Scriptural Baptism
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as
ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
(Ephesians 4:4–6)
The title of my article is “Scriptural Baptism.” It could simply be entitled “Baptism” because
if it ain't Scriptural, it ain't
baptism! I do believe that this is a
very important subject. God's Word only
recognizes one kind of baptism and more people have been murdered for this
subject than any other doctrine.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM
In today's religious
world and even in many so-called (Reformed?) Baptist circles, we are told this
is a “non essential issue”
and it really does not matter anymore.
OH REALLY?!? Show me the
Scriptural mandate that says it is not important and I will sit down and join
the Presbyterians!
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan
unto John, to be baptized of him.” (Matthew 3:13)
Jesus thought it to be
important to be scripturally baptized that He walked 60 miles to be
baptized. If it did not matter, he
could have remained unbaptized.
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was
at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and
finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye
received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy
Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye
baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily
baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they
should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
(Acts 19:1–5)
These twelve
individuals had gotten wet but they weren't
baptized. So, Paul baptized them
scripturally. What happened here is
that these men were not baptized by John but someone else who had been baptized
by John. That person lacked authority
since John was never commissioned to grant authority to baptize to anyone
else. Many so-called church theologians
will disagree on the reasons why they had to be baptized by Paul but in the
end, you still have unscriptural baptism followed by scriptural baptism. Not a Catholic or Protestant can change this.
THE ELEMENTS OF SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM
Proper Authority
“There was a man sent from God, whose name
was John.” (John 1:6)
The very first baptisms
were done by a man named John who had the authority of God. All scriptural baptism has to be done under
the proper authority. Without the
correct authority, there can be no baptism.
“Then the eleven disciples went away into
Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him,
they worshipped him: but some doubted. 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 alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
(Matthew 28:16–20)
The authority by which scriptural
baptism is accomplished today is through church authority. The Lord's churches were given this authority
by Jesus Christ, our only head. Only
those churches which have descended chain link by chain link from the first
church in Jerusalem can have such authority.
Proper Candidate
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who
hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits
meet for repentance:” (Matthew 3:7–8)
Only those who know
Jesus as their personal Saviour can be considered as
fit candidates for baptism. Scriptural
baptism has always followed the formula: “Blood before water.”
“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.” (Acts 8:36–37)
The eunuch had to be
saved before he could be baptized. Prior
to his confession he was not a candidate for the baptismal waters.
Proper Mode
“After these things came Jesus and his
disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them,
and baptized. And John also was baptizing in AEnon
near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came,
and were baptized.” (John 3:22–23)
John needed to baptize
in a place where there was much water.
Scriptural baptism is immersion and therefore, must include much water!
“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. 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.” (Acts 8:38–39)
Notice the wording
here: They (the eunuch and Philip) went down both into the water...and then
they come up out of the water.
The very word baptism is transliterated from the
Greek baptizo
which always means immersion. From
Matthew to Revelation you will not find anything other than immersion.
Proper Design of Baptism: Symbolic and Figurative
Baptism is not a
sacrament, but it is an ordinance. It
has no saving qualities whatsoever. It
is a picture. Notice the following:
“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.” (Romans 6:4)
“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.” (Colossians 2:12)
When a believer is baptized she is publicly declaring her death to her old way
of life that she is raised to walk in newness of life to serve Jesus Christ
through the New Testament church.
QUALIFICATION FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
“Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand
souls.” (Acts 2:41)
There are essentially
two requirements before a person should even be considered as members of any of
the Lord's churches: (1) salvation and (2) baptism. And in that order too!
It is not enough that
an individual be satisfied with their own baptism, for their satisfaction might
just be out of ignorance. The church has
every right and responsibility to examine to see whether the baptism was
scriptural or not. And the church has
the responsibility to baptize those who were not scripturally baptized. Any baptism which does not line up with the
scriptures is alien baptism and no baptism at all.
CONCLUSION
“There is one body, and
one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through
all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6)
There is only one
scriptural baptism!