Lesson 23 Explore 1: What Is Baptism?
The Bible’s answer
Baptism is complete water immersion. Many baptisms are recorded in the Bible.
(Acts 2.41: So those who gladly accepted his word were baptized, and on that day about 3,000 people were added.)
Among them is the baptism of Jesus, who was immersed in the Jordan River.
(Matthew 3.13: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized by him.)
(Matthew 3.16: After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him.)
Years later, an Ethiopian man was baptized in “a body of water” that was near the road he was traveling.-
(Acts 8.36-40: Now as they were going along the road, they came to a body of water, and the eunuch said: “Look! Here is water; what prevents me from getting baptized?” —— With that he commanded the chariot to halt, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Jehovah’s spirit quickly led Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, but he went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, found himself in Ashdod, and he went through the territory and kept on declaring the good news to all the cities until he got to Caesarea.)
Jesus taught that baptism is a requirement for his followers.
(Matthew 28.19, 20: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”)
The apostle Peter reaffirmed that teaching.-
(1 Peter 3.21: Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.)
What does baptism mean?
Baptism is an outward symbol, or public display, that the individual being baptized has repented of his sins and made an unconditional promise to God to do his will. That includes living a life of obedience to God and to Jesus. People who get baptized put themselves on the path to everlasting life.
Water immersion is an apt symbol for the change a person has made in his life. How so? The Bible compares baptism to burial.
(Romans 6.4: So we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in a newness of life.)
(Colossians 2.12: For you were buried with him in his baptism, and by your relationship with him you were also raised up together through your faith in the powerful work of God, who raised him up from the dead.)
By going under the water, the person is showing that he has died to his former way of life. When he comes up from the water, he is, in effect, starting his new life as a dedicated Christian.
What does the Bible say about infant baptism or christening?
The Bible does not mention the terms “christen” or “christening.” Nor does it teach that infants should be baptized.
Infant baptism is not compatible with the Scriptures. The Bible teaches that a person who wants to get baptized must meet certain requirements. For example, he should understand at least the basic teachings of God’s Word and be living in harmony with those teachings. He has repented of his sins. And through prayer, he has dedicated his life to God.
(Acts 2.38: Peter said to them: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.)
(Acts 2.41: So those who gladly accepted his word were baptized, and on that day about 3,000 people were added.)
(Acts 8.12: But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were getting baptized.)
Infants are not able to do these things.
What does it mean to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit?
Jesus instructed his followers to “make disciples..., baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”
(Matthew 28.19, 20: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”)
“In the name of” means that the one being baptized recognizes the authority and position of the Father and the Son, as well as the role of God’s holy spirit. To illustrate: The apostle Peter said to a man who was lame from birth: “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”
(Acts 3.6: However, Peter said: “Silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have is what I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!”)
The meaning is clear-Peter recognized and acknowledged the authority of Christ and attributed the miraculous cure to him.
• “The Father” refers to Jehovah God. As Creator, Life-Giver, and Almighty God, Jehovah has ultimate authority.-
(Genesis 17.1: When Abram was 99 years old, Jehovah appeared to Abram and said to him: “I am God Almighty. Walk before me and prove yourself faultless.)
(Revelation 4.11: “You are worthy, Jehovah our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they came into existence and were created.”)
• “The Son” is Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us.
(Romans 6.23: For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.)
We cannot gain salvation unless we recognize and appreciate Jesus’ key role in God’s purpose for mankind.-
(John 14.6: Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)
(John 20.31: But these have been written down so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and because of believing, you may have life by means of his name.)
(Acts 4.8-12: Then Peter, filled with holy spirit, said to them: “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today about a good deed to a crippled man, and you want to know who made this man well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead, by means of him this man stands here healthy in front of you. This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.’ Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”)
• “The holy spirit” is God’s active force, or his power in action. God has used his holy spirit to create, to impart life, to convey messages to his prophets and others, and to empower them to do his will.
(Genesis 1.2: Now the earth was formless and desolate, and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep, and God’s active force was moving about over the surface of the waters.)
(Job 33.4: God’s own spirit made me, And the Almighty’s own breath brought me to life.)
(Romans 15.18, 19: For I will not presume to speak about anything except what Christ has done through me in order for the nations to be obedient, by my word and deed, with the power of signs and wonders, with the power of God’s spirit, so that from Jerusalem and in a circuit as far as Illyricum I have thoroughly preached the good news about the Christ.)
God also used holy spirit to inspire the Bible writers to record his thoughts.-
(2 Peter 1.21: For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.)
Is rebaptism a sin?
It is not uncommon for people to change their religion. But what if they had been baptized in their former church? Would they be committing a sin if they got baptized again? Some answer yes, perhaps basing their view on
(Ephesians 4.5: one Lord, one faith, one baptism;)
which reads: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” However, this verse does not mean that a person cannot be rebaptized. How so?
Context. The context of
(Ephesians 4.5: one Lord, one faith, one baptism;)
shows that the apostle Paul was emphasizing the need for true Christians to be united in belief and faith.
(Ephesians 4.1-3: Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, appeal to you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all humility and mildness, with patience, putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to maintain the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.)
(Ephesians 4.16: From him all the body is harmoniously joined together and made to cooperate through every joint that gives what is needed. When each respective member functions properly, this contributes to the growth of the body as it builds itself up in love.)
Such unity could exist only if they followed the same Lord, Jesus Christ; had the same faith, or understanding of what the Bible teaches; and followed the same Scriptural requirements for baptism.
The apostle Paul encouraged some who were already baptized to be baptized again. This was because they had been baptized without a full understanding of Christian teaching.-
(Acts 19.1-5: In the course of events, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came down to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and said to them: “Did you receive holy spirit when you became believers?” They replied to him: “Why, we have never heard that there is a holy spirit.” So he said: “In what, then, were you baptized?” They said: “In John’s baptism.” Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Proper basis for baptism. To be acceptable to God, baptism must be based on an accurate knowledge of Bible truth.
(1 Timothy 2.3, 4: This is fine and acceptable in the sight of our Savior, God, whose will is that all sorts of people should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth.)
If a person is baptized on the basis of religious teachings that conflict with the Bible, that baptism would not be recognized by God.
(John 4.23, 24: Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.”)
The person may have been sincere, but he did not act “according to accurate knowledge.”
(Romans 10.2: For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to accurate knowledge.)
To merit God’s approval, he would have to learn Bible truth, apply what he learned, dedicate his life to God, and be baptized again. Under these circumstances, his rebaptism would not be a sin. In fact, it would be the right thing to do.
Other baptisms mentioned in the Bible
The Bible mentions other baptisms that had a different meaning, or significance, from the water immersion of Christ’s followers. Consider some examples.
Baptism performed by John the Baptist. Jews and Jewish proselytes were baptized by John in symbol of their repentance over sins they had committed against the Mosaic Law-the Law that God gave to the Israelites through Moses. John’s baptism prepared the people to recognize and accept the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.-
(Luke 1.13-17: However, the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your supplication has been favorably heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have joy and great gladness, and many will rejoice over his birth, for he will be great in the sight of Jehovah. But he must drink no wine or any alcoholic drink at all, and he will be filled with holy spirit even from before birth, and he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to Jehovah their God. Also, he will go ahead of him with Elijah’s spirit and power, to turn back the hearts of fathers to children and the disobedient ones to the practical wisdom of righteous ones, in order to get ready for Jehovah a prepared people.”)
(Luke 3.2, 3: in the days of chief priest Annas and of Caiaphas, God’s declaration came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. So he went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching baptism in symbol of repentance for forgiveness of sins,)
(Acts 19.4: Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”)
Jesus’ personal baptism. Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist was unique. Jesus was a perfect man and had committed no sins.
(1 Peter 2.21, 22: In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely. He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth.)
So his baptism did not involve repentance or “the request to God for a good conscience.”
(1 Peter 3.21: Baptism, which corresponds to this, is also now saving you (not by the removing of the filth of the flesh, but by the request to God for a good conscience), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.)
Rather, it showed that he was presenting himself to God to do His will as the foretold Messiah, or Christ. This included giving his life for us.-
(Hebrews 10.7-10: Then I said: ‘Look! I have come (in the scroll it is written about me) to do your will, O God.’” After first saying: “You did not want nor did you approve of sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings”—sacrifices that are offered according to the Law— then he says: “Look! I have come to do your will.” He does away with what is first in order to establish what is second. By this “will” we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.)
Baptism with holy spirit. Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ spoke about baptism with holy spirit.
(Matthew 3.11: I, for my part, baptize you with water because of your repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to take off. That one will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire.)
(Luke 3.16: John gave the answer, saying to all: “I, for my part, baptize you with water, but the one stronger than I am is coming, the lace of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire.)
(Acts 1.1-5: The first account, O Theophilus, I composed about all the things Jesus started to do and to teach until the day that he was taken up, after he had given instructions through holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he showed himself alive to them by many convincing proofs. He was seen by them throughout 40 days, and he was speaking about the Kingdom of God. While he was meeting with them, he ordered them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but keep waiting for what the Father has promised, about which you heard from me; for John, indeed, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this.”)
That baptism is not the same as baptism in the name of the holy spirit.
(Matthew 28.19: Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,)
Why is that so?
Only a limited number of Jesus’ followers are baptized with holy spirit. These ones are anointed with holy spirit because they are called to serve with Christ in heaven as fellow kings and priests over the earth.
(1 Peter 1.3, 4: Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you,)
(Revelation 5.9, 10: And they sing a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slaughtered and with your blood you bought people for God out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and you made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they are to rule as kings over the earth.”)
Their subjects will be the millions of Jesus’ followers who have the hope of everlasting life in Paradise on earth.-
(Matthew 5.5: “Happy are the mild-tempered, since they will inherit the earth.)
(Luke 23.43: And he said to him: “Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise.”)
Baptism into Christ Jesus and into his death. Individuals baptized with holy spirit are also “baptized into Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 6.3: Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?)
This baptism, therefore, applies to Jesus’ anointed followers, who will rule with him in heaven. By being baptized into Jesus, they become members of his anointed congregation. He is the Head, and they are the body.-
(1 Corinthians 12.12, 13: For just as the body is one but has many members, and all the members of that body, although many, are one body, so too is the Christ. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink one spirit.)
(1 Corinthians 12.27: Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you individually is a member.)
(Colossians 1.18: and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become the one who is first in all things;)
Anointed Christians are also “baptized into [Jesus’] death.”
(Romans 6.3, 4: Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? So we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in a newness of life.)
In imitation of Jesus, they lead a self-sacrificing life of obedience to God and renounce any hope of everlasting life on earth. They complete this symbolic baptism when they die and receive a resurrection to life in heaven as spirit creatures.-
(Romans 6.5: If we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.)
(1 Corinthians 15.42-44: So it is with the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised up in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised up in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised up in power. It is sown a physical body; it is raised up a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual one.)
Baptism with fire. John the Baptist said to his listeners: “That one [Jesus] will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor completely and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.”
(Matthew 3.11, 12: I, for my part, baptize you with water because of your repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to take off. That one will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor completely and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.”)
Note that there are differences between baptism with fire and baptism with holy spirit. What did John mean by this illustration?
The wheat represents those who will listen to Jesus and obey him. They have the prospect of being baptized with holy spirit. The chaff symbolizes those who will not listen to Jesus. Their end is a baptism of fire, which symbolizes their everlasting destruction.-
(Matthew 3.7-12: When he caught sight of many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to the baptism, he said to them: “You offspring of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, produce fruit that befits repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. The ax is already lying at the root of the trees. Every tree, then, that does not produce fine fruit is to be cut down and thrown into the fire. I, for my part, baptize you with water because of your repentance, but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to take off. That one will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and he will clean up his threshing floor completely and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.”)
(Luke 3.16, 17: John gave the answer, saying to all: “I, for my part, baptize you with water, but the one stronger than I am is coming, the lace of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire. His winnowing shovel is in his hand to clean up his threshing floor completely and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with fire that cannot be put out.”)
Misconceptions about Christian baptism
Misconception: Sprinkling or pouring water on a person is an acceptable alternative to complete water immersion.
Fact: All the baptisms recorded in the Bible involved complete water immersion.
(Matthew 3.13: Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, in order to be baptized by him.)
(Matthew 3.16: After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up from the water; and look! the heavens were opened up, and he saw God’s spirit descending like a dove and coming upon him.)
(Acts 8.36-39: Now as they were going along the road, they came to a body of water, and the eunuch said: “Look! Here is water; what prevents me from getting baptized?” —— With that he commanded the chariot to halt, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, Jehovah’s spirit quickly led Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, but he went on his way rejoicing.)
None involved mere sprinkling. Sprinkling misses the point of water immersion-that the person being baptized has died to his former way of life and is now starting his new life as a dedicated servant of God.
Misconception: When the Bible says that a jailer in Philippi “and his entire household were baptized,” it implies that infants were baptized too.-
(Acts 16.25: But about the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song, and the prisoners were listening to them.)
(Acts 16.31-34: They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house. And he took them along in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay. He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God.)
Facts: For one thing, no ages are mentioned. For another, before the jailer and his household were baptized, they heard and accepted “the word of Jehovah.”
(Acts 16.31, 32: They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house.)
(Acts 16.34: He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God.)
Therefore, they must have been old enough to understand what was said and to believe in God and the Lord Jesus.
[End of article.]