Water Baptism

Basic Elements of Christianity

Water Baptism Rev. 00

Let us go back in time around two thousand years to the Jordan river. We find numerous people on its banks, many of whom had heard from John The Baptist that the kingdom of God was at hand. Upon hearing that message, many of these people turned from their life of sin, desired to continue into God’s kingdom, and had now come to the Jordan to be baptized. One by one they confessed their sins and John immersed them into the flowing waters of the Jordan (Mt. 3:1-6). As we continue to observe, we see and hear the following:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mt. 3:13-17 NKJV)

Commanded By Christ

Let us now move forward in time about three and a half years. The crucified Christ is risen from the dead and meets with His disciples in a mountainous location before He ascends to heaven. We read the following in Matthew 28:18-20: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world." (Mt. 28:18-20)

From Mt. 28:18-20 we see that disciples of Christ are to baptize those who truly surrender their lives to God through Christ. That also means those who come to Christ ought to desire to be baptized in water. Consider well the attitude of the Ethiopian eunuch when Philip explained a portion of Isaiah 53 to him. We read the following in Acts 8:36-38: And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, "See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 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.

The Meaning Of Water Baptism And What Spiritually Happens

Dorcas Macinta (nee Yoder) being baptized in Garrett County, Maryland

As you have read earlier in Mt. 3:15, Jesus, the Son, insisted that John baptize Him in order to fulfill all righteousness. Immediately after He is baptized a voice came from heaven saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” The Son went on to live the life we need to live in order to please the Father. At the cross, He became our sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2Co. 5:21). The lesson, Living By Faith, explained the spiritual reality of a disciple being crucified in Christ and living His victorious life.

Water baptism is the public confession that what one has forsaken self and sin and has determined to let Christ live through them. It reinforces within the disciple the spiritual reality of being baptized into the death of Christ and being raised into newness of life. Prayerfully consider Ro. 6:1-7:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

When a true disciple of Christ is baptized in water they publicly state that prior to being baptized they had surrendered their life to God through Christ and that they have entered into the spiritual reality of dying with Christ, having their sin nature buried with Him, of being risen in Him, and out of love for Him they desire to walk by His grace in the newness of His life.

Keaton Macinta makes a statement just before being baptized in water.

Not A Condition For Salvation

When a disciple lovingly obeys Christ in water baptism they are more apt to continue to obey Him. Notice what Jesus says in Mk. 16:15-16: And he said to them, "Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned."

Instead of realizing that verse 16 shows that a convert will be more apt to obey Christ if they obey Him in water baptism, some state verse 16 means that one is not really saved until they are baptized in water. This view is termed as baptismal regeneration. Those who hold that view will state that Acts 2:38 supports their point: Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." However, by the Holy Spirit Peter explained what he meant in 1Pe. 3:21, The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So "be baptized every one of you ... for the remission of sins" in Acts 2:38 in the light of 1Pe. 3:21 means those that would repent ought to be baptized because their sins were remitted, publicly proclaiming what Christ had done for them.

Those who hold to baptismal regeneration will also point to the Apostle Paul's statement in Acts 22 of what Ananias said to him after praying for him to receive his sight (Ac 22:16): "And now why tarry you? arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." However, as you learned in the lessons for Understanding The Holy Bible, context plays an extremely important role in understanding Holy Scripture. As we read the entire account we see that the Apostle Paul was regenerated by the Spirit before his water baptism because Paul states he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord before he ever got to Damascus (see Ac 9:6 and 22:10).

Albert Barnes¹ explains why Ananias would use the phraseology, “wash away thy sins”: "Receive baptism, as an act expressive of the washing away of sins. It cannot be intended that the external rite of baptism was sufficient to make the soul pure, but that it was an ordinance divinely appointed as expressive of the washing away of sins, or of purifying the heart."

Also, consider what Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit in 1Co 1:14, "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius." Paul would not thank God in this matter if water baptism was absolutely essential for salvation. No true Christian rejoices over anyone remaining damned.

One more point: If a person could not be saved from eternal damnation unless they were baptized in water then many who are in prison for life in countries that do not tolerate any aspects of Christianity and certain prisoners surrender their lives to Christ those prisoners are still doomed to damnation because they cannot be baptized in water! The same holds true in other situations. The truth is we are saved from damnation the moment we sincerely surrender our lives to God through Christ. If we are truly saved we will desire to obey Christ which includes being baptized in water. If we physically die while in Christ but have not been water baptized we still inherit Eternal Life.

Liam Macinta about to be baptized

The Meaning John 3:5

In John 3 we read that when Nicodemus came to Jesus during the night Jesus told him that a person had to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus was baffled at that statement, so Jesus further said in John 3:5-6, "Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

As we continue to read we get a clue as to what Christ meant by "water" in verse 5 because when Nicodemus remained baffled Jesus said in verse 10, "Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things?" Nicodemus, a master of Israel, should have been thinking about the water and spirit in Ezekiel 36:25-27, "Then will I sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them." That water in Ezekiel 36:32 refers to the Word Of God as we read in Ephesians 5:26.

About Infant Baptism

The Holy Bible records all who were baptized in water had been born again before their baptism. Additionally, this further shows that all who were baptized knew what they were doing and willfully consented to being baptized. There are no records in the Holy Bible of infants being baptized and there is not one command in the Holy Bible to baptize infants. Also, there is no Holy Bible record of people who were sponsors or godparents of anyone who was baptized. A disciple ought not to be a godparent because that would place in the minds of some people that salvation is by our works or some other error.

You will find that there are a number of denominations and fellowships that baptize infants. In most cases, not all, infant baptism is most often a sign that those who practice it either believe we are saved by works, or if the parent/s are saved then the baby is saved, or believe everyone is already saved. All of those views are completely contrary to Holy Scripture and most likely indicate that these groups belong to the nominal church as described in our lesson on The Church. On the other hand, there are some groups in the Body Of Christ that practice infant baptism but clearly state this does not save the child and the child would still need to repent and come to Christ. One such group practices infant baptism (by pouring water on the head) as a New Testament parallel to the command to the people of Israel to circumcise their male children. However, this is still completely contrary of how water baptism was done by the early and shatters the instructive imagery of passages like Ro. 6:1-7 which is as follows:

Many, like myself, were baptized as an infant in a nominal church or fellowship. However, once they surrendered their life to God through Christ they realized their infant baptism was useless and, having been truly born again, sought to be water baptized by immersion.

Instead of baptizing infants, many churches and fellowships have a baby dedication service where the child is anointed with oil, and prayer is offered for the child and family.

Young Children Who Have Been Born Again

It is to be remembered that though infants ought not to be baptized, very young children may be baptized if they receive Christ as Lord and Savior. The Holy Bible does not require us to understand all of the theology of water baptism. We are simply asked to obey the will of Christ and even a very young child can be capable of this. Sometime back we learned of a three year old who came to Christ, was baptized, and received the call of God to the mission field and, when they were old enough, they did go into the mission field.

Another disciple and I baptized a new disciple at Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh in Cambridge, MD.

How Water Baptism Is Done

As we read the Holy Scriptures we see that water baptism was done by immersing the convert in water. After all, water baptism is an outward indicator from us that we have been buried with Christ. Additionally, the Greek word used can mean the processes of immersion, submersion, emergence². It is also interesting to see that when we read about the baptism of Jesus in Mk. 1:10 we will notice the words “coming up” (coming up out of the water). James Strong³ indicates it could mean, among other things, “spring up.” For many people, if they fill their lungs by inhaling, hold their breath, and then submerge themselves they will soon float upward.

As shown in the various images in this lesson, many times when a convert is baptized there are two disciples to perform the baptism. However, it is perfectly acceptable that one disciple does it as was the case of the Ethiopian eunuch. One does not have to be a pastor to baptize others. Any disciple may baptize a new convert.

Part of the congregation observing the water baptism at Gerry Boyle Park at Great Marsh

As the true Church geographically grew, the Body Of Christ came across situations where there was not enough water available to submerge a new convert. History records that in such cases the early true Christians felt led of God to pour water on the new convert. The following is from The Teaching Of The Twelve, also known as The Didache⁴, a Christian document whose internal evidence suggests it was written in the latter half of the first century or the beginning of the second century: “… baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living [running, like a stream] water. But if thou hast not living water then baptize in other water; and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm. But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… ."

So, in cases where a new convert cannot be immersed it is acceptable to pour water on their head or even sprinkle them with water.

What Pronouncement Is To Be Made

At a church campus in Delaware, a congregation observes disciples, who were given orange tee shirts, line up to be baptized in water.

In the section just above we described the manner in which water baptism ought to be done, but some disagree as to what words should be pronounced when the new convert is baptized. Some insist it must be done only "in the name of Jesus." Those who feel that way will point to the book of Acts where throughout that book it is recorded that new converts were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ or similar terminology.

When we run a check in Acts on the word "baptize" and the various forms of that word there are many more occurrences where the term is used without an immediate connection to the Name of Jesus Christ (or similar wording) than when there is an immediate connection.

Also, what we are seeing in the book of Acts is that the apostles and disciples were making a distinction between the water baptism of John the Baptist and the water baptism instituted by Christ. And, as you learned in Part 2 of Understanding the Holy Bible, we are to distinguish between what is actually commanded in the Word Of God from what it simply records.

Malachi Macinta about to be baptized during an outdoor baptismal service in Delaware.

There is no command for us to baptize new converts only in the Name of Jesus Christ, but we do have the command from Christ Himself as recorded in Mt. 28:18 to baptize new disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).

When It Should Be Done

When someone becomes a new disciple in Christ they ought to be baptized in water as soon as possible whenever it becomes possible. It is good for a new disciple to not hesitate in regard to being water baptized. Sometimes some people hesitate for various reasons, but a disciple must learn to lovingly obey God. He will help us to do so when we sincerely come before His throne (Hebrews 4:16).

What About 1 Corinthians 15:29?

There is at least one non-Christian group that claims they are a the church and practices baptizing people on behalf of dead people. They point to 1Co. 15:29 as support of that practice: "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

They come to that conclusion partly because they ignore the context of that verse where Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 by the Holy Spirit was defending the fact of a future resurrection by pointing to the belief of a resurrection generally held by most people who are not Christian. Another thing you can probably spot is that Paul by the Holy Spirit did not write "what shall we do which are baptized for the dead" but "what shall they do which are baptized for the dead."

Water baptism cannot gain Eternal Life for a living person, and it certainly does nothing for someone who has physically died.

Now it is time to take the plunge and dive into a quiz (in English only).

Notes:

¹ From an electronic version of Barnes' Notes incorporated in the Online Bible program which is, as of 2023, available for North America at https://onlinebible.net, for the United Kingdom at onlinebible.co.uk, and for Europe at onlinebible.org .

² Vine, W. E.: An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words (publisher: The Old-Time Gospel Hour Lynchburg, Va), pages 88-89

³ From an electronic version of Strong's Concordance incorporated in the Online Bible program which is, as of 2023, available for North America at https://onlinebible.net, for the United Kingdom at onlinebible.co.uk, and for Europe at onlinebible.org .

⁴ Page 126 of The Apostolic Fathers: an anthology of early Christian documents compiled by J. B. Lightfoot, published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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