleship be that they are baptized in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Then you teach them just as I’ve taught you”.
And as far as God was concerned, the process was to continue the same until the age closed. There was never any reason to change or amend that process because it was the right one, the one that worked, it was the one that God had commanded and authorised.
In Mark 16:15-16, we have a similar commission given to the disciples at the close of the earthly ministry of Jesus. “And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
So, the Lord said, this gospel is to be preached to every human being in all the world and every person who believes the gospel is to show forth his believing—the evidence of his believing will be that he will be baptized. Just as the seal of discipleship was to be baptized, so is the evidence of believing is to be baptized. In other words, the thing that immediately follows believing and becoming a disciple is being baptized. This is the outward evidence that a person has believed and committed himself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
When we read through the scriptures, we notice from the beginning of the Church era in Acts of Apostles, what was the pattern followed for to become a Christian. Immediately after the first sermon was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost- those who heard the gospel started asking, Acts 2:38 “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter said, 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 Spirit.”
The first thing to do before they could be baptized was to repent—to make a firm decision to turn from their sinful way, their rebellion, their stubbornness, their self-sufficiency, their self-righteousness, to turn and submit to God and be willing to meet His further requirements.
Then we read in Acts chapter 8 that Philip went down to Samaria and preached one message to the Samaritans and the message was Christ. That’s all he preached. But it says in Acts 8:12: “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.”
Every person in the book of Acts who heard the gospel and believed knew immediately that it was his responsibility to be baptized forthwith. There is not a single case in the book of Acts of any person who believed the gospel and claimed salvation through faith in Jesus Christ without being immediately baptized.
As we continue reading the Book of Acts, in the 8th chapter, we see Philip was on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, he met the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot, found him reading from Isaiah 53, the eunuch conversed with Philip and didn’t know about whom he was reading, and then it says, “Philip opened his mouth at the same Scripture and preached unto the eunuch about Lord Jesus Christ. But a little later the chariot was passing a pool of water or stream beside the road, and the eunuch said, not insisted by Philip: “Look, here’s water, why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe; you certainly may.” And the Scripture says they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized the eunuch. You see that immediately the eunuch accepted the message of Philip, without further instruction or any other kind of preliminary, he knew that it was required of him that he be baptized and he was extremely anxious to be baptized as quickly as possible.
In Acts 9:18 we read the conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus Road. And then he came into Damascus and Ananias was sent to him, a humble disciple, to lay hands on him that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And in Acts 9:18, it says Saul was baptized “forthwith,” immediately. And he recalls that Ananias said to him immediately after he accepted the message of repentance, “... now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)
In Acts chapter 10, we read how Peter was directed to the house of Cornelius supernaturally by a vision. And he began to tell them about Jesus. While he was still preaching, the Holy Spirit fell on the whole household of Cornelius, and without exception they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit, the evidence being that the Jewish believers heard these Gentiles speak with tongues and magnify God. And, of course, immediately, the outward act of acknowledgment was the act of baptism. So, Peter said: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:47)
Now these people had already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But the baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a substitute for water baptism. Neither is water baptism a substitute for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They are two separate but complementary provisions of God for every person who comes to faith in Jesus Christ.
Then, in Acts chapter 16, we have the incident of Paul and Silas in the prison, and at midnight they are singing and praising, and God sends an earthquake, shakes the prison, opens every door, sets every prisoner free. The jailer jumps in and is about to commit suicide because he had to answer with his own life for the life of his prisoners. But Paul said, “Don’t do yourself any harm; we’re all here,” and then the jailer said, “What must I do to be saved?” And the answer, given in Acts 16:31 is: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Then it says they preached the Word of God to the jailer and his household, and they were all baptized “the same hour of the night.” Look at the urgency of that. They didn’t even wait for dawn to come. The moment they were convinced that they must put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, immediately the whole family, having heard the Word, and the Scripture is very emphatic that they all heard the Word, and they all believed. Having done that, immediately the whole household was baptized as an evidence of their faith in Jesus Christ.
So, this is the New Testament teaching. The book of Acts does not give any other pattern. It is always ‘believe and be baptized’. And normally they were baptized, within a few hours of believing.
What is the spiritual significance of baptism?
On the cross, Jesus Christ, by the Father’s will, identified Himself with a lost, fallen, sin-cursed human race. He was the last Adam, the end of the Adamic inheritance. All the punishment that was due by Divine Justice to the entire human race came upon Him. He paid our penalty, He took our sicknesses, He took our pains, He was made a curse, and He died our death. And when He died on the cross in the sight of God, viewed from the point of eternity, the Scripture says, our old, carnal, rebellious fallen nature, our old man, died in Him. Jesus died my death. Biblically speaking, when Christ died, my old man, my rebellious, Adamic nature died in Him. Therefore, I am now to reckon myself dead to sin. Just as dead as Jesus was when He died on the cross. Likewise, in the same measure, the Scripture says, “Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed,” dead in reality, not just in theory, but indeed in reality, unto sin”.
Now, what follows death? Always in the normal pattern of human behavior, death is followed by burial. Jesus died on the cross. His body was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb by burial. But, Praise the Lord! on the third day He rose again. The Scripture says He was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. And in Romans 1:4 it says the power that raised Him from the dead was the power of the Holy Spirit. So, He did not remain in the tomb; but at God’s appointed hour, by the operation of the Holy Spirit sent by the Father, He was raised from the tomb, and walked forth into, the Scripture says, a newness of life. A new creation. A new order. A new beginning.
Likewise, when I submit myself to be baptized, I am saying that I’m identifying myself with Jesus in His death and resurrection. I’m dead with Him to sin, my old sinful nature has died, now it’s not going to trouble me anymore, because when a thing is dead it loses its power to do harm. I’m dead to sin and sin has no more attraction for me, sin produces no more reaction from me, sin has no more control over me. I am dead indeed unto sin.
The next step is that I need to be identified with my Lord in burial. Well, as He was buried in the tomb of rock, I am to be buried symbolically in a watery grave! Buried by baptism. But Praise God! I do not stay in the tomb, I rise to walk in newness of life. And I depend on the same power that raised Jesus from the dead to raise me out of the tomb of my death to walk in newness of life.
Who may be baptized?
A. Believers may be baptized.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)
“See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 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.... And he baptized him (Acts 8:36-38).
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."...He and all his family were baptized ... they had come to believe in God. (Acts 16:30-34)
B. Those who have repented of their sins may be baptized.
Repent, and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
C. There is no infant baptism recorded or taught in the New Testament.
1. Belief and repentance are required before water baptism. Infants are incapable of these things. What is often called believers' baptism is the only method that fulfils these biblical requirements.
2. Acts 16:30-34 says the jailer "and all his family" were baptized.
a. Advocates of infant baptism presuppose that the family included one or more small children.
b. However, verse 34 says that the whole family "had come to believe in God". That would preclude babies, who are still incapable of such faith.
Why should believers be baptized?
A. Our Lord Jesus Christ commanded it. We are baptized in obedience to Him.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
B. Water baptism by immersion was apostolic doctrine and practice.
Repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38, Peter speaking)
So, he ordered that they be baptized. (Acts 10:48, Peter speaking)
I also baptized the household of Stephanas. (I Corinthians 1:16, Paul speaking)
C. We are baptized into the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God. (Colossians 2:12)
“Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection”. (Romans 6:3-5)
D. There is a Declaration of remission of our sins in water baptism.
Repent...and be baptized...for the forgiveness of your sins. (Acts 2:38)
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death.... Our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin because anyone who has died has been freed from sin”. (Romans 6:4-7)
E. The triune name of God- God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spirit.
The question is sometimes asked, "Is water baptism necessary?" The five reasons just listed would seem to reply with a resounding "Yes!" By submitting to full immersion baptism in water, born-again believers (1) are obeying Jesus' command, (2) are following apostolic practice, (3) are being "buried and risen" with Christ, (4) are experiencing part of God's gracious remission of our sins, and (5) are baptized in the wonderful, triune name of the Lord God.
How Should Christians be Baptized?
A. By full immersion in water. Immersion baptism is the single, correct, biblical method.
At that time Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water. (Mark 1:9-10). The full immersion baptism of Jesus Christ sets a proper example for us.
Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. (John 3:23)
B. The Greek word for baptize (baptizo) means to fully immerse something in a fluid.
1. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words states that the word baptizo is a form of the word bapto, meaning to dip, and was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.
2. Vine's sets forth the noun form as follows: "baptisma ... baptism, consisting of the process of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip)."
C. The fact that baptism in water is to be by full immersion is further validated by its being likened biblically to a burial.
We were therefore buried with him through baptism. (Romans 6:4)
Having been buried with him in baptism. (Colossians 2:12)
In what name should Christians be baptized?
Christians should be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus commanded baptism in water to be "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
Should Christians be Re-Baptized if they have not been Baptized in the Name of the Triune God?
A. Yes! In Acts 19:1-5 the new converts in Ephesus had believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and had received water baptism. But Paul discovered that they had only been baptized by the baptism of John, which was a pre-Christian baptism. So, he instructed them and then had them baptized by immersion in water again, and this time in Christian baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“By what baptism then were you baptized? They said, By the baptism of John. Then said Paul, John verily baptized the people with the baptism of repentance, saying to them that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, Jesus Christ. When they heard these things, they were baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Acts 19:3-5)
B. Proper water baptism is scriptural water baptism. The record of the book of Acts is that Jesus' disciples obeyed his baptismal command (Matthew 28:19) by baptizing by full immersion in the triune name of the triune God!
Given below is a summary:
1. Those who have repented of their sins and have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ are eligible to be baptized in water. Infant baptism fails this biblical requirement. Believers' baptism is the biblical standard.
2. They should be baptized immediately upon conversion to Christ.
3. By receiving water baptism, they are following our Lord Jesus' command and the apostolic doctrine and practice.
4. They are baptized into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for the remission of and release from their sins.
5. Believers' water baptism by immersion is the consistent biblical pattern.
6. Biblical baptism is done in the name of God the Father and of God the Son and of God the Holy Spirit.
7. Believers who have not been fully immersed, or who have been immersed but not in the triune name, should be baptized by immersion in that name!
I grew up in the Orthodox Church, and when I was a little child, I was sprinkled. They called it baptism, but when I was born again, I got immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Break with tradition. Break with those dead systems in which maybe your parents brought you up according to the light they had. But now that God has given you more light, live according to it.
Now, if you are lying on a sick bed and you can’t get up to be baptized, that is different. The dying thief on the cross was not baptized. But as some say—and for you—"You are not a dying thief. You are living thief!" There is a lot of difference between you and that thief on the cross. So, if you are lying in a bed in a hospital and you are born again and you can’t get baptized, I say baptism is not necessary you can be filled with the Holy Spirit without it.
