Baptism by Water:
What does baptism mean?
The meaning to baptize is: to wash; to dip/dipped; immerse.
Mark 7:4 and, from the market-place, if they do not baptize themselves, they do not eat; and many other things there are that they received to hold, baptisms of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and couches.
Luke 11:38 and the Pharisee having seen, did wonder that he did not first baptize himself before the dinner.
Note: Baptize; (baptisms) in these verses is to wash.
Joshua 3:15 And when the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord entered upon Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord were dipped in part of the water of Jordan; (now Jordan overflowed all its banks about the time of wheat harvest:)
2 Kings 5:14 So Naiman went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the word of Elisaie: and his flesh returned to him as the flesh of a little child, and he was cleansed.
Note: Dipped is being baptized.
1 Corinthians 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; :2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
Note: The Hebrews were not ‘immersed’ in the water, (but the Egyptians sure were.)
Those who are stubbornly dogmatic that baptism is full body immersion only, need to review the meaning of baptism from the Bible instead of theology.
What was the meaning for John’s baptism?
Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Mark 1:4 John was baptizing in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins;
Luke 7:29 And all the people having heard, and the tax-gatherers, declared God righteous, having been baptized with the baptism of John,
Acts 1:5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Note: John’s baptism was not a predecessor for Christian baptism.
New Testament baptism was never performed by John.
John’s baptism was just what it says and means. It was for those that repented, for the remission of their sins.
This did not involve, or was not any kind of a public acknowledgement for one’s faith or belief in Jesus Christ.
He told them to believe in the one coming after him, which was Jesus Christ.
Israel never had a custom or practice of immersion. If John the Baptist was immersing, then he was not following the law.
What is true baptism?
Mark 10:38 But Jesus said to them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? :39 And they said to him, We can. And Jesus said to them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: and with the baptism that I am baptized with shalt ye be baptized;
Note: The baptism that Jesus was refering to was the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some whom John baptized with water, were ‘re-baptized’, but not by the same method.
Acts 19:1 And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples,:2 and he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” :3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” :4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” :5 And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. :6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
Note: This is not water baptism.
What is God’s baptism?
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. :2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. :3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
Note: This is not a baptism with water.
Baptism with water:
Acts 8:36 And as they were going on the way, they came upon a certain water, and the eunuch said, ‘Lo, water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?’ :37 {And Philip said, ‘If thou dost believe out of all the heart, it is lawful;’ and he answering said, ‘I believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God;’} :38 and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down to the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him; :39 and when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he was going on his way rejoicing;
Note: There are some that use these verses to try and justify full body immersion only. These verses do not state or even imply that the eunuch was full body immersed. When “they came up out of the water” does not say or mean that either had been immersed.
John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and they were coming and were being baptized.
Note: This well used verse is another attempt to justify full body immersion for baptism. Just because there was ‘much water’ is a poor and useless explanation for full body immersion.
Why full body emersion?
It is a tradition that was passed down by some protestant sects.
Some believe it is and/or is part of a continued act for salvation.
They believe that the body must be fully immersed for a cleansing of one’s sins.
Note: Water baptism by sprinkling, immersing, pouring, etc. has nothing to do with one’s salvation. The renewing (regeneration) of a person has nothing to do with any type of water baptism. The Bible does not teach that it is necessary for water baptism to be converted i.e. saved.
Where did full body immersion originate?
Many ancient pagans and cults practiced full body immersion.
It was their teaching that when one went under, then out of the water, that they were a ‘new person’ converted to that religion.
This same pagan practice found its way into some of the protestant denominations.
Why infant or child baptism?
This doctrine was introduced into the Roman Church from another doctrine, [See: 'Original Sin'] and is practiced by many Protestants as well.
This teaching is when one is born they are born into original sin.
When the infant (or child) is baptized, they are cleansed from the sins that they were born with.
The water is the renewing (i.e.) cleansing of all sins.
If the infant or child grew up to be a ‘bad person’ they would have to be baptized again.
Note: This is another very good example of non-Biblical nonsense.
What Scripture verse is used to justify infant/child baptism?
Acts 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Note: For one to conclude this household means that children were also baptized is a conjecture.
Infant/child baptism cannot be implied by any Scripture verse.
Does baptized mean regeneration and/or salvation?
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE, THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.’
Matthew 3:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
1 Corinthians 12:13 for also in one Spirit we all to one body were baptized, whether Jews or Greeks, whether servants or freemen, and all into one Spirit were made to drink,
Note: Being baptized is not repentance. Water does not cleanse one of sins.
Calling upon the Lord and repentance is still only part of salvation.
True conversion is with the renewing of the mind from the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Note: The word ‘washing’ is not and does not mean baptized.
2 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Ephesians 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.
Summary:
1. The meaning to baptize is: to wash; to dip or dipped; immerse.
2. Those who are dogmatic that baptism is full body immersion only, need to review the meaning of baptism from the Bible instead of theology.
3. John’s baptism was just what it says and means. It was for those that repented, for the remission of their sins.
4. John’s baptism was not a predecessor for Christian baptism. New Testament baptism was never performed by John.
5. Water baptism by sprinkling, immersing, pouring, etc. has nothing to do with one’s salvation.
6. The Bible does not teach that it is necessary for water baptism to be converted (i.e.) saved. True conversion is with the renewing of the mind from the Holy Spirit. [i.e. immersed by the Holy Spirit.]
7. Infant/child baptism cannot be implied by any Scripture verse.
8. Being baptized is not repentance. Water does not cleanse one of sins.
Note: Water baptism is not directly implied as to how it should be performed.
For one to be so positive and/or dogmatic to its application is religious theology.
The traditions and fables of water baptism are:
- Full body immersion in water.
- It will cleanse original sin.
- It washes away sin, therefore saving that person.
- It takes away the old and creates the new.
- It allows one to enter into the body of Jesus Christ.
