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What Is Water Baptism?
What Is Water Baptism?
Water baptism was commanded by Jesus when He told us to, "go and make disciples of all nations, and to baptize them" Mat 28:19-20 . Baptism is not merely a personal choice but a command for believers, demonstrating we have personally trusted Jesus for our salvation. Jesus Himself was baptized, setting an example for us to follow.
NOTE: Baptism comes from a Greek word βαπτίζω (baptizō) meaning to immerse, submerge, or dip in water. The word was used in the context of dyeing cloth in ancient times. When dyeing cloth, the fabric would be fully immersed in the dye to ensure it was thoroughly saturated and changed in color.
Why Is Water Baptism Important?
Why Is Water Baptism Important?
1) Jesus commanded it. Mat 28:19-20
2) Through baptism, a person is united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, affirming their faith in Jesus and committing to follow Him. Rom 6:3-5
3) Baptism is a foundational practice in the life of the believer. Heb 6:1-2
4) Baptism is the "circumcision" of the New Covenant. Col 2:11-12
Who Should Be Baptized?
Who Should Be Baptized?
Water baptism is for every person who has turned to Jesus with a heart of repentance and believes the good news. In other words, a person must be saved or born again before baptism.
Acts 2:38-41 - Repent and be baptized every one of you
Acts 8:12 - they believed Philip as he preached good news ... they were baptized
Acts 16:14-15 -The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized
Acts 16:31-33 - Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household... and he was baptized at once, he and all his family
Acts 18:8 - many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized
NOTE: If you were baptized BEFORE you were saved (either as a baby, or simply as a religious function or ritual), you should be baptized again as a believer.
If you were baptized in another church AFTER you were saved, there is no need to be baptized again.
When Should Someone Be Baptized?
When Should Someone Be Baptized?
The ONLY prerequisite for baptism is salvation, therefore a person should be baptized as soon as possible after they are saved .
Act 8:12-13 - "when they believed ... they were baptized", see also Acts 2:38 and Acts 2:41
At what age should my child be baptized?
The "WHEN" of baptism is not a question of age, it is a question of salvation. If the child is old enough to have understood the gospel and received Jesus as Lord and Savior, he/she is ready for baptism.
NOTE: Many parents are hesitant to baptize children at too young an age for fear the child doesn't understand enough. Keep in mind, a child understands the world, the Bible and the things of God from the perspective of a child. Their understanding will grow over time, just as ours does.
Where Does Baptism Take Place?
Where Does Baptism Take Place?
You can be baptized wherever there is sufficient water to cover you.
John the Baptist chose a certain place because of the amount of water there. This would not have been necessary if baptism were by sprinkling. Joh 3:23
How Is Water Baptism Performed?
How Is Water Baptism Performed?
We baptize by full immersion in water, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We lower you into the water (IMMERSION) (and IN HIS NAME) by declaring, "I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ".
NOTE: Additional words could be spoken, perhaps something like this, "I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ; recognizing that you are dead to sin, now buried with Christ and being raised with Him to walk in newness of life”, but are not necessary. Paramount is that we call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Act 22:16 .
WHY FULL IMMERSION?
It is a biblical pattern Act 8:38-39 - they both went down into the water ... they came up out of the water
NOTE: Baptism by immersion calls to mind the meaning of baptism as expressed in Rom 6:1-6 symbolizing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Full immersion in water is more burial-like than sprinkling water. Who would bury someone by sprinkling dirt on their head?
WHY THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
In the New Testament, which is the only Holy Spirit inspired history of the early church, baptism was consistently performed in the name of or some combination of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This underscores the authority and centrality of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the Biblical pattern or practice.
Acts 2:38 - Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
Acts 8:16 - they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
Act 10:48 - And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ
Acts 19:5 - On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
Col 3:17 - And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus
NOTE: It's important to clarify that while some churches that baptize in the name of Jesus are often associated with "oneness" or "Jesus only" theology, our belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) distinguishes us. When we baptize in Jesus' name, it's not a rejection of the Trinity, but rather a practice rooted in scriptural precedent. The New Testament records the early church baptizing in the name of Jesus, which we faithfully follow, while fully affirming our belief in the Trinity.
Here is a link to a more comprehensive teaching on this subject of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism.
Reconciling Matt 28:19-20 With the Practice of the Early Church
Reconciling Matt 28:19-20 With the Practice of the Early Church
Jesus' Command and Apostolic Practice
Jesus commanded us to baptize disciples “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19-20), which emphasizes the Trinity. However, the book of Acts records baptisms in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, never using the terminology “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Did the first apostles disobey Jesus, or did they have a more complete understanding of what Jesus was calling for?
Peter's revelation of Jesus' name on the day of Pentecost
Acts 2:32-36 ... Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
There is ONE NAME that is ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME - the Lord Jesus Christ:
Phil 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The name of the Lord Jesus Christ
The name "Lord Jesus Christ" is so powerful because it encompasses the fullness of the Godhead (The Trinity). This does not mean that Jesus IS the Father or that Jesus IS the Holy Spirit; it simply means that God has chosen that the fullness of deity should be in Jesus, and that fullness of God can be expressed by the triune name of Lord Jesus Christ. Here is an illustration.
Col 2:6-9 ... For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily
Here is a link to a more comprehensive teaching on this subject of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism.
Who Performs The Baptism?
Who Performs The Baptism?
Any other believer can baptize you. If there is someone who led you to the Lord that would be an ideal candidate.
NOTE:
All of us are called to make disciples and to baptize them Mat 28:19
It was a certain disciple named Ananias (not a pastor, or leader) who baptized Paul. Acts 9:17-18
I or (a Friend) Wants to Be Baptized, What's Next?
I or (a Friend) Wants to Be Baptized, What's Next?
1) Review this instruction about baptism to ensure understanding
2) Verify the person getting baptized is born again
3) Schedule a time and place
Note if using the church baptism tank at Alliance Christian Center, give a 24 hour notice to fill and heat the tank.
ON THE DAY OF THE BAPTISM
1) Remind why we do this - Jesus commanded us to do so in the Great Commission
2) Pray for them
3) Baptize them by full immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
Does Baptism Save Us?
Does Baptism Save Us?
While baptism is a significant act of obedience and public declaration of faith, these verses indicate we are saved by grace through faith Eph 2:8-9 and according to God’s mercy. Tit 3:5
Rom 10:9-10 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Note: The thief on the cross next to Jesus had no time to be baptized, yet Jesus promised him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” Luk 23:43 . The Bible contains no record of Jesus baptizing anyone John 4:1-2 . The Apostle Paul also emphasized this when he said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” 1 Cor 1:17 . This underscores that salvation is not the act of baptism, but rather a response of faith to the gospel. Baptism is an act of obedience to the commands of Jesus.
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