Gospel Included Baptism

Baptists and other faith only groups have made the assertion that the Gospel did not include baptism. There are several verses they rely on to make the assertion. Their claims actually fall apart upon examination. In Acts 16 Paul is sent by the Lord to preach the Gospel in Macedonia.

Act 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 

Act 16:7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 

Act 16:8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 

Act 16:9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 

Act 16:10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

From this we can gather that the term" word" and "gospel" are the same thing. Yet we need to realize that the terms included baptism. The terms are spoken together with baptism in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16. Yet this doesn't stop groups like baptists and Assembly of God from seperating baptism out from the word or Gospel.

Notice, however, in preaching the word or gospel to Macedonia all individuals receiving the word were baptized. When mentioned as a city baptism is mentioned less.

Act 16:14  AndG2532 a certainG5100 womanG1135 namedG3686 Lydia,G3070 a seller of purple,G4211 of the cityG4172 of Thyatira,G2363 which worshippedG4576 God,G2316 heardG191 us: whoseG3739 heartG2588 theG3588 LordG2962 opened,G1272 that she attendedG4337 unto the things which were spokenG2980 ofG5259 Paul.G3972 

Act 16:15  AndG1161 whenG5613 she was baptized,G907 andG2532 herG848 household,G3624 she besoughtG3870 us, saying,G3004 IfG1487 ye have judgedG2919 meG3165 to beG1511 faithfulG4103 to theG3588 Lord,G2962 comeG1525 intoG1519 myG3450 house,G3624 and abideG3306 there. AndG2532 she constrainedG3849 us.G2248 

It is apparent the word spoken included baptism. We can see this throughout Macedonia.

Act 16:32  AndG2532 they spakeG2980 unto himG846 theG3588 wordG3056 of theG3588 Lord,G2962 andG2532 to allG3956 thatG3588 were inG1722 hisG848 house.G3614 

Act 16:33  AndG2532 he tookG3880 themG846 theG3588 sameG1565 hourG5610 of theG3588 night,G3571 and washedG3068 their(G575) stripes;G4127 andG2532 was baptized,G907 heG846 andG2532 allG3956 his,G846 straightway.G3916 

Since the phrase "word of the Lord" and baptism followed the believe on Jesus comment, it is thru baptism with belief in the word that "believe on Jesus" is fulfilled.

The word "believe" can be used in a mirror sense, it means to complete something spoken. Christ himself used it this way concerning John's baptism. See

Mat 21:32  ForG1063 JohnG2491 cameG2064 untoG4314 youG5209 inG1722 the wayG3598 of righteousness,G1343 andG2532 ye believedG4100 himG846 not:G3756 butG1161 theG3588 publicansG5057 andG2532 theG3588 harlotsG4204 believedG4100 him:G846 andG1161 ye,G5210 when ye had seenG1492 it, repentedG3338 notG3756 afterward,G5305 that ye might believeG4100 him.G846 

Belief is only fulfilled when the spoken word is completed.

Then in Acts the next three stops of Paul no baptism is mentioned until Corinth. Baptists make the claim it is because baptism was not preached in those three locations. It is doubtful baptism is skipped in three straight cities. It is more reasonable to say the Holy Spirit only records general terms about those cities without specifics about individuals as earlier in chapter 16..

Act 18:8  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 

Here Crispus is only mentioned hearing and believing on the Lord, but I Cor.1 mentions Crispus was baptized by Paul.

A mention of hearing and believing only as with Crispus, does not exclude baptism in Acts, the word believe means to yield to the word spoken. He believed on the Lord by actively following through.

1Co 1:14  I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 

It is likely that in all three cities baptism is not formally mentioned, baptism was preached. Yet, since the act isn't mentioned in Acts the faith only groups make their claim.

Berea

Athens

Thessalonica

The Philippian letter does not mention baptism, yet we know that converts in the area participated. Therefore, not mentioning it in a letter in no way disqualifies it from being part of the Gospel and the word Paul preached. Two of the three cities where epistles are written do not mention baptism.

The letters where baptism is mentioned are letters where controversies are being settled.

1. The Corinthian letter settles whether Paul was an official baptizer. He preached baptism but did not act as an official baptizer.

2. Galations shows that baptism is not part of the law and works Paul is excluding. It solidifies baptism as official doctrine.

3. Ephesians clarifies purpose, Christ was cleansing the church through his blood and baptism.