Water Baptism
Water Baptism
To be “baptized” means to be “totally immersed.” The root meaning of the word is immersion. The word “Baptism” is not translated but transliterated from the Greek word. The word means to dip or immerse. When a person believes in Jesus, repents from his sin and, then he is to be taken to the water, put right under it and brought up again. This is called water baptism.
Baptism is an expression of faith for salvation (Acts 2:38). Water Baptism is an important step of faith to receive new life in Jesus Christ. We can receive new life not by any work but by faith in Jesus Christ. Faith means not just knowledge of God but faith has actions. Fain in Jesus means repentance, baptism and walking with Christ.
Let us see what the bible says about water baptism-
a) It is a step of faith for Salvation
Jesus told his disciples:
Mark 16:15-16 “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned”.
So, Jesus taught that genuine faith in Him would be coupled with baptism.
Also, we understand from Acts 2:37-38 that baptism follows repentance—that is changing from a sinful lifestyle to obedience to God.
Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism without repentance is of no worth
Similarly, Repentance but no baptism is disobedience to God
Baptism in itself does not save us, but after repentance, it is the next crucial step of faith.
b) It is a transfer of the Kingdom
In baptism, person repents from old sinful nature and turn to God. He becomes free from the dominion of sin. In rising out of the water, he walks in the newness of life.
Rom.6:8-9 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Colossians 1:12″For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves”
Every man and woman born into the world is born into the Kingdom of Darkness; born slaves of the dictator Satan. There is no way out of this kingdom except by DEATH, and there is no way into the Kingdom of God except by BIRTH. When one repents and be baptized, his old man is considered dead. His name was erased from the registry of Satan’s dominion.
c) Baptism cleanses sin
A bath refreshes us and cleanses us from all the outward dirt on our body. But through Baptism Jesus cleans us up from all the dirt that is inside us.
Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
I Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (I Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:25-26; Titus 3:3-7; Heb. 10:19-22)
d) Baptism is a Burial
Romans 6: 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
When someone dies we do not keep the body around; we bury it. Bible describes baptism as a burial.
e) Baptism is the resurrection to new life
After baptism when one is raised out of the waters of baptism, is like the resurrection of Christ. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so a baptized person raised to new life.
Romans 6:10-11: The death [Christ] died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Some examples from old testaments:-
1 Peter 3: 18-22……….. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Here peter made a powerful comparison.
Here Peter is talking about Noah and the flood and what happened there. Water was the dividing line between the lost and the saved. The water separated the eight members of Noah’s family from the rest of humanity. He then compared those Flood waters with the water of baptism. The water of baptism is the dividing line between the lost person and the saved person.
Another picture that is used in the Bible is when the Israelites came out of Egypt and went through the Red Sea. They were saved from Egypt. They were baptized into Moses.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, Also, the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost says that repentance and water baptism was for the remission or forgiveness of sin.
Colossians 2:11-13
Here Paul compares in between baptism and the Old Testament practice of circumcision.He was making a beautiful comparison between cutting off of SKIN in circumcision and cutting off of SIN in baptism.
Let us see how people responded when they received new life in book of Acts ?
In the book of acts when people heard the gospel and repented for their sins they immediately got baptized. They did not do a sinner’s prayer for salvation, not just repentance. Or just believing..It was always baptism.
Is Baptism just a symbol?
Many people believe it is just a symbol. So it is not required for salvation.
Baptism symbolizes:
- Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection; (Romans 6: 8-9, 4,10-11)
- Cutting off SIN (Colossian 2:11-14)
- The waters of the Flood. (1Peter 3:18-22)
- It saved Israel (1 Corinthians 10:1-2)
But all these examples further verify the essentiality of immersion as a mandatory requirement for forgiveness of sins.
Acts 2: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
So we can understand it is not just a symbol but an essential requirement for salvation. All three repentance –baptism and the Holy Spirit are needed for salvation.
Some people may say that it is only just faith and faith alone. That it is not deeds but only faith.
You must understand what faith is. Faith is obedience. Faith is not knowledge or faith does not only believe in a person that once lived. Faith compels us to do something. Faith without work is dead.
Faith in Jesus means to repent- baptized and to receive the Holy Spirit.
Some important points:-
By whose faith we are baptized?
By own faith.
Who can baptize others?
Everyone who is born again. Everyone is a priest in the new testament.
Who may be Baptized?
Those Who Have Believed and Repented
Mark 16:16 ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’
Acts 2:38 ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…’
How should one be Baptized?
a) Should repent of our sins and have believed on the Lord Jesus.
b) We should be immersed in the waters in a lake, river or baptismal pond.
c) We should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Some misconceptions:-
What about child baptism?
Baptism itself is meaningless without repentance. A child cannot repent for his sins so he cannot be baptized. We do not find child baptism in the bible. This started from a wrong fear that non-baptized baby would go to hell.
It is one of the dangerous custom in denominational churches. It creates a sense of false security. It is imposed by parents upon children who knows nothing about it. Faith in Jesus Christ is a matter of personal obedience (Hebrews 5:9). It is not a blessing that can be imposed by one person on another.
What about Sprinkling Baptism?
No where the Bible does teaches about sprinkle Baptism. In the past Baptism by sprinkling was first primarily used for those who were sick. Because of bodily weakness they could not be immersed. This practice was also used on infants. After words it became tradition of denominational group. The origin of sprinkling is from pagan faith.
Can someone be Re-baptised or baptized multiple times?
Some people are accused of undergoing a second baptism because they were baptized as infants. If someone is not properly baptized he needs to get baptized again. We have example from bible.
When Paul was in Ephesus he met some believers who were not baptized into Jesus Christ. So Paul again baptized them in Jesus and in Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:4-5Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Baptism is one. We no need to have multiple baptism, but we need to have right kind of baptism. It should be in right order:
Believe- Repentance- Baptism
Baptism follows only after believe and repentance. Any Baptism, which does not follow this scriptural order, originates due to the tradition of men, instead of being enforced as a command of God.