Scriptural Baptism

Conrad ElsPosts

Introduction

One of the most misunderstood religious subjects is baptism. Some religions believe that sprinkling is sufficient for a person to be baptized, and that babies can be “baptized”. Some even believe that baptism is not necessary for salvation. These beliefs have come about due to convenience, mankind’s convenience as well as not fully understanding the word of God.  Mankind believes that God doesn’t really mean what he says.

First criteria we must believe is that God says what he means and means what he says. If we believe that Gods word is the ultimate truth, then we must believe the above statement. We must use God’s word in order to establish authority for everything we do as disciples of God.  1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In understanding the authority of the scriptures, we must also apply the principle of “speak where the Bible speaks and keep silent where the Bible is silent”.

When studying any subject, we must apply these principles. The main principle to apply is that if any text could be interpreted in different ways, then no interpretation can contradict any other scripture. This we know because God cannot lie (Heb 6:18).

When studying Scriptural baptism, by definition, we must stay with what the Scriptures say about the subject.

2 Peter 1:3 “God has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness”. By this we see that God will provide everything we need to follow his will. There is nothing mankind needs to add to help God. (This was written +- 2000 years ago, nothing has changed).

There are people who believe that anybody, including an unbeliever, can baptize a person, as long as the person being baptized complies with the requirements of hearing the gospel, belief, repentance, confession, and immersion in water.

Criteria for Scriptural baptism

The proper candidate:

In every case of baptism, we read about in the New Testament we see that emphasis is placed on the candidate being baptized. The proper person to be baptized is:

  • A person who has been taught and understands the gospel.

Mk 16:15-16. If they did not believe and were baptized, they could not be saved.

Acts 8:35-38. Philip taught Jesus to the Eunich and then he was baptized.

This is important as it rules out those that do not believe, infants who can’t believe, or those who are untaught.

  • A person who repents (referred to a penitent sinner) Acts 2:38
    • A person who confesses Rom 10:9-15, Acts 8:37 (Example of confession)

The proper action:

This describes how a person should be baptized.

  • Baptism is immersion. Acts 8:38-39. Both Philip and the Eunuch went down and came up out of the water. The word Greek word ‘baptizo’ means to immerse or submerge. Rom 6:3-5 Baptism is a burial. 
    • God has been expressly clear about who should do the baptizing. In every example in the New Testament, we see a Christian male baptizing. If we use the approved apostolic examples as our authority, we have to agree that if every example is the same it must be approved. (Will deal with what constitutes an approved Apostolic example under proper Authority) Remember all the examples of the Old Testament where God gave a command. If the examples were not completed completely punishment was the result: (Cain (wrong offering), Nadab and Abihu (strange fire), Saul (incorrect person made offering) etc)

There is not one scriptural proof of an unbeliever baptizing. 2 Cor 6:14-18.

There is not even one example of a female baptizing, Christian or otherwise. Mankind has allowed this due to convenience. The status of the unbeliever is repugnant to God Acts 16:16-18

The proper substance

Although immersion is the proper action, we see in the example in Acts 8:38-39 that water was used as the substance. Therefore, we follow the example of baptism as an act of immersion in water. Some argue that you can be immersed by the Holy Spirit (in some way) and therefore they are baptized.

The proper authority

The authority is given by Jesus Christ in Matt 28:18-20. Col 3:17

In Matt 3:11 we read “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”.

This is John “the baptist” speaking about Jesus. There has been much confusion about this verse. If we apply the principle that we discussed above, there can be 2 possible answers:

  • The answer lies in the following verse vs12 “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Baptism of “FIRE” means the tribulations, crosses, and afflictions, which believers in Christ are called to pass through.

1Cor 3:13 “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”

The idea that Christians must suffer is taught throughout the New Testament. James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” The trying of our faith is done by “FIRE – Trials.”

The other possibility is:

The term fire is used in Mt 3:10, and there means a purifing agency; it is used again in Mt 3:12 in the same sense; it is used in Mt 3:11, and therefore must be used in the same sense if we keep the context.

The baptism of the “HOLY SPIRIT & FIRE” is the fact that the HOLY SPIRIT brought the “word” (2 Pet 1:19-21) of salvation and through this we are purified (“FIRE”) (cleansed from our old sins).

The explanations above might be a little obscure, but to clarify:

Believers of Christ,

  • Hear the word (this is the part of the HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT delivered the word to the apostles. They wrote it down and taught it so that we know of God’s wonderful plan of salvation. We also learn how to stay pleasing to GOD through what the HOLY SPIRIT told the apostles)
  • Believe the word (this is part HOLY SPIRIT and part FIRE. HOLY SPIRIT delivered the word. The FIRE part is the cleansing (changing) that a person must undergo in order to fully believe.
  • Repent (FIRE – metaphorically cleansing)
  • Confess (HOLY SPIRIT tells us to confess that Christ died and was resurrected so that we can be cleansed from our sins)
  • Baptized (HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE – Our sins are washed away through our obedience.
  • LIFE FOR CHRIST (HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE – HOLY SPIRIT tells us how to live and the FIRE is the trials and tribulations that we go through as Christians

So, baptism has to have Water (the immersion in the scriptural substance), Holy Spirit (word or truth) and Fire (metaphorical purifying)

Continue reading