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What Does the Bible Say About Baptism? 2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: |
1. Baptism is a symbol or a picture of something that has taken place in one's heart which cannot be
outwardly observed when a person is saved. There are several aspects of baptism:
a. Baptism is a "picture" of the Gospel showing symbolically the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ ( 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
b. Baptism always follows belief in the Jesus Christ as one's Savior.
c.. It is not an act of salvation. The Bible does not refer to baptism as a sacrament or as a part of salvation, but presents
baptism as a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:3-4). Click here for an article addressing this aspect of baptism.
d. Baptism beautifully pictures the death, burial and resurrection and by putting a person
under the water which strikingly emphasizes the burial of Christ, followed by being raised out of the water symbolizing Christ's
resurrection.
e. Romans 6:4, accentuates the burial when it says, "therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death."
f. Baptism is a visual testimonial that our sins are forgiven by symbolizing they are buried with the Lord after he suffered and died for our sins on the Cross.
g. As Rom. 6:2, says we are dead to sins and Colossians adds that believers are alive unto Christ with God (Col. 3:3).
2. The authority and command to baptize is given by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matt. 28:19-20 to His disciples as a ordinance of the local church which was begun on the Day of Pentecost as Acts 2 records.
a. He commanded His disciples are to disciple all nations (peoples), and to baptize those that believe as a picture and
testimony of their faith in trust in Christ.
b. It was not given to a particular church, but to all Bible believing New Testament churches alike.
c. A baptism that is scriptural is one that is done in a Bible believing church. Acts 2:41-47, records that when the church was formed those that believed were baptized and "added to the church (local assembly).
3. Many have greatly misunderstood baptism and changed its true meaning.
a. Some see baptism as a act of salvation. It is not! Ephesians 2:8-9 emphatically teach that salvation is given by God's grace, when a person by faith believes and stresses that salvation is not merited by any work which would include baptism.
"For by grace are saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works
lest any man should boast."
Baptism is an act or work the and the New Testament teaches that works do not save or have any saving merit. (Also see Romans 4:5, Titus 3:5). c. Some believe further that baptism imparts some special status with God. That too is not found in the Bible and is a false belief.
d. Some churches practice infant baptism. Yet in the Bible there is no record or mention of anyone
being baptized who had not already professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. (Acts 2:41). Those who
practice infant baptism, believe their church is the means of salvation. In other words, you have to join, and be
a member of their church to be saved and go to heaven. That simply is not taught anywhere in the Bible.
The church is an assembly of baptized believers who meet to worship, be taught and honor the Lord.
Baptism, church membership, nor any good works does not impart salvation. Salvation is an act of God, when we by faith accept the free gift of salvation. A performed work offered to God for Him to accept for our salvation is in fact asking God to accept our works, not Christ's for our redemption. Christ died on the cross and paid the sin debt of the world (1 John 2:2). The debt is already paid by Christ and He is offering to forgive our sins if we believe and put our trust in His provision of our salvation. Saying that baptism saves is saying that we are adding to what Christ did in suffering for our sins and providing in part our own salvation. Of course man is a sinner and cannot offer anything he can do as a offering for his sin (Rom. 3:10, 24. A man who believes by faith in Jesus Christ is accepting Christ's suffering and sacrifice for his sins. (Rom 3:24).
4. Rom. 6:3-6, show baptism biblically as a picture of redemption.
The person who believes and is saved submits to baptism and thereby identifies himself and publicly showing that he now a child of God and
as died to sin.
Not because we merit it, but because Christ, died in our place, and we have freely received salvation which was freely given. (Col. 2:12-14)
5. Believers are baptized into His death (Rom. 6:4).
We are a part of his death (Heb. 2:14-15) How do we know this for sure? I Corinthians 10:2, states that the
children of Israel were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ( read verses 3-4) They were identified with Moses who was a servant of God. Because of their belief in God they went down into the Red Sea and their action of following Moses showed their faith. It was their faith in God and the miracle of God's parting the Red Sea that saved them.
6. Who should be baptized? Who is the proper candidate?
a. Only a saved man should be baptized. That means one who have believed on Jesus Christ and received
Him as their personal Savior.
b. Acts 8:26-39, the Eunuch asked to be baptized. When the Eunuch desired to be baptized Philip said to
him, "If thou believeth with all thine heart, thou mayest." The eunuch confessed he did believe and was then
baptized. Note that in V38, they went down into the water. Clearly this is baptism by immersion. (More will
be said on that a little further)
c. If a lost man is baptized then it is a picture of a lie. Because a lost man who is baptized by the symbolism is saying he is confessing he believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior when in fact he does not.
7. The Biblical mode of Baptism is to be immersed. Sprinkling, pouring, etc. are not biblical modes of baptism. These practices do not picture the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The Greek word is "baptizo" and means to immerse and has no other meaning.
Any other mode of baptism makes light of the death and resurrection of Christ. Those that practice these false methods of baptism have not obeyed the first commandment of their professed Lord. All other types of baptism are incorrect and are biblical baptism. God choose the method to be a picture of the Gospel what the person who is being baptized is identifying himself with.
9. Baptism is to be done in the name of the God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matt. 28:19-20.
In this passage, called the "Great Commission" Jesus commanded that believers were to go into the world
and preach the Gospel and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Both the evangelism
of the world and baptism were to be done in the name of the Trinity.
Biblical baptisms are those that are done by true Bible believing churches that follow the New Testament
as its sole rule and authority for its faith and practice. God has not given any church or individual the right to
change what He put in place and instructed.
9. The New Testaments examples:
The 3000 at Pentecost - Acts 2:41.
The Eunuch. - Acts 8:36-38
The Philippians Jailer. - Acts 16:31
New converts commanded to be baptized by Peter. - Acts 10:47-48
John the Baptist's disciples when they heard that Jesus Christ the Messiah had come. - Acts 19:3-5.
Cornelius and his household who believed and were saved. Acts 19:47.
After Paul was saved Ananias was told to baptized him. - Acts 22:12-16 .
10. Baptism is first act of submission to God after one is saved. (Matt. 28:19-20)
Those who recognized themselves to be sinners and in faith in Jesus Christ believe the Word of God....are
saved, have their sins forgive and receive eternal life (Rom. 10:9-10).
Then the second thing they do in obedience to the Lord, who is now their Savior, is to submit to believer's baptism which is a public testimony of their now being a Christ and joining a local church which is God's plan for his children to fellowship, serve Him, carry the Gospel and learn about Christ.
C. Baptism also places the person who is saved into the local church or congregation.
1. In Acts 2:41, states the when the church began on the day of Pentecost those that believed in Jesus Christ were baptized.
2. Verse 42, says they continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread and prayers.
3. Verse 46 explains that the early church continued in one accord..etc.
4. Verse 47, the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
a. Those that should be saved where those that believed in Jesus Christ.
b. The English word church is translated from the Greek word "ekklesia." This word in Greek
means a called out assembly called for a special purpose.
c. In Acts 19:32, the word translated "assembly" is the Greek word "Ekklesia." Here it refers to
an group of idol makers. This shows us the context in which the word is used explains who is meeting. The word must have a modifier to reveal the identity of those meeting.
d. The use of the word as our English word is unknown in the New Testament. You cannot
translated the English word "church" back into Koine Greek. There is no work in Koine Greek like our English
word "church." There is a modern Greek word for church it is "ky-ria-kon" which is a Medieval Anglo-Saxon
word that came into use in the 1500's.
e. The word "ekklesia" is found 115 times in the New Testament "church." It is translated three
times "assembly" in Acts 19.
5. The word simply means "assembly." It is refers to the assembly at Corinth, at Antioch, at Jerusalem,
Ephesus, the assembly that met at Aquila and Priscilla's house and other people's homes.
In Macedonia, Asia the word is always plural meaning churches...not one church made up of a number
of smaller churches, but it is only used to refer to a number of churches.
D. God's plan for the believer is to join a local assembly of believers and there fellowship, worship, and
work with other believers in carrying on the Lord's work in that area.
Baptism as the symbol of our common bond and shows our commitment to the Lord first and to each other.
E. How does a person receive salvation?
1. First recognize ourselves as the sinners we are. Rom. 3:10, 23; Isa. 64:6
2. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Rom. 6:23.
3. Eph. 2:8-9, tell us that the grace of God that saves, because we believe.
4. Roman 10:9-10, Tell us confession of your faith is made with our mouths that we believe Christ's death
burial and resurrection. It is with the heart that we believe. If we are ashamed of the Lord He will be ashamed
of us.
5. John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".
6. Romans 5:8, "For God commenth His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died
for us."
7. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
8. Rev. 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him
that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
If you would like a more detailed explanation of how to be saved and go to heaven click this line.
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