Lesson #12. Explaining Believer’s Baptism by Immersion

KEY TRUTH: To reinforce the New Testament’s teaching that belief is a prerequisite for biblical baptism and that the symbolism represented by baptism is immersion.

I. UNDERSTANDING WHAT BAPTISM MEANS IN THIS DAY AND AGE:

1. CHRISTENING OF INFANTS OR DEDICATION OF PARENTS: Like numerous church people in the past, I was Christened as a baby. At twenty, when I announced to my parents that I was being baptized as a believer, they were offended because they felt I was questioning their sincerity in having me baptised. However, amongst other things, I was distancing myself from the idea that christening made me (and my siblings) members of the true church. In due time, my wife and I had a Dedication service for all our children This bestowed no grace on our children but was an expression of our desire to – bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph.6:4). Each in turn made their own decision and submitted to believer’s baptism by immersion.
2. SCRIPTURES SUPPORTING CHRISTENING: The practice of christening or infant baptism was substituted historically by the church from a combination of Jewish O.T. circumcision (see Gen.17:1-27) and Jewish dedication (see Lev.12:6-8). There is not a single verse in the New Testament that supports the baptism and ‘christening of infants. It is purely a traditional ceremony upon which the N.T. is silent. The claim that there may have been infants baptised as part of the household Christian baptisms (see Acts 16:33) flies in the face of the plain teaching for the need of the new birth. As Paul wrote to the Galatians – But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one, we preached to you, let him be accursed (Gal.1:8). The Reformation of the 16th century should have rejected this practice with its concern about the ‘Five Solas’ … (i) Sola Scriptura (SCRIPTURE ALONE); (ii) Solus Christus (CHRIST ALONE); (iii) Sola Gratia (GRACE ALONE); Sola Fide (FAITH ALONE); Soli Deo Gloria (GOD’S GLORY ALONE). It brought clarity on the gospel but failed to ‘reform’ the biblical teaching on baptism.
3. IS BAPTISM A SACRAMENT OR AN ORDINANCE? Some denominations still hold to the pre-Reformation Catholic view that baptism and the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper) are sacraments. This teaching claims that these sacraments actually impart divine grace through the ritual of the church. Other denominations (and our church) call these ‘ordinances’ that point to what they represent. Both baptism and the Lord’s Supper are reminders of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (see Rom.6:1-4; 1 Cor.11:23-26).
4. THERE IS NO TRUE SALVATION WITHOUT REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN THE SAVIOUR: Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost (and onwards) that sinners must – Repent and be baptized every one 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). No ceremony of a church can save anyone. The revered evangelical Anglican, Bishop J. C. Ryle (1816 – 1900) wrote – We hold it is wrong to tell people they are children of God and members of Christ and heirs of the kingdom of heaven unless they really overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. In short, if there is nothing seen, there is nothing possessed.
5. NO ONE IS SAVED BY A RITUAL. INDEED, CHILDREN ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE LIKE ADULTS: The idea that a person could be saved by a church ritual is the same as claiming salvation by works. The Bible is clear – 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph.2:8-9 c.f. Tit.3:5-6). The idea that children are lost before they can make a meaningful decision is baseless. Jesus placed children in a category of their own when He taught – 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea … 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven (Mt.18:6 & 10 c.f. Deut.1:39). Children come under the merits of the Saviour as Paul explained – 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the One who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that One Man Jesus Christ abounded to many (Rom.5:13-15 c.f. Deut.1:39). Nevertheless, we must take the utmost care to ensure children are taught the truth and that we do nothing to cause these little ones to stumble.
6. WHAT THE WORD BAPTISM MEANS IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE: The word ‘baptise’ comes from the Greek word ‘baptizo’ which means ‘to immerse or dip under’. It is explicitly stated that when Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist that He went into the water and came out of it i.e. He was immersed in the Jordan River not sprinkled at a Baptismal Font (see Mt.3:16; Mk.1:10). Every baptism in the New Testament was by immersion under water. The reason why people were baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist and Jesus & His disciples was stated to be because – water was plentiful there (Jn.3:23 c.f. Jn.3:22; 4:1-2).

II. THE NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON BELIEVER’S BAPTISM:

1. JESUS HIMSELF SUBMITTED TO THE BAPTISM OF JOHN: When Jesus came from Galilee to be baptised by John the Baptist, John resisted saying – I need to be baptized by you, and do You come to me? (Mt.3:14). John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance that the perfect Son of God did not need to submit to. John understood that God had called him to be the herald to prepare people for the Saviour. To those that suspected he might be the Christ, John responded – I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I is coming … He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Lk.3:16). He described Jesus to his own disciples as – … the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn.1:29). He testified – 33 I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God (Jn.1:33-34). Jesus had no personal need to be baptised so responded to John – Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness (Mt.3:15). In other words, it was right in God’s sight for Jesus to identify Himself with sinners from the beginning all the way to His atoning death for sinners on the cross.
2. BAPTISM IS COMMANDED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST: Christian leaders have always accepted that the Great Commission of Jesus is the all-encompassing mission that He gave to His church. Evangelising the lost and baptising converts is fundamental to His calling – 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt.28:19-20).
3. BAPTISM REQUIRES THE EXERCISE OF FAITH AND REPENTANCE: There is no record of anyone coming to Christ and not being baptised. All demonstrated saving faith in Jesus before they were baptised …
   1. THREE THOUSAND JEWS ARE SAVED IN A DAY: – At the time of the birth of the church on the Day of Pentecost Peter preached the gospel. Summing up – 38 Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit … 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:38-41).
   2. A CONVERTED EUNUCH COMES TO CHRIST: – An Ethiopian proselyte was confused by Isaiah 53 until God sent the evangelist, Philip who – 35 … opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip, and the eunuch, and he baptized him (Acts 8:35-38). He was then immersed in water.
   3. SAUL OF TARSUS MEETS CHRIST AND IS CONVERTED: – One of the zealous Jewish persecutor of the church was changed when he met the risen Christ. After his conversion, God sent Ananias to follow him up and – 15 … said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized (Acts 9:15-18).
   4. THE GENTILES RECEIVE CHRIST AND ARE BAPTISED: – God sent Peter to a devout Roman centurion to present the gospel to him and his household. It is recorded that while Peter was speaking – 44 … the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days (Acts 10:44-48).
   5. A JAILER AND HIS HOUSEHOLD COMES TO CHRIST: After mistreating Paul & Silas in jail, the Philippian jailer had a magnificent heart-change and asked the way of salvation. Paul & Silas responded – 31 … “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God (Acts16:31-34).
4. BAPTISM IS AN OUTWARD WITNESS TO AN INWARD CHANGE: At baptism, we confess with our mouths what has already taken place in our hearts – 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved (Rom.10:9-10).
   1. ISRAEL WAS BAPTISED INTO MOSES, THEIR DELIVERER: Paul illustrates the representative nature of baptism by referring to Israel following Moses through the Red Sea when they faced death and were saved from the Egyptians – all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Cor.10:2 c.f. Exo.14:13-31).
   2. CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS ARE BAPTISED INTO THEIR SAVIOUR: He takes up the same symbolism in Romans – 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Rom.6:1-4).
   3. BAPTISM SYMBOLISES OUR IDENTIFICATION WITH THE DEATH, BURIAL, & RESURRECTION OF JESUS: Sprinkling speaks of washing. But believers have already been washed. Baptism by immersion is a public statement identifying us with the death (as we enter the water), the burial (when we are under the water), and the resurrection (when we come out of the water) to newness of life in Christ.

      AN OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD DECISION

      

   4. IS THIS BAPTISM A TESTIMONY TO CONVERSION OR CONSECRATION? The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles are TRANSITIONAL books. John the Baptist baptised extensively in preparation for the ministry of Jesus. Many were then baptised into Jesus although it is recorded that He Himself did not baptise anyone (Jn.4:1-2).
      Nevertheless, they, nor the disciples were converted in the gospel sense because the Holy Spirit was not yet bestowed (Jn.7:39 c.f. Acts 2:1-41). After Pentecost, all believers were baptised at the time of conversion. Therefore, the New Testament does not give us a clear example of ‘second generation’ believers i.e. the children of converts.
      Today, second generation believers often make childhood commitments and it can take years before they make their own adult commitment. Those that are dramatically converted as adults will have a clear testimony of ‘conversion’ and their baptism. For second generation Christians, there ‘conversion’ is often less dramatic and for such their baptism will often be a time of consecration.
   5. IS IT EVER APPROPRIATE TO BE BAPTISED AGAIN? Going through a ceremony of the church or the waters of baptism does not save anyone. Baptism is only relevant when there has been evidence of conversion. As mentioned, that may be more obvious for someone who has come to Christ in their adult life. Nevertheless, a second generation Christian will often have much evidence that the Holy Spirit dwells within with a love for the Scriptures, dependence on God in prayer, commitment to fellowship and service, and faithful support of the mission of Christ. Should a person be convinced that their baptism was invalid, then like the disciples in Ephesus who showed no evidence of the new birth, a re-baptism may be appropriate (see Acts 19:1-7).