PERSPECTIVES ON BIBLICAL BAPTISM
1. Baptism is an extremely important subject because of the connection made in the Bible between baptism and salvation.
a. 1 Peter 3:21 (NASB) And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
b. Acts 2:36-38 (NKJV) "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
2. Most believers in Christ understand that the Bible teaches that people should be baptized. However, there is tremendous confusion caused by conflicting teaching by various denominational groups about baptism. As people begin to study New Testament teaching about baptism, they often have questions about whether or not they have been baptized the way the Bible teaches.
3. In this study, we will try to help you find Bible answers to some of the questions you might have about baptism. All we ask is that you study with an open mind and with a heart prepared to do whatever you become convinced the Bible teaches you to do. There is no way that I can avoid leaving the impression with some of you that I am saying you’re wrong in what you’ve always thought about baptism. My aim is certainly not to insult your intelligence. It is not to criticize your parents, your preachers, or others who have taught you about baptism. I do have an obligation, however, to challenge your assumptions and call on you to look to the Bible for answers to the confusion which exists about baptism.
SEVEN QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT YOUR BAPTISM:
I. Did I have the right authority for my baptism?
A. From God or man? This is a vital question, because all the conflicting doctrines about baptism cannot all come from God. We must beware of "teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" [Matthew 15:9]. Likewise, we must be careful about following those man-made doctrines, especially on a matter as important as baptism.
B. Acts 19:1-5 provides the only New Testament example of people being "re-baptized" because something was wrong with their first baptism. Paul met a group of about twelve men who had been baptized with John’s baptism (apparently by Apollos years after the death of John and the establishment of the church). Paul taught them that John had baptized with a baptism of repentance teaching people that they should believe on the One who would come after, that is, on Christ Jesus [Acts 19:4]. When those men heard Paul’s teaching, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 19:5]. Being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus means acting according to His authority. Jesus commanded baptism. He gave the Great Commission which said to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" [Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)].
C. Any baptism which differs from the baptism commanded by Christ cannot be baptism in the name of Christ! As we study through the subject of baptism, if you find any discrepancies between what the Bible teaches about baptism and what you have experienced, you must be honest enough to acknowledge that your baptism is from man instead of from Christ.
II. Did my baptism take place at the right time in my life?
A. Some have been baptized when they were too young to understand what they were doing. Christianity is a religion of understanding. Following a ritual without knowing what you are doing accomplishes nothing in real Christianity.
B. Baptism is an act of submission to the will of God. We come before the Lord asking "What must I do to be saved?" [Acts 16:30 (NKJV) And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"] Whatever answer the Lord gives (through the teaching of the Bible) must be followed.
C. When Saul of Tarsus asked a similar question [Acts 9:6], the Lord sent Ananias to tell him to arise and be baptized and wash away his sins [Acts 22:16]. Saul had to be able to understand that his choice was either to obey or to disobey. Ananias was not going to throw him into the water and force him under. Saul had to make a voluntary decision to do what the Lord commanded. Acts 9:18 tells us that he arose and was baptized.
D. People who are too young to make such a choice are not ready to be baptized. Obviously, this leaves out babies and very young children. But what about Acts 16:15? Were not Lydia and her household baptized? Yes, that’s what the text says. But it says nothing about babies or young children. Those who were living at Lydia’s house were baptized. You can’t base a point of doctrine on something you read into a text.
III. Did I believe in Christ when I was baptized?
A. Faith is necessary.
1. Our denominational friends who stress the importance of believing in Christ as the Son of God are right in what they say about the necessity of faith. We are justified by faith [Romans 5:1]. Without faith, it is impossible to please God [Hebrews 11:6]. If we do not believe in Christ, we will die in our sins [John 8:24].
2. Our objection comes when they try to add the word only to their doctrine of salvation-by-faith. [James 2:24 (NKJV) You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ]
B. Jesus taught, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’ [Mark 16:16 (NKJV)] A baby or small child does not have the ability to believe in Christ, so that child is not ready for baptism.
IV. Did I repent of my sins before I was baptized?
A. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins [Mark 1:4]. The same requirement is found in New Testament teaching about the baptism Christ commands [Acts 2:38].
B. Obviously, this is another point of objection to the doctrine of infant baptism. Infant baptism is rationalized this way: Babies are born in sin. Baptism washes away sins. Therefore, babies should be baptized so they will be saved if they die. The problem with this reasoning is that it starts with a false premise that babies are born in sin. We don’t inherit sin from others [Ezekiel 18:20 (NKJV) "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.] Babies and small children have no sins. There is no need for them to be baptized.
C. There are also times when grown-ups are baptized without committing themselves to make real changes in their lifestyles. If a person is baptized but not converted, he only gets wet [Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.]
V. Did I make the right confession before I was baptized?
A. The Bible teaches that disciples must be willing to confess Christ before others [Matthew 10:32-33 (NKJV) "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven."
B. We are taught to confess our faith in Christ. When the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip what hindered him from being baptized, he was told, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The Ethiopian replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." [Acts 8:36-37] Then Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water and Philip baptized him [Acts 8:38]. (We recognize that there are textual questions about Acts 8:37, but the doctrine of confession does not depend solely on this verse.) Romans 10:10 (NKJV) says, "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
C. Compare this Bible confession with what is commonly heard in some denominations: "I believe that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned my sins." Understand what is claimed in this confession. Before baptism, the candidate says that his sins have already been pardoned. He believes he is already saved without having been baptized. Keep that distinction in mind as we continue our study.
VI. Was I baptized in the right way?
A. There are two modes of baptism commonly used today.
1. Immersion where the whole body goes under water
2. A smaller amount of water is sprinkled or poured but immersion does not occur
B. Which is the biblical way of performing baptism?
1. John the Baptizer baptized at Aenon near Salim because there was much water there [John 3:23]. "Much water" might be necessary for immersions, but not for sprinkling.
2. Philip and the Ethiopian went down into the water and came up out of the water [Acts 8:38-39]. It makes no sense to take someone out into the water only to sprinkle a few drops on his head.
3. Baptism is described in the Bible as a burial [Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12].
4. The Greek word baptizo means "to dip, to plunge, or to immerse."
5. The practice of church history shows that immersion was the mode of baptism commonly used for centuries. Clinical "sickbed" baptism was the first known use of sprinkling. Eventually, the process became more commonly accepted.
VII. Was I baptized for the right reason?
A. The purpose of baptism, as taught in the New Testament, is "for the remission of sins" [Acts 2:38] or to "wash away sins" [Acts 22:16] or to "be saved" [Mark 16:16].
B. It is enlightening to read denominational commentaries on four New Testament verses -- Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, and 1 Peter 3:21 -- and see how many ways the writers can find to say, in effect, "this verse doesn’t really mean what it says." How much simpler it would be to just admit what the Bible says and believe it!
C. When people are baptized thinking that they are already saved, it cannot be baptism FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS. There is something wrong with the purpose of any baptism which is performed when the person believes he/she is already in a saved condition.
CONCLUSION
1. Perhaps our study tonight has shown you that there are differences between Bible teaching and the doctrines and practices of most denominational churches regarding baptism. However, you might be thinking, "It doesn’t matter very much after all. In the long run, baptism is baptism, no matter when, or how, or with what understanding it takes place." How sure are you about that? Doesn’t it stand to reason that if God tells us we must do a certain thing to be saved and tells us how to do it, then He wants us to do it the way He says? What right do we have to change God’s plan of salvation?
2. No, friends, baptism is very important. This morning, we studied about the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptizer. We pointed out that Jesus walked 60 miles from Nazareth to Bethabara beyond the Jordan so He could be baptized. He walked 60 miles so He could be baptized. We calculated that amounted to 158,400 steps. We’re going to sing an invitation song in just a couple of minutes. From anywhere in this auditorium, you can be up here taking my hand in 30 steps or less. It is not hard for you to be baptized, but it is necessary if you are to go to heaven!
3. Some people hear the gospel only once and they know it is what they must do. On Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter preached and 3,000 gladly received his word. What did they do? You know, don’t you? Acts 2:41 says they gladly received his word and were baptized! If they could do it, you can too.
4. Understand, now, that baptism is not the end of the process. It takes you from being a penitent believer who is still lost in sin to a saved, New Testament Christian. But that’s just the beginning of a lifelong experience. When you’re saved, you’re added to the church by the Lord [Acts 2:47]. Your goal now becomes to stay "steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord" [1 Corinthians 15:58]. The most important thing in the world will now be staying faithful unto death and receiving the crown of life [Revelation 2:10]. You’ll spend the rest of your life on earth living the Christian life then you’ll be ready to live forever in eternity with the Lord.
5. That wonderful journey begins with your decision to obey Christ’s command to be baptized. Then take those few steps coming forward during this invitation song. You’ll be baptized as the Bible teaches, then go home tonight ready to live the rest of your life as one of the Lord’s redeemed.
6. Will you come?
