Buried under water and came out! Is that real Baptism? Or is it just pouring or sprinkling water on the head? Is infantile baptism advocated in the Bible? How was Jesus baptized? How should a person be baptized in order to meet the Bible requirements of salvation? What does the word “baptizo” means? At what age should we take baptism? Who qualifies for baptism? Different methods It is likely that you would get a dozen different answers, and possibly even a hundred on the subject of baptism. Some would say that it is not necessary to be baptized at all to be saved. Others would say true baptism is to go under water 3 times. Yet another group will contend that a few drops of sprinkled water on the head would constitute a valid baptism. Some go for baptizing infants. While another group will go for pouring sufficient water over the candidate’s head. A few would strongly hold that a proper baptism consists of a single immersion backwards into the water. All claim based on the Bible Whatever the method advocated, everybody claim the authority from the Bible. How could this confusion of the method result from reading the same book? That means we have to dive deeper into the Bible to understand the real truth about the meaning and method of true baptism. From Master’s lips First we will turn to our Master himself as He defined the terms for entrance into His Kingdom. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). This is such an unequivocal statement, which is too clear to be misunderstood. He proclaims the two absolute requirements for entrance into heaven. From the verse 3 it is clear that Jesus was talking about the spiritual birth. “Verily, verily, I say to you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Therefore to be “born of the Spirit” means to “be born again”, which clearly refers to the conversion of the heart. As Jesus describes in verse 7 and 8 this is a mysterious silent mission done by the Holy Spirit. Being born of water refers to baptism. Both the processes are closely tied together in the Bible. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). While conversion is a powerful inward change, the water baptism is the outward physical expression of that inward change. This conversion is the faith in the saving merits of the cross. Thief on the cross At this moment, some may ask whether thief on the cross got baptized to be saved. Did not Jesus promise that criminal a place in the heaven? We should remember one thing - the obedient life of Jesus was imputed to the thief, when he believed in the savior. Had he been given a chance to come down from the cross without being executed, he would have lived a life totally different from his past. In fact the baptism Jesus underwent (although He did not need it) was credited to the thief. One baptism Are there many acceptable methods of baptism? Not according to Paul. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Eph. 4:5). Although there may be many counterfeit faiths, gods, and baptisms, there is only one that is true. How can we find which is the true among all these clamor from religionists? Symbolism of baptism The answer is evident in the Bible, and in the actual symbolism of Baptism. Otherwise mode of baptism should be dictated by the meaning of baptism. We can read attentively Paul’s description of the ceremony, “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…knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Rom. 6:4-6). There has been a death of the old life of sin, which is identified as the “old man.” Now that body of evil must be properly disposed of, and Paul says baptism is the occasion for “burying” that crucified nature. By going into the water to conduct a spiritual funeral and to celebrate the new life which has been begotten in the candidate through the Holy Spirit, Paul says we are also memorializing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Himself. What a meaningful act! These newly converted believers are giving public witness of the inward transformation that has taken place in them and are symbolically walking forth into a new life. There is yet another Bible text which lends support to the symbolism in baptism. Paul wrote, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). The recurrence of the word “buried” is a striking common denominator among the various descriptive phrases in the Bible about baptism. In order to represent the various aspects of what Jesus did for us, baptism should include symbols of death, burial, and resurrection. No other mode of baptism, except immersion, can come anyway near the required symbolic representation. How was Jesus baptized? There is a detailed account of Jesus’ baptism in the bible. Jesus urged John to baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). “And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him” (Mark 1:9-10). The scene unfolded in the Jordan River and not nearby on the bank. The specific words used by Mark is very important – “coming up out of the water”. That means Jesus was totally immersed in the water before “coming up out of the water”, to set an example for His followers. Why did Jesus get baptized? Does that mean that Jesus was a sinner, who had to repent of sins, to be washed away? Bible says that there was no sin found in Him. As Jesus said this was to fulfill all righteousness. He was setting a perfect example for all of us. He also got baptized for all those who for some reason or other were unable to undergo baptism before their death, in spite of the conversion in their hearts. Did Jesus’ disciples follow His method? Did His disciples follow this heavenly way of baptizing their candidates after Jesus ascended to heaven? In Acts 8 we read about Philip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch. “And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip” (Acts 8:38-39). Here we have a positive evidence that the early church practiced total immersion. You need more water to dip somebody! Sometimes John the Baptist found it difficult to carry out his special ministry because of shortage of water in many areas. “John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized” (John 3:23). He could not take a bowl of water and fulfill his appointed ministry by sprinkling or pouring over the head. He was forced to remain in cities along the Jordan River where there was sufficient water for total immersion. Meaning of the Greek word “baptizo” Another strong evidence is the word used in the Bible when Jesus referred to the subject of baptism. It is the Greek word “baptizo”, from which the English word arise. Linguistics and scholars have traced the 2000 year old history of this word and found that its meaning never deviated from its original root meaning of burial or totally covered up, in any possible branch of learning or communication. There is not even one instance where it signified a partial application of water by effusion or sprinkling, or to cleanse or purify, apart from the literal act of immersion as a means of cleansing or purifying. The word “baptizo” only meant complete immersion, which reflected the full symbolism of death, burial, and resurrection. Eligibility and preparation Now who is eligible for baptism? Scripture lays down 3 pre-conditions. Jesus said, “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). Since baptism is the outward expression of conversion, the candidate should be taught before the ceremony. Without understanding the plan of salvation, how could somebody undergo this rite? Christ specified that every candidate should be instructed in His basic doctrines before entering the water of baptism. Jesus stressed the pre-baptismal preparation, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). No sins can be forgiven or no conversion possible without personal faith on the part of the candidate. Otherwise the physical act of baptism will become an empty mechanical ritual. On the day of the Pentecost, Peter gave support to his Master’s words by adding a third perquisite for baptism. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Now everything is falling into place. All the elements of accepting Jesus and being born again must be present before somebody undergo baptism. Instruction, faith, repentance, and true conversion of the heart should always precede this public ceremony. Do infants qualify? It is clear like day light that infants do not qualify for this unique rite. It is impossible for a baby to meet these conditions laid down in the Bible. An infant cannot be taught, or made aware of sin to repent. Therefore we can safely conclude that all those ritualistic sprinkling of water on burbling babies practiced by some churches, has absolutely nothing to do with biblically prescribed baptism. You can’t undergo baptism based on the faith of your parents or godparents. As we have seen before a person is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Thats your own personal faith. The person has to exercise faith in Jesus himself or herself. Fear of infant being eternally lost Some people fear that if an infant dies without being christened or baptized, the soul will be lost and will go to some place, not heaven or hell, but limbo – sort of “nowhere”. We know what Limbo means. It sort of means nowhere. Our God is a God of justice, who will not punish infants who are innocent and have not reached the age to choose between good and evil. After all biblically there is nothing called “original sin” from which an innocent baby should be washed of. What human beings have is the sinful nature, which makes them sin once they are grown enough. Even human courts do not hold children responsible for any mischief committed. What is child dedication? Is there a ceremony where parents can bring their child to God to be dedicated? Yes. Jesus own parents did the same thing. They brought Jesus to the temple, where He was dedicated to the service of God. Here water is not sprinkled or poured on infant’s head. At what age can somebody receive baptism? There is not some magical age, at which somebody can receive baptism. Some children, even when they are very young, somehow, are capable of having a true, real, dynamic relationship with Jesus. Such children can receive baptism. Remember, if your child is old enough to be lost, then your child is old enough to be saved. Immersion baptism in the church history Even the Catholic Church baptized by immersion until 10th or 11th century. Large baptisteries were present in the ancient eastern cathedrals, which later fell into disuse as infant baptism came into popularity. Because tiny babies could not be safely put under the water, the practice slowly changed to pouring or sprinkling water on the head. Is God particular? Is God particular about the method of baptism? There are many people who feel that it is doubtful point whether one should be sprinkled, poured or immersed in baptism. They will say, “What difference will it make? After all it is symbolic.” We should not think that God is not particular about His commandments. Out of almost 600,000 Israelites who left Egypt only 2, Caleb and Joshua were able to cross the river into the Promised Land, while all others died. Why? Because “they followed the Lord fully” (Num. 32:12; 14:24; Deut. 28:1). Example of bread and wine Let us consider for a moment whether the symbolic nature of a rite, prescribed by Jesus, will make its mode of execution irrelevant. As we have seen before, there is a deep spiritual meaning attached to each stage of the physical event of being lowered beneath the water. Is there not a similar spiritual truth in the communion bread and wine? In fact this service points to the very same events in the life of Jesus, which baptism also commemorates. If so will you tolerate if somebody uses Coca-Cola and hamburger, in place of wine and bread for the communion service? Even though these materials were symbolic of something, we all believe that it is vitally important to utilize the very same symbols that our Lord used when He introduced the service. Then why should we not feel the same urgency to maintain the same symbolic form of Baptism, which Jesus himself has undergone to set us an example. Don’t forget that Jesus is our greatest role model. Do you have to join a church when you get baptized? As Jesus implied baptism is like being born again. You don’t leave a child orphan without nobody to care about. Youve to place the child in the arms of a loving family. We have got a baby Christian here and it makes sense to place that Christian in the arms and the safety of a loving church family. When you read Acts 2 we read Peter telling “Repent and be baptized” and when we come to the verse 47 it says “The Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved”. That means they were baptized and plugged into a church. Well back then there was only one denomination, the Christian church. 1 Cor. 12-13 says that we are baptized into one body. After baptism the candidate has to join a church because he or she is the part of the body of Christ. Conclusion Did you get baptized, because Jesus has set it forth as a condition for salvation? Are you baptized the Jesus’ way by total immersion? Did you repent and believe in Jesus as your personal savior before baptism? Did you allow your man of sin to die, before coming out alive to live the Jesus’ way? Today is the day for conversion and accepting Jesus as your redeemer. May God bless you! Welcome to this page for more messages https://facebook/SomeTruthsThatYouShouldNotMiss
Posted on: Sun, 11 Jan 2015 20:14:56 +0000
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