Baptism

We have considered the first three "steps" in the New Testament plan of salvation, those being faith, repentance and confession of Christ. We now proceed to the final step and that is baptism. This is a step that the religious world for the most part rejects as being necessary to the saving of the soul. But what do the scriptures teach on the matter?

BAPTISM IS A COMMAND

On the day of Pentecost, upon hearing the gospel, and after having been convicted of the sin of crucifying Christ, the people asked: "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" The response from Peter was clear: "Repent and be baptized ... for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:37-38). If this clear command of God may be ignored, then why not others? When Peter took the gospel to the gentiles at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10) he preached to them as well. At the conclusion of matters we find, "he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (v. 48). Then we have several examples of people, upon hearing the gospel, being baptized (Acts 9:18; 16:15, 33). Others could also be noted. There can be no question - baptism is a command of God.

THE PROPER ELEMENT

By this we mean, "what is the substance involved in baptism?" Some try to make this the Holy Spirit. But Holy Spirit baptism was never the element in which men were baptized in order to receive remission of sins. It was a promise; not a command, and was given to the apostles (Acts 1:8). The proper element in which men were baptized was water. Again, this is abundantly clear (Acts 10:47; 8:36). It is often asked: "But what power is there in water?" We answer, "none, per se." But that is not the point. The effect of baptism comes not simply from water, but in obeying the command of God.

THE PROPER SUBJECT

By this we mean, "who is it that is to be baptized; who is a proper subject?" We go to the negative first, because the religious world as a whole has a misconception of this. Very often we hear of them baptizing children. But infant baptism finds no authority in the New Testament. Look at those on Pentecost. They believed the preaching of the apostles. They repented of their sins and then were baptized (Acts 2:38). When the Philippian jailer asked what he must do, he also was told to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. The proper subject for baptism is one who has believed the gospel, repented of his sins and confessed Christ as the Son of God (see three previous articles).

 

By this we mean, "what is baptism designed to do; what is its purpose?" It is not uncommon to hear that it is merely "an outward sign of an inward grace," and by this ismeant that one has already been saved, and then he is baptized to show that he has been saved! No - in the New Testament baptism always preceded salvation, or remission of sins. Peter wrote concerning Noah who was "saved through water" (1 Pet. 3:20); i.e. through water that destroyed a wicked world, and so delivering him from such a world. Then he pointed out a "likefigure" or an "antitype" to this. What was it? The fact that "baptsim now saves us" (v. 21). Salvation is a product of being baptized.

We encourage men to read carefully what the Bible teaches concerning God's great plan of salvation. Compare this and the preceding three articles on this subject with what the scriptures teach. Salvation is too important to entrust it to anything but what the scriptures teach. - Bill Moseley