| Introduction: |
| What is Baptism? |
| Who are the Scriptural Subjects for Baptism? |
| What is the Design of Bible Baptism? |
| Conclusion. |
1. The subject of baptism is extremely important because is has to do with the salvation of the soul.
2. It is a subject around which there has been much controversy concerning its subject, mode and purpose.
3. Since it is a Bible subject, the Bible as the infallible word of God, must be the standard from which all final conclusions about the subject are drawn.
4. In our study we will consider:
A. What baptism is. (mode)
B. What does baptism require?
C. Who is to be baptized?
D. Why must one be baptized?
A. Lexical consideration.
1. a. Prop. to dip repeatly, to immerse, submerge.
b. To cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water. (Thayer P. 94)
2. "Dip, immerse, mid. dip oneself, wash" (B.A.G. P.131)
3. "To dip repeatedly; of ships, to sink them." (Liddell-Scott P. 260)
4. "To dip, immerse, sink...metaph. to overwhelm." (Abbott-Smith P. 74,75)
5. "I dip, submerge". (Pocket Lexicon to the Greek N.T.-Souter P. 46)
6. "to dip, immerse, to cleanse or purify by washing, to administer the rite of baptism". (Green P.29)
7. "To immerse, baptize". "(In form a frequentative or factive of, dip or dye). To make a thing dipped or dyed. To immerse for a religious purpose". (Bullinger P. 80).
8. "To baptize, primarily a freqentative from of bapto, to dip, was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another". (Vines p. 97)
9. "To make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)". (Strong's Greek Dictionary of the N.T., No. 907)
10. It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit selected the word "baptizo" to convey the meaning intended. Had the Holy Spirit wanted to use a word to refer to sprinkling the words "rhaino and rhantizo" meaning "to sprinkle".
Heb 9:19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. (KJV)
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (KJV)
Had He wanted to use a word to refer to pouring He would have used the word "cheo" meaning :to pour forth".
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (KJV)
Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (KJV)
He did not select these words to refer to baptism but "baptizo" which unquestionably and uniformly meant "to immerse, to dip, to plunge", The words rhaino, rhantizo, and cheo are never used to indicate water baptism in the New Testament.
B. Textual consideration.
1. Baptism is a burial,
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (KJV)
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (KJV)
even a child, when he or she is going to bury a pet realize that it involves a complete covering.
2. Baptism is compared to planting.
Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (KJV)
When a farmer plants seed, he does so by completely covering them up.
3. Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (KJV)
The text reveals:
a. A going to the water.
b. A going down into the water.
c. The baptism.
d. A coming up out of the water (to these can be added that baptism requires much water.
John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. (KJV)
4. The baptism of Jesus teaches that when one is baptized he is immersed.
Matt 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (KJV)
a. Jesus came straightway out of the water, indicating an immersion.
b. Christ was baptized in Jordan.
Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. (KJV)
C. Chart on Requirements.
Water. (Acts 8:36) Yes-Yes-Yes
Much water. (John 3:23) Yes-No-No
A going unto the water. (Acts 8:36) Yes-No-No
A going down into the water. (Acts 8:38) Yes-No-No
That both the baptizer and the one to be baptized go down into the water. Yes-No-No (Acts 8:38-39)
A burial. (Rom 6:4) Yes-No-No
A resurrection. (Col 2:12) Yes-No-No
A birth. (John 3:5) Yes-No-No
Body washed. (Heb 10:22) Yes-No-No
A coming up out of the water. Yes-No-No (Acts 8:39; Matt 3:16)
II. WHO ARE THE SCRIPTURAL SUBJECTS FOR BAPTISM?
A. Are infants, small children, and those not having mental faculty to understand, subjects for Bible baptism?
B. Those who are scriptural subjects for baptism.
1. Those who have been taught and learned.
Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (KJV)
2. Those who gladly receive the word.
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (KJV)
3. Those who are believers.
Acts 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (KJV)
Acts 16:30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (KJV)
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. (KJV)
4. Those who repent of their sin.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (KJV)
Acts 9:9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. 10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, (KJV)
indicates repentance.
5. Those who confess Christ.
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (KJV)
Note that the confession is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (KJV)
Matt 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (KJV)
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)
C. No one is a subject for Bible baptism who has not been taught and learned, who has not received the word, who does not believe, has not repented and has not confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Since infants, small children and such like cannot do the above they are not therefore subjects for New Testament baptism.
III. WHAT IS THE DESIGN OF BIBLE BAPTISM?
A. To be saved.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (KJV)
B. To be born again.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
By comparing John 3:5 with;
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)
and
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
one learns that the new birth involves belief and baptism.
C. To receive remission of sin.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (KJV)
D. To rejoice.
Acts 16:34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (KJV)
Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (KJV)
E. To contact the blood of Christ.
1. John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. (KJV)
and
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (KJV)
2. Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (KJV)
and
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (KJV)
3. Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (KJV)
and
1Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (KJV)
F. To get into Christ.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (KJV)
Salvation in Christ.
2Tim 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (KJV)
Baptism is the act of obedience that puts one into Christ where salvation is found.
G. To enter the kingdom or church of God.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)
1Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (KJV)
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (KJV)
H. To put on Christ.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)
I. To become a new creature.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)
If it is the case that those in Christ become new creatures and if it is the case that one must be immersed (baptized) to get into Christ, it then is the case that one must be baptized to become a new creature.
J. To receive the answer of a good conscience.
I Pet. 3:21
K. To be reconciled to God.
1. Reconciliation occurs in Christ.
2Cor 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (KJV)
Baptism puts one in Christ where reconciliation occurs.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (KJV)
2. Reconciliation also occurs in the body.
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: (KJV)
We are baptized into one body.
1Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (KJV)
L. To be redeemed.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (KJV)
Redemption is in Christ.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (KJV)
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (KJV)
One is baptized into Christ where redemption occurs.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (KJV)
1. Baptism is not the only act of obedience that is important as already observed, however it is not less important than faith, repentance or any other essential element to salvation.
2. We must allow the Bible to speak for itself and lay aside all denominational ideas that shade our thinking about the subject.
3. Remember we will be judged by the word of the Lord.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (KJV)
James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. (KJV)
The word of God says "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved".
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (KJV)
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