SOME FACTS ABOUT BAPTISM IN THE BIBLE

    There are a number of passages that teach baptism as a part of what one must do to be saved. Such passages as Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38 and 1 Peter 3:20-21 are hard to misunderstand along this line. Yet, the necessity of baptism is greatly disputed by many. So we will examine this doctrine a little further. And note some other points about baptism.

    Please bear in mind that, baptism alone does not save. It is the final step in a process that removes ones sins and saves him. For one’s baptism to be valid, it must be based upon hearing God’s word concerning this and many other subjects. He must also believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (and a number of things associated with this), repent of his sinful life, and confess Jesus Christ for Whom He is. Only then can one properly be baptized.

    What is the proper mode of baptism? Some religious bodies teach that as long as one is baptized, the mode does not matter. Some believe sprinkling water (or holy water, or some other substance) upon one’s head is sufficient. Others accept the mode of pouring water upon a person’s head as a valid baptism. Several years ago, (what the title was I do not remember) a television version of the life of Christ portrayed John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River. He was waist deep in the water, and people would come out to him and he would take a hand full of water and pour it upon their heads. They would then exit the water with a wet spot upon their head, and soaked from the waist down. To me this does not make sense, and even more it is unscriptural.

   Bible baptism consists of immersion, that is the complete submersion of the body in water. In fact, the word baptize means, "1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (used of vessels sunk) 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash oneself, to bathe 3) to overwhelm" (Thayer). Notice how there is no mention of sprinkling or pouring. We also find that this is the pattern that was followed in the New Testament. Rom. 6:3-4 describes baptism as a burial, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.". The Ethiopian Eunuch of Acts 8:26-40 speaking of Philip preaching Jesus unto him (v.35) asked him, "See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" (v.36). Philip consenting, commanded the chariot to stand still and "...both Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water..." (v. 38-39). Note that there was enough water on this occasion for both Philip and the Eunuch to go into it. This clearly points to immersion. In addition, there is no hint in the N.T. of this word being used for anything but immersion (including other baptisms). Therefore, in order for a baptism to be valid, it must be total immersion.

    Who can be baptized? Some teach that infants and small children need to be baptized. Some believe in baptism for the physically dead, or baptism by proxy (in the place of someone else). But neither of these are the baptism of the Bible that saves. We have noted that one cannot be scriptural baptized until he believes in God, repents of his sins, etc. Every example of conversion in the New Testament where we are given details, one was not baptized until after he believed, etc. Such things cannot be done by an infant, one who is dead, or for one who refuses to believe. Thus the baptism of an infant (who is without sin), one who is dead, and such is not a valid baptism. It is not the baptism that saves.