Water Baptism Why & How Part 1 of 5

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

Theme

“I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” John 3:5b

Scriptural Support of the ‘type’ of baptism Christians are to engage

Christians, not all but some, have spent eons discussing Baptism in all its varied aspects. Should it be done? Should it be by full immersion; or, by sprinkling of water? Should it be done at birth, at some age of early adolescence, or as an adult? Should it be mandatory before a believer is accepted as such? Must it be done to satisfy some requisite demand for membership in some church family or denomination? Should it be immediate so that should something happen to the believer they would be ‘saved’ and heaven bound? 

Lastly this: Can you be baptized, by proxy, for someone dead? This author does not wish to take on this millennials long debated question nor do I wish to call attention to any one group who actively performs such baptisms. It is only to provide yet another question about baptism. To that end, in my research I have found the following site to offer a discussion of the matter. I have no affiliation with this site it just came up in my search. I have looked over those others that also came up and this one seemed the best offering from a Christian perspective. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-does-paul-mean-by-baptism-for-the-dead/ 

Following is the answer as to how someone should be baptized. It also answers the question as to when: Matt 28:19,20 is the commission to his disciples that they should ‘go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”’. First one must become a disciple. How? According to verse 20 by way of being taught. What? To obey everything Jesus commanded HIS disciples. Thus, baptism of infants is not an option. Second, an adolescent child must be able to understand what they have been taught sufficiently to comply with the obedience part and to understand on whose authority. Asking the child for evidence of an age appropriate understanding of a probative nature to ascertain the baptism would be based on ‘faith in Jesus’; an affirmative response should suffice for the one baptizing. As in all Christians regardless of age or length of time in life as a practicing Christian, each of us will always be learning, understanding, discerning and at times increasing in our appreciation of the responsibilities our knowledge and obedience will bring to our lives. We are not to be ‘perfect’ before baptism.

As to mandatory conformance to satisfy acceptance as a believer, again, reference to Jesus command in Matt 28 clearly identifies the making of disciples precedes the baptism of the same. Thus, if we were to bring in Paul’s words here further elucidate what ‘saves’ “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” Rom 10:9-11 Clearly, being baptized to confirm one’s Christian standing to satisfy a church’s policy for membership is inappropriate. It is by belief Jesus is Lord, that GOD raised Jesus from the dead that saves. Thereafter, baptism is the process by which one publicly acknowledges that faith.

By the same token, if a person has in fact been saved by faith Jesus is Lord and was raised from the dead and then dies it affects the person’s eternity in no way if the Christian has not yet been baptized. However, baptism should be the goal of a new Christian as a public confession of Jesus as their Lord.

Is it ‘appropriate’ to demand a Christian be baptized in order to be a member of some specific Christian denomination? Good question. The answer is: has the Christian already been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? If so, then no. It is a pharisaic requirement and should give the Christian pause as to the policy. Definitely question why a former baptism isn’t acceptable and pray over whether you wish to comply. It is extra-Biblical and could be simply explained as a custom of that church body; it could be indicative of other extra-Biblical policies they have and may be questionable. It is up to the believer. It will not harm the believer to be baptized again so long as the baptism follows the parameters in Matt 28. In other words, it is a personal conscience issue. Before doing conformity to the request find out what other requirements need to be met before membership is conveyed. Does it require some sort of denunciation of other Christian church affiliation? Most who require baptism in their church have a statement of faith that includes the doctrinal points they believe. Review them and question any point you are not clear or comfortable with. 

Remember, you are already a member of the ‘church’ body of Christ by virtue of your faith in HIM and that HE died and was raised from the dead. Having a physical church to call your home to worship should not require you to believe and accept any point of doctrine you do not feel comfortable accepting after prayer and research. If it becomes an issue perhaps look around and see if another church would be a better home for you. Baptism is generally a doctrinal point supported by Christian churches but they do not all demand you be baptized by them to be a member.

Now to scriptural support for immersion baptism.  

By immersion

Matt 3:13-17

"13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

          NOTE: The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (baptô) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizô) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change.  -- https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G907&t=NIV

1.      John 3:3-8

“’In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’"

2.     John 3:23

"23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized."

3.     Acts 8:36-38

 ^"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ³⁸ And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him." ß *Note please, first and foremost, baptism was immediately performed; second, the scripture says they ‘went down INTO the water’ not that the eunuch was sprinkled, or told it is not necessary to imitate Christ regarding baptism.

4.    Rom 6:3-6

"3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." ß THIS! This is the entire purpose and fully supports Jesus response to Nicodemus on the steps to being ‘born again’ to this new life.
"5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. ⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin"— ßNotice it is not baptism that washes away sin but is merely a step in a series of steps that lead to the point in verse 5.

5.     Col 2:12

"12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead."

6.    1 Cor 10:2

"They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea." [See Ex 14:21-22]

7.     1 Pet 3:20-21

"20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"   

Note: The Christian is not being fully immersed in water as a ‘bath’ to make the body clean but to symbolize the conforming of the Christian to their Lord’s example. Remember, Christ had no sin, thus HIS baptism was in part for example and by doing so the declaration was made to the public watching on that Jesus was GOD’s Son, the one HE approved!

8.    Matt 28: 19

¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

NOTE: This is the great commission assigned to all of Jesus’ followers from the moment he spoke it just before ascending to heaven and covers all time until the full end of the age. [Young’s Literal Translation]

*NOTES: It is a misconception to think that full water immersion washes away our sin. It is a ‘sign’ or ‘demonstration’ in our faith in Jesus Christ as the only means by which our sin is forgiven. It is an act of obedience [see theme scripture above], of imitation --- Jesus was fully immersed in a water baptism. Finally, baptism manifests an act of acceptance in the idea that one [perhaps you] is now on the road to living a fully Christian life with the help of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. [Acts 10:43; 1 Cor 6:11] 

By other : Baptism in the Holy Spirit Part 2 to follow  † 

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

©Lightwritingmatters 2015

 Bibles Designations

KJV – King James Version

NIV – New International Version

NWT – New World Translation

ASV -- American Standard Version

 DISCLAIMER: The thoughts published on this blog, in total, are the opinions, thoughts and considerations of the writer/author of every post published. It is assumed that research by the reader will lead the reader to their own conclusions. It is not the writer’s intent to make a judgment of anyone but to allow GOD’s Word to do what it does. “For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from GOD’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” – Hebrews 4:12 [NIV] 

Baptism in the Holy Spirit