Baptism -- essential for salvation
"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" (1Pe
3:21).
In the passage quoted above, the saving of Noah in the Ark of
refuge which he built is likened to baptism. The water saved Noah and his family
because it lifted them above the destruction that swept away the ungodly world
in which he lived. The waters of baptism can save us from the judgements that
Christ will shortly bring upon all the wickedness of the age we live in (1Pe
3:20; Mat 24:37).
Baptism in Scripture
Baptism is first mentioned in Scripture in relation to John
the Baptist's ministry (Mat 3:5,6,11). His baptism was one of repentance (this
means a change of heart, leading to a changed way of life). It anticipated the
baptism of the Lord Jesus and was intended to prepare the Jewish people to
believe in Christ (Acts 19:4,5). Israel had already been nationally baptized
into Moses when they crossed the Red Sea (1Co 10:2), but now Christ commissioned
the apostles to baptize individual believers of the gospel, both Jew and
Gentile, into his name (Mat 28:19,20; Mar 16:16). Baptism into Christ identifies
believers with the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, which, having been
accomplished, render this baptism of more significance than either Moses' or
John's baptisms, which it replaced (Rom 6:3-6; Acts 2:37,38).
The need for correct belief
Jesus said in Mar 16:16: "He that believeth [the gospel] and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned
[condemned]". Belief of the one gospel (Gal 1:6-9; 3:7-9,26-29) and baptism are
both necessary. The Acts of the Apostles gives us several impressive examples of
correct belief preceding baptism:
- Acts 2:14-41 -- Jerusalem Jews on the day of
Pentecost
- Acts 8:12 -- The
Samaritans
- Acts 8:27-39 -- The Ethiopian
Eunuch
- Acts 10:1,2,34-48 -- Cornelius and his
companions
- Acts 16:14-34 -- Lydia and the
Philippian jailer and his family
- Acts 19:1-5 --
The Ephesian disciples of John the Baptist
Are there any exceptions?
There is no record in Scripture of the repentant thief on the
cross (Luk 23:40-43) being baptized. Jesus promised he would be in the Kingdom.
But he might have been baptized earlier by either John or the disciples of the
Lord (Joh 4:1,2). But the example of Christ must be our guide. He said, on the
occasion of his baptism: "thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (Mat
3:15). There can be no exceptions; all who wish to be saved must believe and be
baptized.
Christening, infant baptism and the Baptists
The Greek words for baptize and baptism mean being fully
immersed. There is no suggestion in Scripture of baptism being a sprinkling with
water. There are several passages that describe or imply bodily immersion; for
instance, Mat 3:16; Joh 3:23; Acts 8:38. Infant baptism was first heard of in
the days of Tertullian (AD 200), who vigorously opposed the practice. The rite
of infant sprinkling dates back to pagan Roman customs, when babies were
sprinkled with holy water and named. Like many other pagan ideas, this rite of
infant baptism was gradually superimposed on Christian teaching (2Ti 4:3,4).
Infant baptism belongs to the apostate church. When the sect called the Baptists
came into existence in the seventeenth century they believed the promises made
to David, and looked forward to God's Kingdom on earth, immersing only adult
believers. Today, many Baptist churches believe in such doctrines as
heaven-going, the Trinity and a supernatural devil, having abandoned their
earlier Scriptural beliefs, and some do not even insist on total immersion, but
sprinkle with water.
The symbolic meaning of baptism
Baptism is a symbol of sacrifice and of resurrection.
Sacrifice always involves death. Baptism into Christ links us with his death,
which destroyed "the body of sin" (Rom 6:3,6). Baptism signifies death to the
former way of life, enslaved to sin, and the commencement of a new life enslaved
to Christ (vv 4-13). Baptism also identifies us with Christ's death and
resurrection
(v 5), that we might one day inherit eternal life in the
Kingdom (v 23; Isa 26:19).
Baptism changes our position before God
When, after a good confession of the one faith (Acts 8:37; Rom
10:10; Eph 4:5), a true baptism takes place, Scripture teaches that our past
sins are forgiven us, for Christ's sake (Acts 2:38; 3:19; 22:16; 1Co 6:11; Col
2:11,12). We become "a new creature", as Paul teaches (2Co 5:17). We become the
children of God, and heirs of the life-saving promises made to Abraham (Gal
3:26-29). We have access to God through Christ in prayer, being no longer
"children of wrath" and alienated from God (Eph 2:1-3,12,13).
At what age should baptism take place?
All the Scriptural examples are of persons capable of
believing the gospel, defined as "the things concerning the kingdom of God, and
the name of Jesus Christ" (Mar 16:16; Acts 8:12). Passages such as Col 3 set out
the responsibility to lead godly, obedient lives which falls upon those who have
"risen with Christ" (v 1). The age a person is baptized will depend therefore on
his or her maturity and understanding. All baptisms, of young or old, will be
preceded by repentance (Mat 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30; 2Pe 3:9). Some crisis
of the mind will trigger the realization that we must be baptized, as this is
the will of God, and that only in Christ can we be saved (Acts 4:12). All manner
of circumstances, people or events can lead to this crisis of mind. If we have
not already been baptized, may we respond to the call of Peter, as 3,000 did on
the day of Pentecost, to "Save [ourselves] from this untoward generation" (Acts
2:40).
