A Candid Look at Baptism

Baptism is a major New Testament topic, and most all religious groups that make any claim of being "Christian" practice a rite they call baptism. However, much controversy surrounds the subject of baptism, and these controversies usually center around four points - (1) The action involved in the administration of baptism, (2) The design or purpose back of it, (3) The proper subject or candidate for baptism, and (4) The administrator of baptism.

In this article attention will be given to the first two of these. We hope to give these matters a very straightforward consideration, allowing the New Testament to speak. Let those who want to argue know that their argument will thus be with the Word of God.

THE ACTION OF BAPTISM: Some speak of "modes" of baptism, and the manual of a prominent denomination says, "Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant." (Manual, Church of the Nazarene, 1948, p. 31). But what does the New Testament say?

"Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

"Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who has raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:12). Note that being raised with Christ follows one's burial with Him in baptism. If there is no burial, there is no resurrection with Him. If there is no resurrection, there is no newness of life.

When these plain passages are considered, statements in other passages become crystal clear as well. For example, of the Ethiopian's conversion scripture states, "And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. And when they had come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch say him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:38-39). Sprinkling or pouring would necessitate no going down into the water.

THE DESIGN OR PURPOSE OF BAPTISM: The word of God assigns several purposes to baptism. Baptism is a condition of entrance into the kingdom of God. To Nicodemus Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:3,5). If it were doubted that baptism is the water referred to, be reminded that baptism is the only ordinance in the New Testament associated with the church or kingdom that involves water. Of the Colossians who were "buried with Him in baptism", Paul says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 1:13). By scriptural baptism, one's citizenship is changed from the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God.

Baptism is for the remission of sins. To the folk on Pentecost who asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?," Peter responded, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). There are two commands in his answer, "repent" and "be baptized". The thoughtful student will observe that these two commands, being joined by the copulative conjunction "and", what one command is for, the other is for. With this in mind, note what Ananias said to Saul, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).