Bible doctrine 8. Water Baptism

BIBLE DOCTRINE 8: WATER BAPTISM

God’s Word teaches:

That Water Baptism is essential to our obedience after reconciliation with God. Water Baptism is one immersion (not three) “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”, as Jesus commanded – 

Matthew 28:19; 3:13-17; Mark 16:15,16; Acts 2:38; 8:38,39; 19:1-6; Romans 6:4,5.

Matthew  28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark  16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Romans  6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Water baptism is one of the cardinal doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet one of the most misunderstood teachings by contemporary teachers and preachers. 

Some, at one extreme, believe that it is not necessary because of its abuse by nominal Christians while at the other extreme; others believe that without water baptism, one cannot be saved. 

In the middle is yet another group that believes that though it is necessary, it must be administered in the name of Jesus only.

All of them are wrong because Jesus Christ commanded that water baptism should be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19; John 1:14; John 2:5). 

Matthew  28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Doing otherwise therefore is to disobey Jesus Christ.

The word ‘baptize’ is a Greek word ‘baptiso’, which means to immerse, ‘dip inside liquid’. 

This shows the proper form of baptism is by immersion inside water. The immersion signifies identification with the burial of Christ in His death and rising up in newness of life with Him at His resurrection (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12). 

Romans  6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

In baptism, the believer shows his faith that Christ died for his sins and rose again for his justification:

 that if he dies he will be raised again in the resurrection and that he dies to his old life and rises to walk in the new life with Christ.

The immersion is done only ONCE and not THRICE. 

Jesus Christ was dipped inside River Jordan only once (Matthew 3:16);

Matthew  3:16 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:

 the eunuch of Ethiopian was immersed in water once (Acts 8:38). 

Acts  8:38 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.

When we submit for water baptism it is an acknowledgement of Christ in a public way. 

Therefore it is a public ceremony, which witnesses to all that one has put on Christ (Galatians 3:27).

Galatians  3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Jesus commanded that the gospel be preached to sinners and as they repent and believe the gospel, they should be baptized. 

This confirms that water baptism is for those who fully repent of their sins (Acts 2:38). 

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.

This also confirms that only adults who can exercise faith to believe can be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 10:9,10; 20:21; Mark 1:14,15). 

Luke  24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

It is fundamentally wrong to baptize infants who have not reached the stage of accountability as practiced by some orthodox churches.  

The pages of the New Testament are filled with references on water baptism. In Matthew 3:13-17, 

Jesus submitted Himself to John the Baptist for water baptism to fulfill all righteousness. 

The testimony of God the Father to the ministry of His Son, Jesus Christ, through the descent of the Holy Ghost on Him as He came out of the water after the water baptism was in agreement with it. 

Christ’s command of Matthew 28:19 was re-echoed in Mark 16:16. 

The Apostles also continued to baptize in obedience to the command of Christ: the converts on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37:-42,47);

Acts  2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

 the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-38), Samaritan converts (Acts 8:12,13), Cornelius and his kinsmen (Acts 10:47,48); the Philippian jailor (Acts 16:30-33); the Ephesian disciples (Acts 19:5).

Acts  19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Salvation does not come through water baptism but by grace through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9; 1 John 1:7,9; Hebrews 9:22; Matthew 26:28; John 1:12; 3:16,17; 1 Peter 3:21). 

1 John  1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Scripture records a catalogue of those who got saved without water baptism being a pre- condition:

 the sick of the palsy healed by Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:1-7); the woman who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and cleansed them with her hair (Luke 7:36-50); Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10); the thief on the cross (Luke 24:39-43); Eunuch of Ethiopia (Acts 8:30-37); those who believed in Antioch (Acts 11:20,21); Saul of Tarsus was addressed as Brother Saul by Ananias before he submitted himself for water baptism (Acts 9:17).

Jesus laid down the standard for water baptism and it is to be carried out in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). 

Matthew  28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Every believer in obedience to Christ’s command should therefore submit to this ordinance of water baptism.

 The importance of water baptism was expressed by Jesus Christ in His parting words. He said: “He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved”.

The opinions of men cannot contradict the stand of the Scripture (Matthew 28:19). 

Once a person repents of his sins, it is mandatory that he submits himself to water baptism as provided for in the Scriptures (Romans 6:3,4). 

The practice was upheld in the early church. Converts were baptized in water soon after their salvation experience (Acts 2:41; 8:37,38; 16:30,31,33).

Acts  16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.  16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Every convert is therefore enjoined to yield to this important injunction. 

Pastors must do their utmost best to encourage their flocks to attach great importance to this practice. 

Acts 20:28 says: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” 

Peter encouraged his hearers to “repent and be BAPTIZED everyone of you……for the remission of sin….”

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.

Endeavor to submit yourself to this ordinance and be identified with Jesus in His death and resurrection.

Romans  6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Let us pray.