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This question has been asked by many people through the ages. Yet at one
time, even in the religious world, this question was not often asked.
Baptism was almost universally considered necessary for salvation. But in
our "modern" and "educated" age it is an oft-asked question. Calvinism, the
false doctrine of "faith only salvation," and biblical illiteracy have
caused many to give baptism a secondary role—if any role at all—in
salvation. This is a tragedy of immense importance. It denies the word of
the Living God. This is why Christians emphasize baptism so much—because
the world has forgotten it. If the religious world over-emphasized baptism,
we would be duty bound to intensify our preaching on the necessity of
faith, repentance and confession. If we deny one step of God's plan of
salvation, we deny it all!
If you go to the dictionary for a definition of the word, it will usually include the "modes" of sprinkling or pouring water on an individual's head, as well as immersion. The English word baptize comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means "to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge." (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon of The New Testament, p. 94). Rather than use the word "immerse," many translators have anglicized baptizo into the words baptize or baptism. The translators of the King James version of the Bible did not want to disturb their patron, King James III, by using the word "immerse" since he believed baptism was sprinkling. But the Bible indicates that baptism is a burial or immersion in water. (John 3:23; Acts 8:36-39; Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12). As a good friend once said, "You don't bury a dead man by sprinkling or pouring a little dirt on his head." To begin with, the Lord commands us to be baptized in order to be saved. (Mark 16:16). Many say a sinner is saved before baptism, at the point of faith. But the Bible tells us that "faith without works is dead." (Jas. 2:19-20). Baptism is not an empty ritual, "but the answer of a good conscience toward God." (1 Pet. 3:21). We are baptized to gain forgiveness or remission of our sins. (Acts 2:38). When we are buried with Christ we become united with him and his atoning death. We come into spiritual contact with his precious blood which washes away our sins. (Gal. 3:27; Heb. 9:22; Acts 22:16). The question each of us must ask himself is, "Have I come into contact with the blood of Jesus Christ?" We are baptized to become members of Christ's body, the church of Christ. (Col. 1:18). False teachers say one is baptized only to "join the church" after one has been saved. But the Bible tells God automatically adds us to the church when we are baptized. (Acts 2:41, 47). It is impossible to be saved outside the body of Christ. (Eph. 1:3). No! In Acts 19, the apostle Paul found a group of men who had been baptized with the baptism which John taught, looking forward to the coming of the Messiah (v. 4). They had been baptized with John's baptism after the establishment of Christ's church. (Acts 2). Paul recognized that they had not been taught correctly and, consequently, not baptized correctly. They recognized their spiritual state and "were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:5 ASV). Through the centuries, many sincere people have recognized the error of their denominational baptism and have been scripturally baptized. "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:36-37). Notice what the Ethiopian did first, before being baptized: 1). He believed. 2). He confessed Jesus as God's Son. The apostle Peter adds repentance. (Acts 2:38). Baptism is the culmination of God's plan of salvation: 1). Hear the gospel. 2). Believe the gospel. 3). Repent of all sins. 4). Confess Jesus as the Son of God. 5). Be baptized for the remission of sins. Any time is the best time to be baptized. Young or old, male or female, Jesus invites everyone to come. "And now what tarriest thou? Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16). |