Understanding Biblical Water Baptism

It is impossible for every believer of Christ to understand fully the mysteries surrounding water baptism. Similarly, it is also impossible for every believer to understand fully all the commands of Christ. But we are not called to understand all the things of God; we are only called to obey. It is the will of God that every God-fearing child of God to believe and to obey every command of Christ found in Scripture. The need of water baptism is such a command (Matthew 28:19).

Moses said to all Israel, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, ....." (Deu. 29:29, NKJV).

Solomon said, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter" (Proverbs 25:2).

John said all believers are made kings and priests (by Christ) to God the Father (Rev. 1:6).

In the light of the above Scripture passages it is good for us to search out the Scripture all the "secret" things of God pertaining to water baptism. We need to identify the problems and controversies concerning the need of water baptism for all believers.

Problems identified

The following are some of the commonly asked questions pertaining to the need of water baptism:

1. Is water baptism just a sacrament (or an ordinance) like the Lord's Table (Holy Communion)?

2. Is it true that a person is not born again (or saved) until he is water baptized? In other words, is water baptism a necessary condition for salvation?

3. Is water baptism simply an outward symbolic sign of an inward spiritual experience? In other words, is water baptism a means of testifying the grace of God?

4. What is the correct mode (or form) of water baptism? Does it matter?

5. What is the correct formula of water baptism? Does it matter?

6. In summary - What is the proper Scripture answer, and what is the apostolic interpretation of the practice of water baptism in all its related areas?

As this message is not a detailed study of the doctrine of water baptism, it is not necessary to have a theological definition of water baptism. It is also not necessary to study the various interpretations of water baptism as a sacrament according to various denomination Churches. We are talking about Biblical water baptism - a Biblical practice supported by the Scripture. Or water baptism according to the apostles' doctrine. Thus we only need to give Biblical answers to the above questions.

Water Baptism and the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper

The only similarity between water baptism and the Lord's Supper is both are the commands of Christ - All believers must be water baptized once, and all must part take of the Lard's Table as often as possible. In the early New Testament Church water baptism was done outside the Church building because believers must be water baptized before they were brought into the fellowship of the local Church. Ordinances (sacraments) only have meaning when these ritualistic activities are carried out in a Church service. There was no mention of the sacrament of water baptism in the early Church because all believers were already baptized. We are told that the activities of the early Church (or Christian community) consist of teaching of the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread (the Lord's Supper and sharing of meals) and prayer (Acts 2:42).

Water baptism as a sacrament is man's idea and not God's. According to Church scholars the act of water baptism seen as a "sacrament" is to relate a physical act to a spiritual reality. Thus Christian water baptism is "an outward and visible sign of an inward spiritual grace". Salvation is a spiritual grace of God; and water baptism is a visible physical act to testify that the person concerned is saved by grace.

Water Baptism and Regeneration (Salvation)

I prefer to use the term "regeneration" rather than the term "saved" to indicate the spiritual condition of a person when he is born again by the Spirit of God. As I have explained in some of my previous messages, "salvation" is not an instant change, but a "journey" to be taken by all believers of Christ because when we are born again only our spirit is born again. We have to wait for the final redemption of our soul and body when Christ comes again.

According to the Scripture when a person is born again by the Spirit of God he needs to be water baptized. By the examples given in the Book of Acts all believers were baptized almost immediately.

The pre-requisites of water baptism in their divine order are:

1. Repentance

The first pre-requisite is repentance. Jesus said that repentance and the remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations (Luke 24:47, emphasis added).

Notice that "Repent" was the first word of John the Baptist's message (Matt. 3:2). It is also the first word of Christ's message (Matt. 4:17).

Peter said to those who had listened to his first sermon, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins; ....." (Acts 2:38, emphasis added).

Paul preached to the Ephesians elders, ".... testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21, emphasis added).

Hence, the first requirement is "repentance" which is a person's change of mind to turn away from sin and to turn toward God.

2. Believe in the Lord Jesus

As in the above verse of Scripture (Acts 20:21) the second pre-requisite of water baptism is faith toward God through Jesus Christ which also means believe in Jesus Christ.

When Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, they came to some water and the Ethiopian asked Philip if there was anything that hindered him from being baptized. Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may" and he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (Acts 8:37).

The Philippian jailor and his household were baptized immediately after they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31 - 33).

It may be concluded that genuine repentance precedes saving faith. The one who is to be baptized must be a repentant and believing person first. Thus the divine order is - repentance, believing faith and water baptism.

The Mark 16:16 Controversy

According to most English Bible translations Mark recorded that Jesus said to the eleven apostles, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16, NKJV, emphasis added).

In my opinion, this verse of Scripture is controversial because of two reasons:

1. It appears that the conditions for a person to be saved are "belief" plus "water baptism". Many Christians presumptuously take this verse to mean that without water baptism a person will be condemned eternally. To them water baptism is a decisive act required of a believer to determine his own eternal destiny - spiritual life or death; in heaven or in hell. In other words, anyone who believes but fails to be water baptized before he dies will not be found in heaven. Seen in this "light" salvation cannot be by the grace of God only but by "works" also. A believer needs to earn his savation by the act of water baptism. He is not saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ but saved by his own choice - to be water baptized or not.

2. There is footnote concerning the 20 verses of the 16th. Chapter of Mark of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. It says:

"Some of the most ancient authorities bring the book to a close at the end of verse 8. One authority concludes the book by adding after verse 8 the following: 'But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation'. Other authorities include the preceding passage and continue with verses 9 - 20. In most authorities verses 9 - 20 follow immediately after verse 8; a few authorities insert addition material after verse 14".

Notice that, if all versions of translation of Mark 16 do not contain 9 - 20 the question of whether water baptism is a condition of salvation or not will arise. But, as it is, we cannot take Mark 16:16 out of context. In fact we need to exercise caution in the use of this verse as proof-text for the conditions (faith + water baptism) for salvation. It should also be noted that in the second half of the verse the only basis for condemnation is a refusal to believe.

Let us look elsewhere in the Bible in order to arrive at an undisputable Biblical conclusion:

1. No mention of the requirement of water baptism when Jesus said:

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18, NKJV).

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John 5:24, NKJV).

2. Paul repeats the same assurance of freedom from condemnation for anyone who believed. Again baptism is not a requirement for freedom from condemnation:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit" (Romans 8:1).

The truth is a true believer lives in Christ Jesus even before he is baptized. If he is condemned when he dies before he dies before he is baptized, then Jesus would be condemned with him!

3. Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3). Similarly, a born again believer believes in God and it is also accounted to him for righteousness.

Faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness before he was circumcised (Romans 4:10). Similarly, a believer's faith was accounted to him for righteousness before he is water baptized.

Therefore the undisputable conclusion is "a believer will not be condemned even if he is not water baptized". The only basis of salvation and freedom from condemnation is belief (have faith in Jesus Christ).

Water Baptism is an Act of Identification with Christ

The following passages of Scripture support the fact that in water baptism a believer is identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection:

1. The believer is identified with Christ's Death:

"Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death" (Romans 6:3, emphasis added)?

2. The believer is identified with Christ's Burial:

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, ...." (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).

3. The believer is identified with His Recurrection:

"..... Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4, emphasis added).

The above is logical - as Jesus became identified with us in His death, burial and resurrection, so we become identified with Him in water baptism in this same death.

The Mode (or Form) of Water Baptism

There is no controversy here. The very word "baptize" implies total immersion. The symbolism view of identification with Christ as explained above indicates that the correct Biblical mode of water baptism is by full immersion. Only full immersion adequately sets forth properly the significance of identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:4 - 6).

You cannot find a single example of other modes of water baptism (pouring or sprinkling) being practiced anywhere in the entire Book of Acts. I believe other modes of water baptism are being practiced because water baptism has become a ritualistic sacrament (or ordinance) in most denomination Churches. This is very unfortunate. It might be argued that, because water baptism is a symbolic act which does not save, there is no significant difference between full immersion and sprinkling. But we must also consider the faith and conscience of the believer being baptized. By failing to minister full immersion baptism to a Christian of "weak" conscience and of little faith, the Church would cause him to stumble. Anyone who causes a brother to stumble in faith, causes him to sin against God:

Paul said, "..... whatever is not from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

Notice that Paul would not cause any of his Christian brothers to stumble on anything (1 Cor. 8:13).

The Formula of Water Baptism

What is the right formula? To be baptized "In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Christ's Command - Matt. 28:19) or "In the Name of Jesus"?

Careful study of the Books of Acts shows that everwhere without exception all believers were baptized in the Name of Jesus. Places mentioned were - Jerusalem, Samaria, Gaza Desert, Damascus, Caesarea, Philippi, Corinth and Ephesus.

In my opinion baptism into the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the same as baptism into the Name of the Eternal Godhead. According to the apostolic interpretation, the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit is fulfilled in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Name of the Godhead Bodily.

Paul, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9).

Paul says, "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Col. 3:17, emphasis added).

Water baptism involed both words and deed and thus must be carried out in the Name of Jesus.

Who are the Baptizers?

Christians often have the notion that only the pastor or elders of the local Church have the authority to administer water baptism. But I fail to find any example in the Book of Acts or in the epistles that a baptizer must be an apostle or an elder of the Church. It is true that very ofter apostles are the baptizers but it is never a necessary condition. It is common to see Bible teachers debating whether it was possible for Peter and other apostles to baptize all three believers (Acts 2:41) immediately they had received Peter's words and believed. But this is mere speculation.

Water baptism was never self administered and another believer needs to be present to bear witness of the grace of God. The Scripture seems to suggest that just the presence of the baptizer and the one to be baptized are sufficient even though more witnesses might be more desirable.

Even Jesus Himself was baptized by John who was not himself baptized (Matt 3:14). So, the baptizer need not even be someone who is baptized already.

This fact tells me three things:

1. The three thousand who believed the words of Peter baptized one another immediately.

2. The effectiveness of water baptism seems to have depended much more on the spiritual state of the baptized than the baptizer.

3. Christians who are doing evangelism work (this applies to every believer) should baptize immediately with full immersion those who have received Christ as their Lord and Savior. This I believe is the Biblical way of fulfilling the Great Commission. Notice that Matt. 28:19 applies specifically to every believer: Make disciples and baptize them. Nothing in the Bible to say that we should bring them to the Church to get them baptized by the pastor and then make them disciples! A true believer in Christ must not be deceived by this erroneus Church doctrine but uphold the apostles' doctrine at all times.

Conclusion

Water Baptism although by the act itself cannot save must be obeyed because it is a command of Christ. Through water baptism the believer will have "the answer of a good conscience towards God". It is a conscience that is stirred up by the believers' faith towards God. It is a conscience which lines itself up by submission and obedience to the infallible Word of God.