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What About Baptism?

What about Baptism?

The idea of baptism is not foreign to folks of the religious world, but there still remains a great deal of misinformation as to why and how one is to be baptized. Some are quick to point out that they have been baptized at some point, but when questioned as to why, various answers are presented. Some claim to have been baptized as an infant, but don’t remember it.   For what reason were they baptized?   When pressed, some are not sure except that their parents thought it prudent. They didn’t even have a choice in the matter.   The idea behind infant baptism is the erroneous doctrine that one is born in sin. This is sometime called the “Adamic nature”, or that the sin of Adam has passed on from Father to child since the beginning. That idea is quickly dispelled when one realizes according to Luke 3:38 which is the genealogy of Christ as given by the Spirit to Luke, for such a doctrine to be true, God would have to be the first sinner. Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God

Others are of the impression that it matters not when one was baptized or why so long as they were baptized.   This too will not suffice as there is a reason for all that God has directed man to do. In a previous article we pointed out the need of those in Acts 19 who knew only the baptism of John. These folks, when properly instructed were baptized “into” Christ. The difference was the purpose and the result of the baptism. Their first baptism (John’s) was one of repentance under the ministry of John and only applicable to the nation of Israel.    The baptism “into” Christ was different as it brought them into a New Testament relationship with Christ and God.   The baptism “into” Christ is where the operation of God spoken of in Colossians 2:11-12 takes place.   In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.                                        

Some contend they were baptized to “join a church”. This also is erroneous as we read in Acts 2:41 that one cannot “join the church” but can only be “added to the church”, and this only happens when one is obedient to the gospel. One can “join a club” but must be “born of water and the Spirit John 3:5 to become part of the kingdom. That is what baptism is; a birth. Acts 2:47b shows that when one is obedient to the gospel he or she is saved and become a part of the kingdom which is the church. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.  This is how a person comes into having a “saved” relationship with God.   This is confirmed in 1Peter 3:21 where the Bible is very clear as to what “saves us”.   The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 

But, which “baptism” is the right one?   That’s simple as there is only one authorized and acceptable baptism according to the Bible.   In Ephesians 4:4-6 we find the answer. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.    The explanation of this is equally under-standable.   The one body (the church) is that which is proclaimed by the one Spirit (the Holy Spirit). Christ has “one body” (the church) and He is the head of that body. He calls us through the gospel. (2Thessalonians 2:14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.    It is the Word of the Spirit (the gospel) which directs us to that one hope of heaven (Colossians 1:5). For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;.   This was provided by the one Lord (Jesus Christ) in that one faith (system of belief) in Christ.   It was planned before the foundations of the world, and He was made manifest in these last days (1Peter 1:20). Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,.  Then, we read of the one baptism in Romans 6:3-4 which tells how it is that we contact the “blood of Christ” which washes us from our sins and prepares us for the resurrection that will take us to that heavenly home. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

We do need to address the “mode” of baptism, about which there is also a great deal of misunderstanding.    We can see from the scripture above that a baptism is a “burial”.  

A burial requires a “covering over” which indicates that the proper mode of baptism is “immersion”.  Therefore, sprinkling, pouring or any other mode will not put one “in Christ”.   This “baptism into Christ” is the means by which God determined in the New Testament age to save man from sin. This was the same plan that the Lord had Ananias bring to the ears of Saul in Acts 22:16 after Saul had been rendered blind by the great light on the road to Damascus. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. This proves that Saul was not saved on the road to Damascus, but he too had to submit to the plan of God.  

   Won’t you do what Saul did and have your sins washed away in baptism?      

                                                             Dennis Strickland - Mooresville

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