Chapter Three: Water Baptism
Most Christians will agree that Water Baptism is an important part of Christianity, but beyond that one statement there is a vast disagreement on the specifics of it. Some churches baptize infants, others make you wait until after you have been a member in good standing with their church for a period of time before allowing you to be baptized. Some churches present the idea of baptismal regeneration, yet others down play it as having little significance. What is the truth about Water Baptism? What does the Bible tell us about the subject. But it really doesn't matter what your denomination or tradition teaches. It is not important what I think in my own mind sounds reasonable or what my pastor urges me to believe. The only view that is of importance is God's view. So let's examine the subject of Water Baptism fairly closely from the Holy Scriptures.
Who - Who should be Water Baptized? (Acts 8:35-40)
Water Baptism is intended to be experienced by true believers in Jesus Christ, those who have placed their full faith in Him as their Lord and Savior. Philip told the Ethiopian that he could be baptized if he believed with all his heart that Jesus is the Christ. The Ethiopian acknowledge his belief and was baptized by Philip. Clearly this eliminates infant baptism. Babies and very small children cannot express their faith in Jesus. We certainly are not opposed to baptizing children after they've reached an age where they can express from their own thoughts that they have placed their trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.
What - What is Water Baptism? (Rm.6:4; Col.2:12)
Water Baptism is a symbol of our faith in Jesus Christ. It is a public testimony of an inward change. It's an outward representation of the first baptism you received, the Baptism into the Body of Christ. Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which we testify, both to God and to the world, that the person we were before is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ. It is a testimony to the world that you are publicly taking a stand to be counted as a believer in Jesus Christ as your Lord.
When - When should I be Water Baptized?
Water Baptism is an act that God expects of every believer. In fact, among Jesus' last recorded words on earth were ".he that believes and is baptized shall be saved...." (Mark 16:16.) Think about that for a moment. Jesus' very call to believe on Him includes a call to be baptized. If He puts it in that category, He must see it as being something very important. You never read of an unbaptized Christian anywhere in the Bible. In fact, baptism always immediately followed a person's salvation. They didn't see it as something to be delayed or put off. So, if you have not been Water Baptized since placing your faith in Christ as your Savior, what are you waiting for? See your pastor as soon as possible about being Water Baptized.
Where - Where should I be Water Baptized?
All the Water Baptisms in Scripture were by submerging into water in a public place. In Scripture it was always done in either a river or a public body of water. This is because it is meant to be a public testimony of the stand you are taking to follow Jesus. The word baptism itself means to submerge or immerse.
Why - Why should I be Water Baptized?
When we're saved, we're spiritually baptized into Christ (Ga.3:27), into His Body, the church (I Cor.12:13). Baptism in water is an outward representation of these inward realities. It symbolizes several things.cleansing, spiritual rebirth, and identifying with Jesus in His death & resurrection. Being baptized is a command from God, not an option. Don't mistake what I am saying. Water Baptism in itself has no saving power. Paul tells us "For by grace have you been saved through faith, .not of works."(Ep.2:8-9). Salvation is a free gift that God grants to those of us who simply have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We are saved through our faith in Jesus, not through Water Baptism. It does not wash away any sins. There is no magic in the water that we use. But Water Baptism identifies us openly and publicly with the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord.
How - How should I be Water Baptized?
All water baptisms in Scripture were done by submerging into water and by the authority of the Name of Jesus. (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5)
Why submerging? Because that is what the word "baptism" means and because that is the only kind of baptism that we see in Scripture.
Why the Name of Jesus? I realize that most Christians are hung up on "In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" as a baptismal formula and when someone suggests that Baptism in the Name of Jesus is the more biblical approach, we are frequently criticized as being at a "oneness" extreme, promoting anti-trinitarian doctrine. But to baptize in the Name of Jesus is not being anti-trinitarian. In fact I don't really make an issue of the specific words we say in Water Baptism. However there are a seven things that you should keep in mind.
First: In all the references to Water Baptism in the Book of Acts, they either Baptized in the Name of Jesus or in the Name of the Lord. Nowhere else in Scripture do you see the trinity mentioned in connection with Water Baptism. But the Name of Jesus is repeatedly referred to in connection with Water Baptism.
Second: "Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established" is a statement that is found in three places in Scripture. Yet Christians have built their entire baptismal theology on one verse at the end of Matthews Gospel. Again, that is the only verse that mentions the trinity in connection with Water Baptism, yet we find several passages that refer to the Name of Jesus in connection with Water Baptism.
Third: "...whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..."(Col.3:17). Everything we do in the Christian walk is through the authority of the Name of Jesus. We lay hands on the sick in His Name. We cast out demons in His Name. We close most of our prayers with the words "in the Name of Jesus, Amen". If we do everything else in Christianity through the authority of the Name of Jesus, why would Water Baptism be any different? Isn't Water Baptism a "deed" that could fall under the guidelines of this verse?
Fourth: All Authority of Heaven and Earth has been placed in the Name of JESUS. There is no higher authority. It is the Name above all names. It isn't that the Name of Jesus is a magical formula, in fact it really isn't so important what words come out of your mouth. The important thing is that those who are involved in the baptismal procedure recognize that it is all about JESUS and we get our authority to do what we are doing from Him and from Him alone. All the New Testament evolves around this majestic name (Eph.1:20-22).
Fifth: Water Baptism is identifying with what JESUS did in His death, burial, and resurrection. In Water Baptism, we are submerged under water, a way of identifying with His death and burial. Then we are raised up from the water, a way of identifying with His resurrection. In Water Baptism, we are telling the world that we've placed our faith in JESUS Christ to be our Savior! It is all about JESUS!
Sixth: The passage in Matthew states in the "Name of...". Have you ever noticed that the word "name" is singular? It doesn't say in the "names...."(plural) but in the "name..."(singular). So there is one single name that belongs to the Godhead that is represented here in this verse. Paul tells us that "in Him(Jesus) dwells the fullness of the Godhead..." (Col.2:9).
Seventh: The passage in Matthew states "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost...". Actually Father and Son are not even names, they are titles. So it seems obvious that He is not referring to this as a baptismal formula, but He is telling us to baptize in the authority of the Name which belongs to the Father, Son, and Spirit.
Having said all this, I would not make this an issue to break fellowship over. Again, it isn't the words that come out our mouths that is so important, but that we recognize the authority of the One who has commissioned and ordained us. Water baptism should never be reduced to a formula anyway. Whether we baptize in the the Name of Jesus or by mentioning the trinity, we must recognize that is by and through the authority of Jesus, Kind of kings and Lord of lords, and in His Name that we do everything that we do.
Water Baptism and The Communion Ceremony are the only two practices which are considered "church ordinances" by most protestant church organizations. Both of these ordinances center on Jesus and His redemptive work to bring us to salvation. In communion, we remember the broken body and the the spilled blood to redeem us to Himself. In Water Baptism, we are seeing a visual representation of dying, being buried, and resurrection from the dead. Neither ordinance is to be taken lightly, but neither one are pre-requisites to salvation. Again, it's all about JESUS!
