Though it doesn’t make the news as much as other issues, baptism can be a very sensitive (even contentious) issue for many who profess faith in Christ. It is immersed (no pun intended) in family and cultural traditions, theological significance, and one’s personal spiritual life.
It would be great if all Christians agreed on the various issues and traditions surrounding baptism, but that is unfortunately not the case. Different Christian traditions hold differing beliefs about the mode, timing, and purpose of baptism, leading to passionate discussions and disagreements.
There are no differences among Christians on the command to be baptized (Matt. 28:18–20), but there are differences over the candidate: believers or infants, over the mode: effusion (sprinkling or pouring) or immersion, and over efficacy: this concerns regeneration as found in Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglicans, or a symbol of identification as is found with Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist.
Geisler, Norman L., and Douglas F. Potter. A Popular Survey of Bible Doctrine. Baker Books, 1994.
While the lack of agreement can be frustrating and confusing, the strong emotions and differing perspectives surrounding baptism do highlight its profound spiritual and communal importance in the lives of believers.
For this article, I will briefly lay out my understanding of water baptism. (Baptism by the Holy Spirit will have to wait until a future article). Before I do so, however, let me quickly say this…
It ultimately doesn’t matter how I feel about baptism or even how you feel about baptism. We’re not commenting on intentions or feelings here. We should all be united in seeking the truth. And Truth is ultimately a Person (see John 14:6). So, we must seek the Lord and that means being in prayer and in His word.
Therefore, don’t judge this article against how you feel, what your parents think, or what your pastor says. Do as the Bereans. Search the Scriptures!
And that is key — key to this and all other theological issues!
What matters is what the Scriptures say.
So, with that in mind…
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20, KJV
Jesus declares that “all power” and all authority are His. This was confirmed by His resurrection. He then, right before His ascension, tells His disciples (and, by extension, His church) to “teach all nations.” That refers not only to nation-states but to people groups. Teach them what? Well, Himself. We are to teach all people about Jesus. That obviously includes who He is, what He did for us, and the good news (gospel) of His resurrection.
And when they receive Jesus, we are to then baptize them “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Wait a minute! You’re reading that part about receiving Jesus into the text!
I can hear that objection now. 🙂 So, in case any of you are thinking that, let’s look at how baptism was practiced by the early Christians following Jesus’ Great Commission.
And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 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? 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. 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.
Acts 8:26-38, KJV
Do you see the sequence?
Belief first, then baptism.
This is the case throughout the New Testament. People were called to repentance, and then (after they did so) they were baptized (see Acts 2:38).
This is why our church does not practice infant baptism. I understand that baptizing babies is a very emotionally significant and personally meaningful experience for many people and families. And I have nothing but admiration for parents who desire to dedicate their children to the Lord. And this is why we practice baby dedications at our church. But…
Infant baptism is an extrabiblical tradition. It is not found anywhere in the Bible.
What is found in the Bible is the need for baptism after repentance — after a person gives his or her life to Christ. That is biblical. Therefore, that is what we should practice.
The Bible does not teach infant baptism nor the baptism of any other age as part of a step in the plan of salvation. The Bible teaches only believers were baptized after they were converted. On the Day of Pentecost, people were saved before they were baptized and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). This pattern was repeated continuously in the New Testament.
Towns, Elmer L. Concise Bible Doctrines. AMG Publishers, 1992.
Now, we get to the mode of baptism…
At our church, we practice baptism by immersion. Why?
The Greek word variants behind “baptism,” “baptized,” or “baptizing” in the New Testament are all derived from the root “βάπτω” (baptō), which means “to dip” or “to immerse.”
Some may argue that “to dip” refutes the idea of immersion, but when you think of “to dip,” think of the ancient technique of immersing a cloth or garment into a vat of dye in order to change its color. This was Lydia’s occupation. She was one of the charter members of the church in Philippi. When she saturated the fabric in dye, she allowed the dye to saturate the fabric and absorb the new color, resulting in a transformed appearance that would endure permanently.
Do you see the significance? When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts and begins that same transformation process in us (see Ephesians 4:17-5:20 and II Corinthians 5, especially vs. 17).
Part of what baptism symbolizes is this salvific, transformative work of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and baptism by immersion is a far more holistic and comprehensive way to illustrate this than sprinkling.
Baptism, of course, primarily illustrates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Were it not for this act of grace and love, none of us would have any hope of heaven. Clearly, immersion is a much more accurate means of illustrating burial than sprinkling.
Not to be crude, but we don’t simply sprinkle dirt on corpses. We bury them!
Must I be baptized in order to be saved?
No.
Baptism is not required for salvation. It symbolizes salvation.
It is an outward symbol of an inner experience. It symbolizes to those watching what Christ has done for you (and what the Spirit is now doing in you).
And this, of course, emphasizes the importance of making sure you are saved before you pursue baptism. Make sure you understand what salvation is all about — and that you have truly been saved. Then, talk with your pastor about baptism.
Baptism is the first step of obedience after repentance (again, see Acts 2:38), but it is not required for salvation. The thief on the cross, for example, was saved but never had the opportunity for water baptism.
That said, if a person truly gives his or her life to Christ, why would such a person not want to be baptized? It is a privilege and honor to identify publicly with Christ.
In most evangelical settings (and certainly in most Baptist churches), baptism is also the entry point to being a part of a church family. This is the case at our church. Those who are baptized are accepted into membership of our congregation (if they choose to so unite with us).
In writing this, it’s not my intention to offend or upset anyone. But, as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have a responsibility to “preach the word” (see II Timothy 4:2) and that is what I strive to do. What matters, again, isn’t what you think or what I think. It’s what God says.
And when I look into the word of God, I see:
Baptism by Immersion after Conversion.
And that is among the reasons why I’m a Baptist. 🙂 And it’s why I am comfortable being a part of the church I am honored to worship with.
Whether you agree or disagree with me, search the Scriptures. And then find a Bible-believing body of Christ-following believers to unite with. Let God lead you to where He wants you to be. And if you haven’t been baptized, I hope you will do so and join with that body.
If you have any questions about baptism, feel free to reach out to me.
God bless you!
For further reading:
