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| Believer's Baptism - the what, why, and when |
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Baptism is one of the most significant and solemn commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not merely a trivial tradition inherited from primitive Christianity. Jesus rated it important enough to submit Himself to it and to practice it throughout His ministry. The Bible says that He made and baptised more disciples than John the Baptist. (John 4:1). One of the last things Jesus said to His followers was, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, BAPTISING THEM in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”.
If baptism is so important then it is essential for every Christian to know what the Bible teaches concerning it.
1. THE MEANING OF THE WORD “BAPTISE”
The word “baptise” occurs some seventy-seven times in the New Testament, but the curios thing about it, it is not an English word; it is simply a Greek word “baptizo” transliterated into an English format. English words do not end with an “o” and so they simply replaced it with an “e” and the word means “to dip, to dip under, to bathe”.
The Greek scholar, W.E. Vine says, “baptism” consists of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from ‘bapto’, to dip)… it was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping the cup into the bowl...” The original meaning of the word is quite clear. Transliterating it obscures its meaning.
2. THE PRE-REQUISITES FOR BAPTISM
REPENTANCE: Acts2:38 says, “ REPENT and BE BAPTISED...”
FAITH: Mark16:16 says, “ He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTISED shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned”.
Acts 8:37. Philip said “IF THOU BELIEVEST with all thine heart, thou mayest…‘(baptised).
DISCIPLESHIP: Jesus said, “GO… and MAKE DICIPLES of all nations BAPTISING them..”. Matthew 28:19
Have you fulfilled these prerequisites?
Now if REPENTANCE, FAITH and DISCIPLESHIP are essential prerequisites to baptism, then the question must be asked, Is a little baby capable of these things?” The obvious answer is “NO”. Perhaps you then ask, “Where does infant baptism come from? It is a fact that INFANT BAPTISM WAS TAUGHT NEITHER BY CHRIST NOR BY THE APOSTLES. IT BEGAN TO BE TAUGHT BY SOME PEOPLE IN THE THIRD CENTURY.
3. THE METHOD OF BAPTISM
It is a fact that Bible baptism is BY IMMERSION. Romans 6:4 says that we “BURIED with Him by BAPTISM”. Acts 8:38 and 39 say, “they WENT DOWN both INTO THE WATER… and he BAPTISED them. And when they CAME UP FROM THE WATER the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away”. The picture is clear! John Calvin says, “It is evident that the term baptise means to immerse, and that was the form used in the primitive church”. (Institutes Book IV,c 15,19)
4. THE SYMBOLISM OF BAPTISM
The symbolism of baptism is perhaps the most beautiful symbolism ever. The main scripture reference that deals with this is Romans 6:3 – 4. As we venture into this sacred territory let me share with you a concept that is almost too incredible to comprehend.
The moment a person is born again they are brought into eternal union with Jesus. Paul talks about it as being “in Christ”. God the Father sees this union as being so real and close that as He looks at the born-again believers He sees them as being inextricably and eternally bound together with Jesus. He sees them as being one. Therefore He rates the believer as having been in Christ when Christ died and thus as having died with Christ.
Likewise He sees the believer as having been buried with Christ and as having been raised with Christ. He also sees the believer as seated with Christ in heavenly places. He sees the believer as coming again with Jesus, as reigning in life with Jesus, as reigning for eternity with Jesus. In a word He sees the believer as being one with Christ and Christ being one with the believer. It’s almost too wonderful for words! Think about it! Praise God for it!
THROUGH BAPTISM HE WANTS US TO UNASHAMEDLY TELL THE WORLD THAT WE ARE IDENTIFIED WITH HIM AND WITH US!
* INTO THE WATER: speaks of DEATH.
As we go down into the water we are saying in effect that as Jesus died for our sins on the cross, so we have died to sin in our lives. There has been a complete break with the past - a death! “Consider yourselves dead to sin” (Romans 6:11)
* UNDER THE WATER: speaks of BURIAL.
A dead person must be buried. Just as Christ was buried in the tomb, so when we are lowered beneath the water our lives as sinners are regarded as put out of sight. Paul speaks of being “buried with Him by baptism” (Romans 6:4) Our baptism then becomes a kind of funeral, and the water a grave, by which declaration is made to all that the sinner has been committed to death. Death followed by burial prevents our returning to our former way of life. This is why Paul asks the question: “How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
* OUT OF WATER: speaks of RESURRECTION.
We were buried, therefore with Him by baptism, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God the Father, we too might walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE. For if we have been united with Him in a death like Him, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His” (Romans 6:4-8).
This new life that we have is as a result of Jesus living in us. It opens up to us God’s vast resources. We are rated as joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).
AN ILLUSTRATION FROM AFRICA
Some thirty years ago, I was privileged to be blessed by the ministry of a mightily anointed man of God, the Rev Mr. Playfair. He headed up the Sudan United Mission which operated in a broad belt clear across the continent of Africa. His ministry made an indelible impression on my life.
During one of the messages he preached at my childhood church, he mentioned that the S.U.M. had about 300 missionaries from 23 different denominations. This raised a
question in my father’s mind and so after the meeting he asked Mr. Playfair a question, "How do you handle the matter of baptism?” The answer was enlightening. Mr. Playfair made it clear that on the mission field there was only one method of baptism, namely, the immersion of believers in water.
He then went on to explain how they take advantage of baptismal service for the preaching of the gospel. What actually happened was this: Initially they gather a group of converts that have been led to the Lord. These converts endeavour to disciple and when they see that they are bearing the evidence of a true conversion they arrange for a very special baptismal service.
They invite all the people living in the district to the service. They make a big thing of it. On the appointed day they gather all the people at an especially chosen site on the river. All the heathen are told to stand on the one side of the river and the Christians stand on the other side. Initially the baptismal candidates stand with the heathen, but dressed in white. The pastor baptising the converts goes into the water from were he preaches the gospel. Then the candidates step into the water one by one and give testimony of how they met Jesus and became children of God. After testifying they are baptised by immersion and then make their way up out of the water on the side where the Christians are standing.
Arranging the baptismal service in this way makes a vivid impression on the minds of the people witnessing it. It also gives the candidate an opportunity to make a clear spoken and symbolic statement of his death to his old life and of the fact that he has received a new life in Christ.
5. THE COVENANT, CIRCUMCISION AND BAPTISM
In the Old Testament God made a covenant with Abraham. Circumcision was a sign of this convent. Circumcision was performed on male children.
In the New Testament we are brought into covenant relationship with the Lord Jesus. There is no statement in scripture which says that there is a sign to this covenant. However Jesus said, when He instituted the communion service, “THIS IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.. “(1 Corinthians 11:25.) In other words He was saying, “If you want to see anything that epitomizes my covenant then look at MY BLOOD. I have sealed my covenant with my own blood”. There is no indication in scripture that the sign of the New Covenant is baptism. And this is where theologians have gone astray.
Old Covenant ----------------> replaced by ----> New Covenant
Sign of circumcision --------> replaced by ----> sign of baptism
Circumcision for children ---> therefore ------> baptism for children.
This of course is totally incorrect and without scriptural foundation. Perhaps you ask, “How then did this wrong understanding emerge?” Seemingly it emerged through a wrong interpretation of Colossians 2: 11 to 12, in which it was presumed that Paul was stating that baptism was to take the place of circumcision. He wasn’t saying this at all.
Let us see what he was saying by looking at these verses in their broader context. In Colossians 2 verse 6 he speaks about receiving Jesus and walking in Him.
* verse 7 He speaks about being rooted, built up, established.
* verse 8 He speaks about two dangers, philosophy and tradition.
* verse 9 He speaks about fullness of Godhead being in Jesus.
* verse 10 He speaks about our finding completeness in Christ.
* verse 11 He speaks about circumcision.
Carefully note the Amplified Bible rendering of this verse:
“IN HIM you were circumcised with a circumcision NOT MADE WITH HANDS, but in a (SPIRITAUL) CIRCUMCISION (performed) by Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts)”. Verse 12.”
Carefully notice a few points:
1. He is not speaking of Old Testament physical circumcision.
2. He is talking about something supernatural – “not made with hands”.
3. He is talking about something that Jesus does for us “(performed) by Christ.”
4. He is talking about Christ “stripping off the body of the flesh”, a reference to our sin and sinful natures. (May I suggest that this is what Jesus accomplished for us on the Cross-through His BLOOD.)
5. He then moves on in verse 12 to the subject of BAPTISM: a logical step for any one who has been washed in the blood of Jesus and says in effect, “You buried your old body of the flesh, your old carnal nature and God has raised you from the dead and given you new life”.
6. Finally he says in verse 13, “God has now dealt with your spiritual uncircumcision by way of “forgiving you all trespasses”.
7. Remember there are two kinds of circumcision, the PHYSICAL as in the Old Testament and the SPIRITUAL as in the scripture. These two the theologians have mixed up and come out with a wrong conclusion. All that remains to be said is,
8. This scripture does not teach that New Testament believer's baptism has taken the place of Old testament circumcision and
9. Each of us enters into personal covenant with Jesus when we place our faith in HIS BLOOD to cleanse us from sin. This qualifies us, and this alone for baptism.
THE DECISION NOW RESTS WITH YOU
“And now why tarriest thou? ARISE AND BE BAPTISED...”.
God bless you as you walk the happy road of obedience. |
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