What I Wish Everyone Knew about Baptism

Baptism is another controversial subject.  There are various beliefs and practices associated with this important religious act.  If I had the opportunity to share with everyone about baptism, these are the five things I would share about what I believe the Bible teaches about the subject.

I believe there are five proper aspects of Biblical baptism that everyone should know.

1. Proper Mode – IMMERSION – The word baptism is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning “to dip” or “to immerse.”  The Bible described baptism as a burial (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:12).  The Bible speaks in terms of an immersion (Acts 8:38-39).  The concepts of sprinkling and pouring are foreign to the New Testament concept of baptism.
2. Proper Authority – NAME OF JESUS – Paul placed an emphasis in Acts 19 on John’s disciples being baptized in the name of Jesus.  Jesus taught in the great commission that new converts were to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Mat. 28:18-20).  The blessings and promises are being bestowed by His authority.  The person is being baptized “into Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27).
3. Proper Purpose – FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS – Biblical baptism involves the person realizing their sins  are being forgiven by God.  A person goes from being lost to being saved at the point of baptism.  People are not simply saved at belief in Jesus, and the modern invention of the sinner’s prayer is found nowhere in Scripture.  Peter told those on Pentecost to be baptized “for the forgiveness of sins” (Acts 2:38).  Paul was told by Ananias to be baptized to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16).  Peter refers to baptism as the point of salvation (1 Peter 3:21).  Baptism is not a work that earns one salvation, but is a humble act of obedience that trusts God’s promise to work in cleansing the sinner and adding Him to the saved (Col. 2:11-14).
4. Proper Subject – A PENITENT BELIEVER – In the Bible we see candidates for baptism had to believe Jesus was the Son of God.  Baptism is a response and act of faith (Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:11-14).  Before baptism has validity, the candidate must be willing to repent (Acts 2:38).  One must be willing to bury their old life of sin (Romans 6:1-11).  They must make a commitment to crucify the flesh with its passions and desires (Gal. 5:24).  This necessarily rules out infants, small children, and those incapable of understanding the gospel and repenting from sin.
5. Proper Result  – A CHRISTIAN – In the Bible, we see that the gospel seed produces Christians; nothing more, nothing less.  When someone believes, repents, confesses, and is baptized into Christ, they become a Christian.  A disciple and follower of Christ.  They are added by God to His Church, the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:12-13).

What about you?  Have you been baptized as the New Testament teaches and the early Christians and Apostles practiced?