Examining Water Baptism Requirements: A Mid-Acts Dispensational Analysis

Introduction

The teaching that water baptism is required for salvation or church membership represents a serious confusion of God's programs and a failure to rightly divide the word of truth. This ritual belonged to Israel's prophetic kingdom program but has no place in the current dispensation of grace.

Common Water Baptism Teaching

What Churches Often Claim:

1. Water baptism is required for salvation

2. It is necessary for church membership

3. It is a Christian ordinance

4. It is a testimony of faith

5. It follows the Great Commission

Verses Often Misused:

• "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16)

• "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38)

• "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16)

The Mid-Acts Truth About Baptism

One Spiritual Baptism Today

• "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13)

• "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5)

• "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands" (Colossians 2:11)

Paul's Clear Statement

• "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1 Corinthians 1:17)

• "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius" (1 Corinthians 1:14)

• "And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other" (1 Corinthians 1:16)

Right Division of Baptism Programs

1. Kingdom Baptism (Time Past)

• Required for Israel's program:

  • "Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea" (Matthew 3:5)

  • "Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:2)

• Part of kingdom gospel:

  • Water baptism for remission of sins

  • Required fruits meet for repentance

  • Connected to Israel's kingdom hope

2. Grace Baptism (But Now)

• Spirit baptism into Christ:

  • Places us into Christ's body

  • Occurs at moment of salvation

  • No water involved

• Complete in Christ:

  • "And ye are complete in him" (Colossians 2:10)

  • No ritual needed

  • No ordinance required

Problems with Water Baptism Today

1. Mixing Programs

• Confuses Israel's program with grace

• Adds works to grace

• Returns to shadows and types

2. Creates Division

• Different modes

• Different formulas

• Different requirements

• "Is Christ divided?" (1 Corinthians 1:13)

3. Diminishes Grace

• Adds requirement to finished work

• Makes salvation partly physical

• Confuses spiritual with physical

4. Misunderstands Paul's Authority

• Our apostle for today

• Given grace message

• Pattern for Body of Christ

Historical Transition in Acts

Early Acts (Kingdom Program)

• Water baptism required

• Connected to kingdom offer

• For Israel's program

Later Acts (Grace Program)

• Paul decreasingly baptizes

• Emphasizes spiritual reality

• Focuses on grace alone

Common Questions Answered

1. What About the Great Commission?

• Given to kingdom apostles

• Part of kingdom program

• Not for Body of Christ today

2. What About Acts Examples?

• Transitional period

• Moving from kingdom to grace

• Historical examples, not doctrine

3. What About Church History?

• Tradition not authority

• Must follow revealed truth

• Paul's pattern for today

The True Position on Baptism

1. One Spiritual Baptism

• Places us in Christ

• Complete at salvation

• No water needed

2. Complete in Christ

• No rituals required

• Full salvation by grace

• Perfect standing in Him

3. Understanding History

• Kingdom program distinct

• Grace program revealed

• Right division key

Practical Implications

1. For Salvation

• Trust Christ alone

• No works or rituals

• Pure grace message

2. For Church Practice

• No water baptism requirement

• Focus on spiritual truth

• Maintain pure grace

3. For Teaching Others

• Explain dispensational truth

• Show right division

• Emphasize grace alone

Conclusion

Water Baptism Requirements:

• Mix law and grace

• Create confusion

• Add to finished work

• Ignore right division

Grace Truth:

• One spiritual baptism

• Complete in Christ

• No rituals needed

• Pure grace maintained

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1)

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