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What the Bible says about ... BAPTISM The Roman Catholic Church "baptizes" infants and commonly sprinkles for baptism. The Lutheran Church teaches justification by faith alone without any works of obedience. They sprinkle and pour on infants, teaching that baptism replaced circumcision. The Presbyterian Church basically teaches salvation by faith alone. The Methodist Church teaches justification by faith only. They "baptize" infants. They will sprinkle, pour, or immerse for baptism, but the most common practice is pouring. The Baptist Church believes that baptism is only by immersion and opposes infant baptism. They generally teach that one is saved by faith only. They teach that baptism is not essential to salvation. The Assemblies of God Church believes immersion in water is the only Scriptural mode of water baptism. They do not believe that baptism is essential to salvation. The Church of the Nazarene teaches the "mourner's bench" system of conversion, involving repentance and prayer. The Salvation Army teaches that baptism is not necessary. Most Mennonites pour for baptism. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, teaches that baptism is immersion and it is for the forgiveness of sins. And they practice baptism for the dead. (Information in this paragraph comes from Rod Rutherford's book, Denominational Doctrines.) But what does the Bible say about baptism? The "What" of Baptism. The Greek word translated "baptism" is "baptisma." It means, "'baptism,' consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, 'to dip') ... " (Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words). This rules out "sprinkling" and "pouring" as acceptable forms of baptism. Furthermore, when one looks at Bible contexts of the word "baptism," its meaning is seen. For example, when Jesus was baptized, the Bible says "Jesus came up immediately from the water" (Matthew 3:16 NASB). Does that sound to you like Jesus was sprinkled, poured, or immersed? Only immersion explains why Jesus would have "came up from the water." Later, the Bible tells of John the Baptist "baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there, and people were coming and were being baptized" (John 3:23 NASB). Why would you need "much water" if you simply pouring or sprinkling? And when Philip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, the Bible says, "and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him" (Acts 8:38 NASB). Why'd they both go "down into the water" if Philip just sprinkled or poured on the eunuch? Why didn't Philip just dip his hand into the water? And then also, baptism is described in the New Testament as a burial. Paul said, "we have been buried with Him through baptism" (Romans 6:3 NASB); and again, "having been buried with Him in baptism" (Colossians 2:14 NASB). When you bury someone, you don't just sprinkle or pour some dust on him. You immerse the deceased with dirt. Only immersion as the mode of baptism coincides with the idea of burial. The "What" of baptism is immersion. The "Why" of Baptism. Why be baptized anyway? A number of Scriptures make clear the purpose of baptism. Peter wrote, "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21 NASB). Peter had also told the Jews that had killed Jesus, "Repent, and each of you be baptized 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 NASB). Likewise, Ananias told Saul (a.k.a. Paul), "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16 NASB). You see, Jesus shed his blood for man's forgiveness (Matthew 26:28). And, as Paul later wrote, "all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3 NASB). The "Who" of Baptism. Before Peter told those Jews who had killed Christ to be baptized, he wanted them to "know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-this Jesus whom you crucified" (Acts 2:36 NASB). Likewise, when a jailer asked Paul and Silas what he needed to do to be saved, they didn't begin with telling him to be baptized. They began saying, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31 NASB). Then came his baptism and the baptism of his household (verse 33). So baptism is only for those who are able to believe in the Lord Jesus. This would disqualify infants and those with mental disabilities. Then also, before Peter told those Jews who had killed Christ to be baptized, he told them to "Repent" (Acts 2:36 NASB). So baptism is only for those who are able to repent. This, too, would disqualify infants and those with mental disabilities. The "Who" of baptism is those who believe and repent. So, maybe, the "Who" of baptism is you! If you need assistance, please contact us! |