December 10, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following is from the Editor's new book "Give Attendance to Doctrine," which is scheduled for publication in the early part of 2002.

What Is the Requirement for Baptism?

The requirement for baptism is repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-37; 2:38-41).

What Is the Proper Mode of Baptism?

In the N.T., baptism always means immersion in water except when the passage refers to Spirit baptism. (1) The early Christians baptized by going down into the water and coming up out of the water (Ac. 8:38-39). John the Baptist needed much water for baptism (Jn. 3:23). Jesus Christ came up out of the water (Matt. 3:16). (2) The word baptism means to immerse or dip and is called "burial" in Ro. 6:4 and Col. 2:12. There is no N.T. support for the practice of sprinkling or pouring. Both of these practices corrupt the proper symbolism of the ordinance.

What is the meaning of baptism? Water baptism is a picture and public testimony of spiritual realities. It is called a "figure" in 1 Pe. 3:21. (1) Baptism is a public testimony of repentance and faith in Christ (Ac. 8:34-38; 16:30-34; 2:37-38).(2) Baptism identifies one with Christ and depicts salvationdying with Christ and being raised to eternal life with Him (Ro. 6:3-6). Baptism shows the Gospelthe death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Is the Purpose of Baptism?

It is not for salvation, but is a public testimony of faith in Christ and a picture of the gospel. To interpret the Bible properly, the Bible teacher must "compare spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:13). The false teacher, though, takes verses out of context and uses isolated verses to overthrow the clear teaching of the Bible as a whole. He puts one definition on a Bible word and then forces that definition into all passages, regardless of the context. That is what those do who teach that baptism is a part of salvation.

They use Acts 2:38 to overthrow all of the rest of the New Testament's teaching about baptism and salvation. How do we know that Acts 2:38 is not saying that baptism removes sins? First of all, we must understand that "baptism for the remission of sins" can mean one of two things: it can mean baptism "in order for" sins to be remitted, or it can mean baptism "because of" sins already remitted (Lk. 5:13-14). In other words, Acts 2:38 could mean that baptism takes away sin or it could just as easily mean that baptism merely follows the forgiveness of sins. How we know that it is the latter? (1) We know Peter was saying baptism follows the remissions of sins because the rest of the book of Acts shows baptism following faith and forgiveness (8:35-38; 10:43-44,47; 16:30-33). (2) We know this because Peter himself said baptism is not salvation but is a figure of salvation (1 Pet. 3:20-21). (3) We know this because Paul said baptism is not the gospel (1 Cor. 1:17; 15:1-4). It is the gospel that is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). (4) We know this because Mark 16:16 says that God's judgment comes because of unbelief rather than because of lack of baptism.

False teachers also use Acts 22:16. In light of all of the rest of the New Testament's teaching on this subject, we know that this verse means that Paul's sins were washed away when he called upon the name of the Lord and not when he was baptised (Rom. 10:13).

What Follows Scriptural Baptism?

In Acts 2:41-42 baptism is seen as a door into the local church. Baptist churches, in following the pattern of the Jerusalem church, receive members upon their public profession of faith and scriptural baptism.

Who Has the Authority to Baptize?

Baptism is a church ordinance and proper New Testament churches which are sound in the New Testament faith have the authority to baptize. We see in Acts 2:38-41, in the first mention of Christian baptism, that baptism is done in the context of the church.

A Summary

To summarize, scriptural baptism has --

• A proper subject: A sinner who has repented and believed in Jesus Christ
• A proper mode: Immersion in water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
• A proper purpose: A public testimony of faith in Christ and a picture of the gospel
• A proper authority: A New Testament church that is sound in doctrine and practice
  

Click here to read about the Doctrine of Baptism Part 2