“What We Believe: About Baptism”
Introduction:
In II Kings 5 Naaman came down with the deadly skin disease called leprosy. Wanting to be healed of the disease he went to the prophet Elisha. Elisha told him what he must do to be healed of that disease. He told Naaman to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River and his leprosy would be washed away. Naaman didn’t like the prophets idea, he complained, and said “aren’t those two rivers in Damascus equally as good of rivers?” Elisha told him that if he wanted to be healed, he had to wash seven times in the Jordan River.
He was given a very specific command for what he must do to be healed of his leprosy and only when he obeyed the specific command of God was he healed of his leprosy. He wouldn’t have been healed any other way in any other river. The command of God was to wash seven times in the Jordan. Naaman obeyed that command and was healed.
It was a few days before their wedding. They wanted to have a big wedding party and celebrate with all their closest friends. They invited everybody that they knew. There were no limits on how many people could come. People turned out by the truckload, even people they did not know. The only requirement for the people coming into the party was that they had to be properly dressed. As they were mingling around, the groom noticed a man that was not properly dressed in the wedding garments. He called for his bouncer, and the man was thrown out into the darkness because he was not properly dressed at the wedding banquet.
This was a parable that Jesus told of what happens to those who are not clothed in Christ when they stand before Jesus on judgment.
If you were to go into any given number of churches and ask what their views of Christian Baptism were, there is a good possibility that there would be varying views in all the churches. It seems that baptism is the issue that divides most churches. Why are there so many debated over baptism? Can’t people just study and understand. I believe it is possible despite all the confusion and debates to find out what God’s Word teaches on this issue. I think that is important every now and then to explain what we believe here at Oak Grove Christian Church and why we believe it. Of course there is no preacher or man or Church that is incapable of not teaching the truth on an issue, and it is important for us as the church not to only hear what we teach, but to know why we teach it and how to defend that against opposing views. I believe that we will see that this view is not something that is just pulled out of the air or made up by man, but it is the teachings that are found in the scriptures.
I hope that this message will force us to study the scriptures and search for the Truth. I ask that you look into this open minded and try to see what the Truth is. Perhaps today you need examine your own baptism to see why you were immersed, and perhaps this will help you as you teach and share your faith with others of different faith.
Text: Romans 6:1-7
I. Who?
First, it is important to look at who should be baptized? Some churches baptize babies, some churches baptize infants, and some churches baptize adults only. What does the Bible say about this? Who should be baptized Biblically? I believe that the Bible teaches clearly on this issue, especially when we consider what baptism is.
a. Those Who can believe
Those who can be baptized biblically must believe that Jesus is the Christ in order to be baptized
Acts 8:36-37
Belief is a prerequisite to baptism. The problem comes when people accept their infant baptism as their Christian baptism. As far as I know in scripture a baby cannot consciously believe. If someone cannot believe in Christ, how can they be baptized in Christ? Sometimes I think that people are baptized who aren’t really baptized. Baptism is not simply getting wet at any age. Ephesians says that there is only one baptism. Sometimes people just get wet.
b. Those Who can repent
Secondly those who can repent can be baptized. Remember in Acts 2 the command was to repent and be baptized. A person must repent in order to be baptized. What does that say to people who do baptize babies? How can a baby repent? What do they have to repent of? Many churches will baptize babies in order to wash away their sins that they inherited from their parents. First of all, when a baby is born they are innocent; they are not born guilty of sins. Those people who baptize babies believe if the baby dies they will be lost. As far as I understand when a child is born they are not full of sin, they do not consciously conceive sin in their heart and then act upon it. How can a baby repent, they do not have sin? Secondly, even if a baby had sins, how can a baby consciously decide that they want to turn away from their sins?
As you read the book of Acts, we see many instances of conversions. In those conversions we never read of a baby being converted. I believe that the scriptures teach that baptism is for adults alone, not because God does not love babies and want them to come to Him, but because babies are not held accountable for sin because they do not have sin. When one reaches the age that they are accountable for their sins, then they must give an account before God. No one can give a definite age for when a person should be baptized, but baptism should be for those who are old enough to believe logically that Jesus is the Christ, and be able to repent of their sins.
For the first 500 years of church history, adults exclusively were baptized. As the course of history developed, the Biblical idea of who should be baptized was corrupted. If you are an adult, who has sinned, and believes that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, then you are able to have a Biblical baptism. A baby being baptized is not baptism at all, this is not putting down those who baptize babies, but it is simply trying to teach things the way the Bible does.
II. How?
Another question that needs to be considered is how is a person to be baptized? Is sprinkling alright? Or should a person be totally immersed in water?
A Methodist preacher said to a Christian preacher, “If I immerse somebody just up to his ankles, is that enough? “No,” answers the Christian. “How about up to his knees?” “Nope.” “How about up to his shoulders?” “No sir!” You mean I’ve got to get the water over the top of his head?” That’s right. Good says the Methodist that proves it is the top of the head that’s the important part to get wet.”
Does it really matter how a person is baptized? I believe that we can learn from the scriptures how a person should be baptized. What does the Bible teach, and can we learn from the scriptures how a person should be baptized?
a. Word
First, it is important to look at the Greek word for baptism. As you probably know the Bible was not originally written in English, what we read today is a translation of the original language. The Greek word for baptism is, baptizo, which literally means to plunge, dip, or immerse. What does this say about how a person should be baptized? Is sprinkling actually a baptism? The problem came because when the scholars were translating the Bible into English, the decided not to literally translate the word, and they created a new English word; baptism. If one wants to be Biblically correct, one could replace the word baptism every time with immerse.
b. Symbolism
Secondly, we learn that baptism is symbolic of a burial as Romans 6 tells us. Now, I am not a genius, but when I am buried I do not want dirt sprinkled on my casket, I want it to cover me. The same is true of Christian baptism. I want to be covered or buried in the watery grave of baptism. No way but immersion portrays the burial that baptism is supposed to portray.
c. Instances
In the New Testament there are several example of baptism, and from reading the scriptures alone one can determine the how a person should be baptized. I think it is important for us to always understand that we can not lean on Man’s wisdom. Because men can deceive and be deceived, but we need to go to God’s Word and simply find our truth from there.
1. John the Baptist
John 3:23
Now one must ask why John had to have much water. If he was sprinkling he didn’t need much water, but if he was immersing people, much water was needed.
2. Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:16
Did you notice that Jesus came up out of the water? I hope it is starting to become more clear how a person in baptized Biblically. I don’t know about you, but I want to be baptized the way that God’s Word says to and I want to lead people to Jesus the way God’s Word says to come to Him.
3. Ethiopian’s Baptism
Acts 8:38-39
Again notice the language of God’s Word, they went down into the water and they came up out of the water. It is important to pay attention to the details so that we do not get deceived. God’s Word does not leave us hanging, it gives to us clearly what we must do to be saved, and it makes it clear that baptism Biblically is by immersion. Any other way is not really a baptism, but it is getting wet.
If we go to God’s Word and His Word alone a lot of the confusion will be removed and we can see the truth about how a person is to be baptized?
III. Why?
a. to put on Christ
Galatians 3:26-27
One of the reasons to be baptized is to put on Christ. A lot of times you will hear a person saying, “I am in Christ”, but a person cannot be in Christ unless they are immersed. Baptism is putting on Christ and clothing you in Christ. If you are not clothed in Christ, you have to stand before God on judgment based on your own righteousness, but if you were immersed you stand before Him and He sees you as he sees Jesus because you are in Christ and clothed with Him. Perhaps you remember the story I told you of the wedding garments. Those not wearing the robes of Christ will not be allowed into the wedding banquet. Baptism is putting on Christ. Without Christ on you cannot be saved.
Revelation 7:14
Baptism is the point in time when we are covered in the blood of Jesus. Can a person be saved outside of the blood of Christ?
b. to be born again and rebirth
John 3:3-5
Jesus made it clear that one cannot be saved unless he is born again or born of the water and the Spirit? How do you think we are born of the water and spirit? We are born again at baptism. A lot of people say they are born again Christians, but they have not been born of the water and the Spirit.
Titus 3:5
Baptism is a rebirth, and any one who is baptized is a new creation and had been born into the family of God.
c. to be forgiven of sins
Among people there are many arguments about the purpose of baptism, but if we will simply look at the Bible I believe that we can come to agreement. Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 22:16
Paul was told to be baptized to wash away his sins.
Acts 2:38
Peter preached that with baptism comes the forgiveness of sins. Man can teach anything they want about how are sins are forgiven, men say all day long that sins can be forgiven before baptism. God is God and He can forgive sins whenever he wants to, but there is no promise or comfort for forgiveness of sins apart from Baptism. The New Testament knows nothing of an unimmersed Christian. One purpose for baptism is forgiveness of sins; can one be saved without their sins forgiven?
d. to get the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:38
The Holy Spirit is our down payment of our eternal salvation. The Holy Spirit is a way that God recognized us as His Children. Those without the Holy Spirit are not saved. Why be baptized? Those who are baptized receive the indwelling gift of the Holy Spirit.
e. to be saved
Many people will argue that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. If that is the case, let us go to God’s Word where no one can question, argue or debate…
Mark 16:16
I Peter 3:21
This shows clearly that baptism and salvation are linked hand in hand. Baptism is not the ending line, it is the start. It is the point in time where our obedience meets God’s promises. We are saved by faith through grace, at baptism. We can argue till we are blue in the face, but if we do we have to ignore these verses that I mentioned and have to wonder why Jesus did it, why Peter preached and why Paul obeyed it. If God says to be baptized, I’m not going to argue I am going to obey. Who am I to argue with God.
f. to obey the gospel
II Thessalonians 1:8
I Corinthians 15:1-4
Baptism is obeying the gospel of Jesus Christ
If one cannot be saved without the forgiveness of sins, without the Holy Spirit, without being in Christ, without be born again, without obeying the gospel, can one be saved without being baptized for the forgiveness of sins?
I have a feeling that many people here have not been baptized the way the Bible says to be, and without that there is no hope. Peter said that baptism is a pledge of good conscience towards God, and there is no sense and being unsure about your salvation. If you are doubting be immersed so you can be sure you are right with God.
Many would argue with me and say that baptism is a work and we are saved by grace alone, but we must remember that baptism is a display of grace, and it is where we meet God’s grace. Just remember if you struggle with this issue or doubt what I am saying, let the scriptures speak and man be silent. Let the Bible teach you. In order to understand how to lead a person to Christ the best place to go is Acts, where people were lead to Christ.
At Pentecost, when asked what to do to be saved, Peter said, repent and be baptized.
The Ethiopian Eunuch wanted to be baptized immediately following hearing the gospel.
Lydia and he household were baptized after they heard.
The Philippian Jailer was baptized after he heard Paul’s preaching.
Paul was baptized after he was commanded on the road to Damascus.
Acts 18:24-26
Perhaps you need the way of the Lord explained more adequately. Perhaps you need some things about baptism clarified and you need to come to Jesus on His terms.
Just remember baptism alone does not save. Only when linked with belief, confessing, repentance, does it mean anything. And it is simply the starting point, not the finish line. Baptism is dedicating yourself to serving the Lord and living faithfully for your life. We don’t get dunked and then leave, we get dunked and the serve.
