BAPTISM

Baptism is a frequently mentioned subject in the New Testament. It's much more than just a religious ceremony. It is an outward visible act of the utmost importance for those who are serious about their relationship with God.

When reading the New Testament, we find that there are a few different types of baptism. The first occurrence is with John the Baptist and is called the baptism of repentance. This was replaced with baptism in the name of Jesus. The Bible also mentions a third baptism, which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Let's start with John, the Baptist.

John the Baptist
John was the last in the order of the Old Testament prophets, as declared by Jesus himself. He was the voice of one calling in the desert: "Prepare the way for the Lord!" His job was to prepare the people and to show them Jesus. The way he did this was through commanding the people to repent and be baptized. Before John's time, there was no such thing as baptism. The people must of thought: "Why, what is the meaning of this? We've never done this before!" It was a strange new custom for them.

John, the son of a Jewish priest, might of had in his mind the customs associated with entering the temple where God dwelled. The priests of those days, before they went to meet with God in the house of the Lord, ceremonially washed themselves by dipping their hands into a basin of water. This was a symbol of cleansing, not physically but spiritually before the Lord. Because of God's holiness and hatred for sin, it was necessary for the priests to be clean in order to meet with Him. Without cleansing, they could not approach the Lord. John was now taking this illustration of cleansing and applying it to all people. It was not only the priests that needed to get cleaned, but everyone, if they wanted to meet the Lord. John called this new ceremony the baptism of repentance.

He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. -- Luke 3:3 (Mark 1:4)

Before John would baptize them though, there was something that they needed to do first. Read the following verses.

confessing their sins they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. -- Mat 3:6

Why repentance? Why confession? Because our Lord is a Holy God, who demands us to be holy if we are to approach Him. To confess, in the Biblical context, is to say what we said, did or thought was wrong. To repent means to turn from our sin to God. It's a 180 degree turn of direction in life.

John baptized those that confessed their sins, as a sign to the community that they had repented. Some people however, came to John but were not repentant. Maybe they wanted to be baptized because others were being baptized. Maybe they though it was the spiritual, popularthing to do. He told them that they needed to do more then a religious act. When they asked what they should do, John gave them some specific examples.

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? -- Luke 3:7-14

John was in a sense saying: "It's not enough to confess your sins with your mouth, but you must prove it by your actions. The results must be a changed lifestyle". Repentance means action on our part. That is why he said:

produce fruit in keeping with repentance -- Mat 3:8

The main part of John's ministry though, was to point people to Jesus. John's ministry was only the beginning of a bigger plan. Jesus was coming! One day the Pharisees came to John and ...

questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie." This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world! This is what I meant when I said, `A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." -- John 1:25-31

The Apostle Paul comments on this point:

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is in Jesus” -- Acts 19:4

Unfortunately not everyone believed John and followed Jesus. Mainly, it was the very people who should have believed! The people who knew the most about God, the Pharisees (the leaders of religion), were completely blind to Him. These men and their associates were the experts, lawyers, judges, scholars and teachers of the Old Testament. No one was better qualified intellectually than them. The very God they taught about they didn't recognize; when Jesus came in the flesh and talked with them. Their God and religion looked totally different then the real thing.

But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John. -- Luke 7:30

They were too concerned about themselves. Their pride and peoples opinions stopped them. Jesus challenged them and said:

John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' -- Mat 21:25 (Mark 11:30, Luke 20:4)

They were wrong in rejecting Jesus and John. Most of them even knew they were wrong! Still they would not humble themselves, confess their sins, and follow Jesus.

QUESTIONS

1. What was baptism a sign of?
2. What did John require before he would baptize a person?
3. What are the fruits of repentance?

The Baptism of Jesus
When Jesus was around thirty years old, the time had come for Him to begin His mission on earth.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" -- Mat 3:13-14

John was thinking: "Why should He be baptized? Baptism is for those who are confessing their sins and repenting. Jesus has no sin. Something here doesn't seem right!"

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -- Mat 3:15-17

John was right in the sense that Jesus didn't need to repent. But the Father had planned for His Son to identify with sinners in every way, while remaining sinless. The baptism of Jesus was a sign of obedience to his Father. It was also a confirmation about Jesus to everyone around, by the Father Himself, a commissioning for the beginning of His ministry and as an example for us to follow.

Not long after that, Jesus continued the ministry that John the Baptist started. His message was the same.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." -- Mat 4:17b

His method was also the same as John's. He baptized those that responded to His message of repentance.

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, andbaptized. Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized. -- John 3:22-23

They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." -- John 3:26

The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. -- John 4:2

The disciples were also doing what Jesus was doing; preaching repentance, baptizing, healing the sick and casting out demons! After Jesus' death and resurrection, the disciples knew the entire reason for His purpose on the earth. This reason Jesus called the "good news' or "the gospel". Listen to Jesus' commission to His disciples.

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe is condemned -- Mark 16:15-16

From this statement we can notice a progression. First, someone must preach the Gospel. Second, the person must hear the Gospel. Thirdly, they must believe it. Fourthly, they are to be baptized. This entire process produces the result in that they "will be saved". One thing is clear. Jesus didn't say that those who are not baptized will be condemned, but rather those that have not believed! In other words, baptism doesn't save people, but faith and response to the Gospel does! Anyone who has taken the step of belief, who becomes a disciple, is under an obligation to take the next step - baptism. First we are to make disciples, next we are to baptize them. As Jesus commanded:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, -- Mat 28:19

Baptism though isn't the only command that a new believer is to obey. For Jesus also said:

and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. -- Mat 28:20a

QUESTIONS

1. Why was Jesus baptized?
2. What was Jesus' message and method?
3. Is baptism a command or an option for a new believer?

The History of Baptism in the first church
It was forty days after Jesus ascended into heaven, and the disciples were waiting and praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Suddenly, during their meeting they are filled with Holy Spirit. No one needed to be told what to do next. They knew what they had to do, and the disciples didn't waste any time in fulfilling the commands of Jesus! His words to them were:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."-- Mat 28:19-20

Jesus sent the Twelve out to make disciples. They were to baptize those that wanted to follow Jesus, and teach them to obey everything Jesus had commanded; for Jesus wanted obedient disciples. So Peter preached a powerful message and explained the ministry of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. He told his listeners that they were responsible for Jesus' death. They were sinners who were not in a right relationship with God. The people listened and asked him:

"What should we do?" Peter replied, repent and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. -- Acts 2:38

Those who believed were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. -- Acts 2:41

Peter's first sermon covered all the elements of the Gospel. He convinced the crowd using many Scriptures, told them of their separation from God, their sinful state, the reason for Jesus' death, and most importantly the response that was necessary if they wanted to be saved. Notice that there were no exceptions. Peter said: "everyone one of you". Those who didn't

1) accept his message,
2) repent,
3) receive baptism,

were not added to their number.

On one occasion Peter was asked to preach the Good News to some God-fearing Gentiles. During his sermon the Holy Spirit came on them and they started speaking in tongues and praising God. This was the same thing that happened to Peter and the rest of them on the day of Pentecost. "Well if they are believers", Peter thought,

"Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. -- Acts 10:47-48

They heard Peters message, accepted it, and before he had a chance to finish, they were immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. They could have thought: "Why do we need to be baptized? We're Christians now. The Holy Spirit has been poured out on us and we even speak in tongues!" You see, God doesn't make exceptions for obedience to His commands. He commanded new believers to be baptized, and they were. Read also two accounts of what happens with the Philip, the churches' first missionary.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had believed the Word of God they sent Peter and John to them, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. -- Acts 8:12-16

We see some key elements in this story. The first is in believing the message. The second is accepting the commands. With acceptance comes obedience and submission to God's Word. The second story is of Philip as he preaches to Word of God to a high official of a foreign country.

As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" Philip said, if you believe you may." The official answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. -- Acts 8:36-38

A third man we notice in the New Testament is Saul, who before he became the Apostle Paul, persecuted Christians. Jesus personally pointed out his sins one day on his way to Damascus and Saul was left blind. A little later, the Lord sent a disciple to him, to explain a few things. Very quickly, Saul had a change of heart.

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, -- Acts 9:18 (Acts 22:16)

Although Paul's conversion was quite dramatic, it didn't exclude him from being baptized. There wasn't any exceptions, even for the Apostle Paul! The Lord changed Saul to Paul and used him mightily. He now preached the Gospel that he once opposed, and baptized those who responded. Our first account is about Paul's encounter with a business women. The Bible says she was a worshipper of God, but it wasn't enough. As Paul preached ...

The Lord opened her heart to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. -- Acts 16:14b-15

A few days later Paul and his friend Silas are put in prison and God sends an earthquake in response to their prayer and worship. Convinced of God's power, the jailer asks his two prisoners with the utmost respect:

"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all the others in the house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. -- Acts 16:30-33

Some think that the mention of the household or a whole family being baptized in these stories are evidence for the baptism of babies. I can say with certainty that there are no examples in the Bible where baptism came before believing.

Read Acts 16:33 again. Paul was saying: "You will be saved if you believe in the Lord Jesus. If people in your house also believe, they too will be saved". Paul preached to the jailer and to everyone else in the house. I don't think Paul preached to babies. They can't respond to a message. Instead, the family here refers to the jailers older sons or daughters who were able to respond to the Gospel, and most likely to the extended family members and servants too.

In each of the above cases of baptism there is a certain pattern.

1. Sinners are confronted with their sin. This was through the preaching the Gospel.
2. Sinners then; "opened their hearts, accepted the message or believed". In practical terms it meant they agreed that they were sinners and repented.
3. After their change of heart, they were then baptized.

This pattern is also seen, as the writer of Hebrews outlines the stages in a believer's life.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instructions about baptisms the laying on of hands, resurrection from the dead, and the last judgment. -- Heb 6:1-2

We can break those stages down into the following parts:

Stage 1. Foundation of repentance - a person must confess their sins and acknowledge their separation from God. This is the very first step.

Stage 2. Faith in God- now that they know they are separated, they must believe in His plan of salvation, not their own plan.

Stage 3. Baptism the first step of obedience, in which they publicly declare their decision to follow Jesus.

Stage 4. Laying on of hands - the church then recognizes their decision, and publicly accepts them as a member of the family of God.

Stage 5. Resurrection from the dead- after their body dies, Jesus raises them to life everlasting. This is His recognition of their decision.

Stage 6. Final judgment - this is the Lord's acceptance of their belief by declaring them "not guilty - righteous" at the last judgment.

Of course, between stages four and five their should be many other things happening such as prayer, worship, Bible study, fellowship, witnessing, etc. These are all the things that are necessary for the growth of a new believer.

QUESTIONS

1. Can a baby meet the requirements of hearing the Gospel, confessing sin, repenting and believing in Jesus before baptism?
2. Can a baby then produce the fruits of repentance?
3. Is baby baptism a Biblical baptism?

Explaining difficult passages
There is a few verses about baptism that may not be clear without an full understanding of other passages in the Word of God. I'll briefly mention some common questions people associate with them.

1. Does baptism save people?

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.' -- Acts 22:16

and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, -- 1 Pet 3:21

Water doesn't actually save us or get us spiritually clean, but it is a strong symbol. The water baptism is an outward sign of our conscience decision to repent of our sins and turn toward God. The saving and washing are the parts that God does, for we can't save ourselves or cleanse ourselves from sin.

2. What did Jesus mean in these verses?

"But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!" -- Luke 12:50

You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, -- Mark 10:38-39

Jesus, heavily burdened with the thoughts of His coming crucifixion uses the symbolism of baptism. He's not speaking of His water baptism, which happened three years earlier, but about his immediate suffering and death. Paul then explains that baptism is a form of death. Speaking
about water baptism he says:

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. -- Rom 6:3-4

having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, -- Col 2:12-13

Scripture here paints a vivid picture to illustrate a spiritual truth. Baptism is a re-enactment of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, being personally applied in our own lives. First we have to die, for only dead people should be buried! This death is to our old way of life. Being dead to sin. Next, going down into the waters of baptism is like being buried in a grave. A parallel to Jesus' burial. But Jesus didn't stay dead, He was also raised to life! When we are raised up out of the waters of baptism, we too are being raised up to a new life!

3. What is the correct form of baptism?

As we saw with the above verses, baptism is a re-enactment of a burial service. Although some churches sprinkle water and others pour it, Scripture illustrates going down into the water and coming up out of the water. The Greek word "baptizo" for baptism, means literally to dip, immerse or submerge. This is also confirmed with the following verses about baptism.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water... -- Mark 1:10a

both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, -- Acts 8:38b-39a

4. Is it important who baptizes me and where?

It isn't important where you are baptized or by whom, for it's not joining a church or following a person. A more important question is: "Why am I being baptized and for whom?"

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) -- 1 Cor 1:13-16

Being baptized into someone's name implies ownership and possession. Paul didn't want people to belong to him, but to Christ. It is in Jesus' name which we are baptized, because we become His possessions. We see this in 1 Corinthians 6:11, Matthew 28:19 as well as the verse
below.

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. -- Gal 3:27

Baptism is to be in Christ! Paul didn't die for sinners - Jesus did! When we cloth ourselves with Christ, it means that when people look at us, they should see Jesus. It is putting on the new nature of Christ.

5. What does it mean to be baptized into one body?

The body we become members of is not a physical church building or denomination with it's rules, traditions, and government. Instead we automatically become members of one another, with Jesus Christ as the head of this body.

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. -- 1 Cor 12:13

Into one body means that we are all part of the same body. The sign that we are a part of the whole is His Holy Spirit. He is given to each and every one of us, when we join God's body. Although giving our life to Jesus brings about a personal intimacy with Him, we also become part of his corporate family. The order of events is not first baptism, and then later joining a church. Rather, they are the same events. Becoming a Christian is joining God's family, His body - the Church!

6. What does it mean to be baptized for the dead?

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? -- 1 Cor 15:29

At first this may seem confusing, but Dr. Gleason Archer, a Biblical historian, explains it clearly.

"As older Christians fell terminally ill and it became apparent that their departure was near, they would summon their loved ones to their beside and urge those of them who were as yet unconverted to get right before God."²À„

Deeply moved, some would seriously consider their relationship with God and repent of their sins. The next step would be baptism. The Greek wording is `hyper ton nekron' and is intended to mean `for the sake of (the dead). In a very real sense, their turning to God and baptism is because of the departing one's plea for this friend or relative to become a Christian. The main point of this verse, and the whole chapter, is to show that there is a life after death. A view that was greatly disputed by the Sadducces.

7. What is baptism in the Holy Spirit?

I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' -- John 1:33

Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' -- Acts 11:16 (Acts 1:5)

A topic of much debate is the subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not something that we do, like being baptized in water. Instead it is what Jesus does to us! The Holy Spirit, sent by Jesus from the Father, comes and lives inside a believer at the moment of repenting of sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. The Holy Spirit then teaches us, convicts us of sin, points us to Jesus, and empowers us for service.

There are two main views of the baptism of the Spirit. One is that it happens at the moment of conversion. The second is that it is a separate event, sometimes happening at the moment of conversion. Those that believe that it is a second event teach that at this time gifts for service are given and a special anointing from God occurs, while the former believe everything happens at conversion.

8. What does it mean that they were all baptized in the name of Moses, in the clod and in the sea?

Explaining the great deliverance of Israel from slavery, the Apostle Paul issues a stern warning against presumption. The Israelites all ate the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink. They had tasted the miracles of God. In a sense, they had been baptized, when they crossed through the Red Sea. But it goes on.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. -- Cor 10:5

We should not think that just because we've been baptized, that now we can do anything we want. Baptism is not a replacement for living a holy life and pleasing God, but the beginning of it.

QUESTIONS

1. Have I confessed and repented of my sins and turned in faith to Jesus?
2. Have I had a Biblical baptism, submitting myself to be baptized as an act of my own free will, confessing my sins and turning to God?
3. Is it important to me to follow Jesus' commands?

For those that would like to do a exhaustive study, there are a few more verses on baptism that I didn't include in this study. They are: Luke 7:29; John 10:40; Acts 1:22; 10:37; 18:8; 18:25; 19:5; 1 Cor 1:17; 10:2; Eph 4:5; Heb 6:2 1. Read the account also in Mark 1:7-11, Luke 3:16-22 and John 1:26-33.

All verses quoted are from the NIV version of the Bible