WATER BAPTISM

                                           WATER BAPTISM

 INDEX:
- WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM?
- HOW SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
- WHAT ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM?
- HOW SOON AFTER BELIEVING SHOULD A PERSON BE BAPTIZED?
- IN WHAT NAME SHOULD WE BE BAPTIZED?
- WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE SAFELY BAPTIZED
- WHAT ABOUT THE BELIEVER WHO DECIDES NOT TO BE BAPTIZED?
- CONCLUSION

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, BAPTISING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28: 19-20

“And He said unto them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believes and is BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15-16

 

 The topic of Baptism has been an issue of controversy and confusion within the Body of Christ, the Church, since its very early days - Acts 19:3-5, I Corinthians 1:13-15;  and on through to today; however, it is still a standing commandment of the Lord nonetheless.

WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM?

- In the basic term, baptism means to whelm; to cover fully with fluid.

 The first time the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was preached after

Jesus’ resurrection by the Apostle Peter, when the crowds asked what they should do next now that they believed in Jesus as Messiah, and His resurrection, Peter answered according to the Word of the Lord, “Repent, AND BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

 - So it is the next step of faith after one believes the Gospel and repents.

- “…for the remission of sins…” “…but the answer of a good conscience toward God.” 1 Peter 3:21

God has made a Covenant (the New Covenant) with all mankind through the Shed Blood Sacrifice of His Son, and with every properly  established covenant both parties sign in some form as a seal to open the covenant. In the Old Testament, every male was to be circumcised, in the New Testament our signature, in lay terms, is Baptism. When we have believed, confessed, and repented, then we are Baptized as the seal of our confession of faith before God and man. “In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with Him in Baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12

This means that not only are we fully identifying with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, when we get baptized, Romans 6:3-5 but we are signing, so to speak, our agreement portion of the covenant.

 Also according to these Scriptures, our Baptism is a work of Christ  performing the circumcision in our hearts and thereby completing the Covenant of Faith of the believer.

HOW SHOULD WE BAPTIZE?

Following the implied meaning of Baptism, a person should be fully submerged in water in association with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

What about infant Baptism?

 As the Apostle Peter taught on the day of Pentecost, the command is to “Repent and be Baptised” An infant cannot repent. Children of believing parents are clean. 1 Corinthians 7:14

How soon after believing should a person be Baptized?

There is no set Biblical rule. According to the pattern recorded in the Book of Acts, it appears that the new believers were baptised almost immediately. The important thing is that every believer should be baptised.

 In what name should they be baptized?

 Jesus said in the book of Matthew “…in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Yet in the Book of Acts, they were baptised in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ is actually the Name of the Father (Lord), and Son (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost (Christ).

NOTE – In so many of these issues, harmful controversies can arise if we are not careful. The only important thing is to obey Jesus in everything with a heart of faith, love, and humility. We must trust Him to work out the details.

 What about those who are unable to be Safely Baptized, and what about the thief on the Cross?

God’s tremendous grace is more than sufficient to cover where we cannot. Our earnest faith is what He is most interested in and He receives everyone without prejudice who comes to Him out of a pure heart. If we are able to do so and do not, then we are accountable.

What about a believer who decides not to be Baptized?

 Jesus said that, “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be dammed.” Mark 16:16  From this Scripture and many others it is clear that anyone who believes will not be dammed, but they are walking in an unsealed covenant before God since part of the terms of this covenant is baptism. I, for one, cannot say what that means or entails, but I believe that it is a serious issue to God. In a natural covenant agreement between people, if a person does not sign their portion of the covenant, then the other party is not obliged to fulfill all the terms and conditions of that covenant. I will leave this issue up to God Almighty, but please be diligent!

CONCLUSION
– Being baptized is not only a command of the Lord, but also something He undertook Himself Matthew 3:13-17 as our Example. It is a step of faith and obedience, a chance to openly testify of our faith before God and man, a full public identification with Jesus Christ, and as with every step of faith in Christ, an amazing and wonderful experience! Get Baptized, and do not let the devil persuade you otherwise!