WATER BAPTISM
By Pastor James May
Matthew 3:4-6, "And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins."
This is the first account we have of water baptism in the New Testament. Water baptism is not taught as an ordinance in the Old Testament because this was an ordinance of the New Testament Church. Since being born again was not possible until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there was no reason to teach baptism in the Old Testament. There were types and shadows of water baptism such as when the Children of Israel left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea and when Joshua crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness of Sinai.
Matthew 3:11, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"
Matthew 3:13-17, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 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: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The baptism in water of John the Baptist was a baptism unto repentance and acceptance of the gospel of the coming Messiah who John had not met yet. When Jesus came on the scene and asked John to Baptize him in the River Jordan, John suddenly realized who and what his baptism was all about.
Water baptism is a symbolic burial, by which the new Christian publicly declares they have died, and are now beginning a new life, in Christ.
Baptize is the English form of a Greek word that means to immerse or to place something into something else.
In water baptism, the believer is put completely under water, then immediately raised out of the water.
Water baptism is a statement of faith: my old life is behind me -- I am a new person, with a new life.
Water baptism is a sign of repentance -- repentance means change -- a change so drastic that the old person is "buried."
It does not make you acceptable to God. As a work of righteousness, trying to obtain a good standing with God, it is worthless.
Water baptism is a way of giving testimony to what has happened inwardly, and a clear commitment to turn from the old life.
Water Baptism is For Your Benefit more than God’s.
Water baptism outwardly demonstrates what has happened inwardly. Water baptism helps you to grasp the reality of the spiritual truth that the old "you" has died.
Water baptism is only as important as the participant believes it to be. Water baptism is their confession, and a public commitment. Unless the person really believes they died, there is no need for a burial.
It is not something we must do to impress God, but something to impress on our mind what happened to us inwardly. Water baptism is for our benefit -- not God’s.
Water baptism is about death -- your death. ("Death" is the end of something.) Water baptism is your public declaration of your death. It is a public confession of faith: I have died to my old life and my old ways.
By being baptized in water you are saying that you have died to sin, selfishness, and the world’s ways. Water baptism is a public burial of the old life. This is why we baptize through total immersion and not sprinkling of water or pouring of water over the body. When you bury a dead body, you don’t sprinkle dirt on it and leave it. Neither do you throw a few shovels of dirt on the body and leave the rest uncovered. You bury it completely and cover it completely so that no one can tamper with the body or steal the body for some perverted practice. If your old man is really dead, lets bury it completely. I don’t want a dead hand or a foot left out. Put it all under and make sure that the old life of sin is dead and buried for good.
By asking for burial, you declare that you believe something has died. There is no need for a burial without a death.
Burial is not absolutely required for salvation, but is commanded by Jesus to fulfill all righteousness. So those who receive Jesus Christ should normally be baptized in water at their first opportunity.
In the book of Acts, water baptism always seemed to be done without delay. Although burial can take place at any time, the best time is immediately after death has been confirmed.
As we are baptized in water, we are in effect saying goodbye to our old life (self), and saying hello to a new creation that is IN Christ Jesus.
Because of death you are free from your old master the devil; now you have a new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.
A major benefit to the believer is the clean break that water baptism makes with their past. When the devil brings temptations and accusations concerning their old life -- the believer can reply, "That person is dead and buried. I am a new person in Christ."
Water baptism is a point of separation, dividing the old from the new. It says the past is dead and gone -- drawing a clear line between the old life and the new, graphically imprinted on the mind of the believer.
Why was Jesus baptized in water? He was, and is, our pattern. And, in a sense, He was, at that point, dying to His past life.
From that point, His first allegiance would no longer be to earthly relatives. Jesus would no longer be a carpenter. He was beginning His public ministry.
Jesus was declaring that He was dead to any selfishness and existed solely to do the will of the Father God.
Water baptism pictures the most fundamental truths of the Gospel: the burial and resurrection of Christ, and of the believer in union with Him.
By means of water baptism, we demonstrate to the world our identification with the crucified and risen Christ.
By water baptism we testify that our old life is gone, and we are now joined with Jesus. We are pledging ourselves to a new life, with Jesus Christ Who died for us, and rose again.
Water baptism also acknowledges that the person being immersed is indeed a Christian believer.
So, all who baptize should question converts, just as Philip did the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:37, "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." We must be sure of their commitment to Christ, before immersing them in water. Only those who accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ should be baptized in water.
Which Formula Of Words is right?
Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said unto them, 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 Ghost."
Some people place great importance on certain words being spoken when a person is baptized in water. This is mostly religious tradition for the words being said are not nearly as important as the condition of the heart of the person being baptized.
Colossians 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."
"In the name of Jesus" can mean by the authority and command of Jesus. We do not walk around every day saying I go to work in Jesus’ name, I go to sleep in Jesus’ name, or I eat lunch in Jesus’ name. Yes, we live and move and have our very existence because of Jesus but we do not walk around invoking his name, like some magic talisman or magic potion, upon everything we do. We just live our lives according to the Lordship that He has in our lives and we behave in a fashion that will bring glory to Christ in all that we do.
Claiming that certain words must be said at the time of water baptism, or that only certain special people can truly baptize you in water, makes water baptism into a magical rite -- a work of man trying to be right with God.
The words spoken by the person baptizing you in water will not save you, or condemn you. Water baptism is not some magic ritual that makes you right with God. Water baptism is a testimony and picture-sermon of what God did in you. Baptism does not wash away your sin. The Blood of Jesus is the only thing that wash your sins away.
Even if no words are spoken over you during your water baptism, it is still a picture of burial and resurrection.
When baptizing new believers, saying something like, "In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I baptize you into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," is probably best. Then the devil cannot tempt them to think they were not baptized in the right name.
Must You Be Baptized To Be Saved?
In Luke 23:39-43, we have the record of one of the criminals crucified with Jesus acknowledging Him as Lord.
Luke 23:39-43, "And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Jesus told the criminal he would be with Him in Paradise, even though he was not baptized in water.
Also, in Acts 10:44-48, Cornelius’ household became believers, received the Holy Spirit, and began speaking in tongues, before being baptized in water.
Acts 10:44-48, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord."
No work that we can do in the human ability has the power to bring regeneration or salvation to any of us.
Titus 3:5, "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;"
We are not saved by works of righteousness that we do. Many think of water baptism as a work that must be done to be right with God but this is not true.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
If water baptism was necessary for salvation, then salvation would partly be by works, and not by grace.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
The apostle Paul, who received the Gospel direct from the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, said he was not sent to baptize. If water baptism was necessary for salvation, that would not make any sense.
Salvation cannot be dependent on physical surroundings -- such as water being present for baptism -- there are too many situations where water baptism would be impossible.
Baptism in water is not necessary for salvation, but is beneficial for the believer. Water baptism provides a good foundation, if understood correctly.
Water baptism is commanded by Jesus to fulfill all righteousness and as such is considered as an ordinance of the church much in the same fashion as partaking of the Lord’s Supper or Communion, Foot Washing (not regularly practiced) or Dedicating a Child to the Lord.
While all of these ordinances will enhance and bless the one who participates under the right spirit and attitude, none of these will add to or take away from your salvation if they are not practiced at all because salvation does not depend upon any works that we do other than accepting Christ as Lord and repenting of sin.
