A STUDY IN CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Darrell Malcom

The salvation offered to mankind through Jesus Christ is received through faith in Him (Romans 1:16; Acts 16:30,31). This is not something that we can earn or deserve, but is made available to us through the love and grace of God (Ephesians 2:8,9). Our only hope is to recognize that we are sinners, and that through His perfect life, death for our sins and resurrection in power, Jesus Christ came to be our means of salvation. We are saved by putting faith in Jesus alone.

But faith requires some sort of expression. If you believed that the building you were in was on fire, you would make some quick response. Likewise, when a person places trust in Jesus Christ and receives Him into his life (John 1:12; Revelation 3:20), that newly found faith is to be expressed in action.

In the New Testament we learn that the early believers expressed their faith in Jesus first in repentance (Acts 2:38; 26:20), in a desire to change their lives and habits to be pleasing to God. They expressed their faith in words of open confession (Romans 10:10; Matthew 10:32,33) before both other believers and the world. Very quickly they also expressed this faith in baptism (Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; 16:31-34).

The New Testament speaks over 100 times about baptism. Anyone serious about Christian obedience needs to understand about Christian baptism. Not every New Testament reference is included in this study (a good concordance will give them all), but these sufficient for a basic understanding.

The printed verses can be better interpreted by studying them in the context (the verses that preceed and follow) to be certain of the original meaning. The printed text is from the New International Version. This study seeks to learn what preceeded Christian baptism, what was the form and meaning of the act of baptism, and what were the results of Christian baptism.

Now please prayerfully study, answering each question to your own satisfaction, allowing God to teach you through His Word.

Matthew 3:13-17. Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him; saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened,' and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (See also Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21,22; John 1:29-34):

Why did Jesus say he should be baptized?

What two significant signs accompanied the baptism of Jesus?

Why do you think John was baptizing in the Jordan River? (See John 3:23).

Matthew 28:20. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."

Upon whose authority is this "great commission" given?

In the order of this verse, what must precede baptism?

In whose name(s) is baptism to be done?

What is to follow the baptism of a disciple?

What special promise goes with this command?

Mark 16:15,16. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

To whom is the gospel message to be preached?

ln the order in this verse, what is to precede baptism?

What warning is related to refusal to believe in Jesus?

What is the promise to one who has both believed and been baptized?

Acts 2:36-41. (Peter is preaching and said) "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off -- for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

What was to precede baptism?

ln whose name were they to be baptized?

For what two reasons or assurances were they commanded to be baptized?

To whom is the promise given? Does that include you?

Acts 8:5, 12. (See Acts 8:4-13). Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there...But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

What was the message preached to the Samaritans?

After they believed the message, what did the Samaritan men and women do?

Acts 8:34-39. (See Acts 8:26-39). The eunuch asked Philip, " Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The official answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And he ordered the chariot to stop. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

What was the message preached by Philip?

How did the eunuch express his faith in words?

How did he express his faith in actions?

What form of baptism is described in this section of Scripture?

How did the eunuch feel after being baptized?

(Note that the Spirit was active in this experience (8:29), but the obedience of baptism was "in water." See also Acts 10:44-48).

Acts 16:29-34. (See Acts 16:16-34). The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved -you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; and the whole family was filled with joy, because they had come to believe in God.

What did Paul and Silas tell the jailer to do when he asked, "What must l do to be saved?"

What message was given to the jailer and his family?

How did the jailer show repentance (a change of heart and actions) toward Paul and Silas?

What was the reason for the rejoicing of the jailer and his family?

How soon were the jailer and his family baptized after they believed?

Acts 22:10,16. (Compare with Acts 9:1-19; 22:1-16; 26:9-20). (Paul asked of Jesus) "'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked." (Ananias said to Paul) "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name."

What was Paul told to do?

What was the result of being baptized?

What does it mean to be "calling on his name?"

Romans 6:3-7. Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

(Note that baptism is "into His death", where Jesus shed his blood. Compare this with John 19:34; Colossians 1:19,20; l Peter 1:18,19.)

How in the form of baptism do we illustrate a burial and a resurrection?

Notice how well immersion of a person in water meets the requirements for a likeness of the death, burial and resurrection described here.

Can you think of any other form of action that will meet this requirement?

Colossians 2:12, 13. ...having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

What form of baptism best expresses being "buried with him" and "raised with him"?

What happened to our sins when we were made "alive with Christ"?

(Note that in bapiism we are "buried" and "raised with him"; expressing what happens to us spiritually when "you were dead in your sins" and "God made you alive in Christ.")

Galatians 3:27 (26_28). ...for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.

What is the promise to those "who were baptized into Christ"?

1 Peter 3:21. ...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to this verse, what is one of the results of baptism?

Would this teach that just going through the form of baptism is enough? Why or why not?

lf we have a guilty conscience for not doing what we know we should do, or for doing what we know is wrong, how do we get a "good conscience"? How does this apply to this verse?

REBAPTISM: Acts 19:3-5 (1-7). So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's Baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

(This is the only case of "rebaptism" in the New Testament. Apparently the form of the previous baptism was correct, but it was done for the wrong purpose or meaning.)

Does this indicate that a person should be baptized again if the form or reason for being baptized previously did not meet all of the Scriptural requirements? Why or why not?

SOME FURTHER NOTES:

The New Testament was originally written in the Greek language. A study of the meaning of words in the original Greek is helpful in understanding what Jesus and the apostles taught about baptism.

The Greek word for "sprinkle" is "rhantizo" (or some form of this verb). It is used in the New Testament for sprinkling of blood and of ashes (Hebrews 9:13, 19, 20) but never for baptism.

The Greek word for "pour" is "Cheo" (or some form of this verb). It is used many times in the New Testament (Matthew 26:7 - ointment; Luke 10:34 - oil and wine; Acts 2:17,18 - the Spirit; etc.) but is never used for baptism.

The Greek word "baptisma" is the noun translated "baptism" in our English translations. It means "the, process of immersion, submersion and emergence" according to the Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W.E. Vine. The verb form is "baptizo" which is from the Greek word "bapto", meaning "to dip." W.E. Vine describes "baptizo" as "used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc." Since Jesus and the disciples always used the word for "immerse" or "dip" when speaking of baptism, the form was understood by the word used in the original language.

A pattern given for us in the New Testament in which as individuals believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, they expressed this faith in repenting or turning from their sins (Acts 2:38; 26:20), by openly confessing their faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10), and in the act of Christian baptism. As each sought to die to the past and to be born again in Jesus Christ, there was the reminder that Jesus had died on the cross for our sins, was buried in the tomb and arose from the dead. The act of Christian baptism in turn expressed commitment to this Jesus in desiring to die with Him to sin and in sharing in a resurrection from the water like Jesus was raised from the dead. The water was also a reminder of the cleansing they sought. Since it is the blood of Jesus Christ that saves us from sin (Matthew 26:28) and since we are baptized into His death (Romans 6:3) where the blood was shed, baptism is one of the ways that God applies the cleansing blood to our lives.

Please review what you have learned from these Scriptures and see if you have been baptized as the New Testament teaches Remember that Jesus commanded us to be baptized (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16) and also taught, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15).

All Scripture text: Holy Bible. New International Version, copyright 1978. New York International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Reprinted by permission of the author.