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Note: Text that are in grey are transcribed during the lesson and is not part of the physical lesson notes supplied which are rendered in black.
Lesson 7 - The Ordinance of Water Baptism
1st Century - Apostolic Age - Book of Acts
2nd - 4th Century - Age of the Early Church (Church Fathers) - Immediate baptism, no infant baptism, Immersion
5th - 15th Century - Roman Catholic Church - Catechesis, Infant Baptism, Sprinkling
16th Century onwards - Reformation - shorter catechesis, infant baptism, sprinkling
20th Century Onwards - Protestant Church, AOG - very short catechesis, no infant baptism, immersion
The key words are When, Who, How.
Matthew 3:13-16
The Baptism of Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
This passage covers the basics. The necessity of baptism. Jesus himself was baptised. In Jesus case, there was no conversion so instant baptism does not apply. This verse also says Jesus after baptism came out of the water so theologians say it cannot be sprinkling. Sprinkling is water on you, not you out of the water.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The sequence is after baptism then teaching them. Baptism is not an option, it's a commandment.
Acts 2:38-41 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
This is a promise but it is grounded by who the Lord will call. This verse does not support infant baptism.
Acts 8:12-14
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. 14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
This tells us immediate baptism. There is no mention of infant baptism. Philip did the baptism but Peter hears about it. Simon was so caught up with the miracles that he wanted it and was wanting to buy the gift v18-19. Peter was so angry with him. My take was they made a mistake and baptised a non believer.
Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
This was under Peter's ministry. No mention of infant baptism.
Acts 16:31-33 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
Here it's immediate baptism and no mention of infant baptism.
There is actually no mention on infant baptism in the book of Acts. You can be very sure it is by immersion. And also very clear was that almost all instances was immediate baptism.
When the Protestant baptism started, the anchor being Luther and Calvin, they were still practicing infant baptism and sprinkling. So what's the difference with the Roman Catholic? The difference is that when they baptised infants, it does not provide saving grace unlike the Roman Catholic Church.
Luther did not want to leave the Catholic Church, so his statement was that he did not cause division but he suffer division.
Later, the Protestants stop infant baptism and many re-baptised themselves and called themselves anabaptist.
And from this came the Baptist movement and we went from there.
Sermon on water baptism
There is a water baptism in December and pastor has asked me to share on water baptism.
I am taking this message from the books of Acts and have decided to look at it in a narrative way.
There will be real stories and some of you may not realize the issues and difficulties in water baptism until you hear them in real life.
I have three stories.
The first encounter was in 1994. My father accepted the Lord and at that time he said this: "I want to get baptized but I need to settle some things first." He was a religious man. He understood the importance of the baptism rite but he was still tied down with some of his old religious practices that he needed to do away with.
The first issue concerns this particular question: " Does a man who has accepted the Lord have to be baptized immediately?"
The second incident involved someone who had been a ' christian' for a long time. I asked him if he wanted to be baptized. And he said it was not important. Some time later, over the phone I asked him again whether he would like to be baptized this time around. He said it was not necessary for salvation, so he was not interested.
So the second issue: If baptism is not necessary for salvation, why get baptized?
The third incident happened in a church where I was fellowshipping with one of the cell leaders and he told me that until people are baptized, they are not saved. The third issue is whether baptism is necessary for salvation.
I have raised three issues concerning baptism. And the questions concern who are to be baptized, when to be baptized, why people get baptized and whether baptism is necessary for salvation?
Acts 8:34-38 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then 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." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
The passage before verse 34, verse 32-33 was taken from Isaiah. Who is this eunuch? The technical word refers to someone who has emasculated himself. The word eunuch is also a common term used for a high official. This person talks to Phillip. He was ministering up North and he was called by God to move down south. Here we know he was most likely a god fearing gentile that subscribe to Judaism.
Those people at that time can be very committed. And they had the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 53:7-8 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
This passage made sense to the eunuch and he believed. This is when Phillip talked to him about Jesus and he believed. Verse 37 tells us very clearly that he became a believer. And he asked to be baptized.
1. Who are candidates for baptism?
The candidate must first and foremost be a believer.
2. When should the believer be baptized?
It was just a short time after he believed. Phillip didn't ask him, he asked Phillip. So when? As soon as possible. But you must understand that is a loaded question. He understood Judaism. He knew he should be baptized. And it is him who wants to be baptized. We are to teach what baptism is all about but the person is the one who must say he wants to be baptized. Unless there is a is practical problem, the person should be baptized as soon as possible. For example, if the person comes at midnight and ask for baptism and you may only have a small bathtub and may need more time to find a suitable place.
The passage tells us that it is a full immersion baptism.
Why do we in church teach about baptism?
Romans 6:3-5 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Here we have the full teaching of water baptism. Roman 6 is the beginning of Paul's teaching on sanctification. And here appropriately, he begins with baptism, which is not by accident.
Baptism is a symbolism of us being united with Christ in His death. We go down into the water as if we die to our old self. Jesus' death becomes our death. One key word in our Christian word is "in Christ". It is in Christ that we become a new man, it is in Christ that we become a saint. There is some form of union. And it begins when we become a believer in Christ. And the agent of that union is the Holy Spirit. He does it through the regeneration of our spirit.
If you are saved and have accepted Christ and if you do not get baptized, you are still saved. However when you get baptized, the baptism makes your identification with Christ vivid. It's a public profession of your faith in Christ.
You identify with Christ in his death when the pastor immerses you in water and in your coming out of the water, you identify with his resurrection. This is a symbolism. An identification. Is such an identification important? This is a key question.
We have two ordinances. The Roman Catholic Church uses the word sacrament. We normally don't use the word sacrament because in the use of the word the Roman Catholic Church ties it to salvation as a requirement to be saved.
Why do we need ordinances ? No matter how close you are to God, you are finite, he is infinite. We need a symbol to make a connection with the infinite because we are relating with a transcendent God. Baptism as one of the two ordinances is therefore important for facilitating this connection.
Right from Judaism to Christianity, there is a place to make a public declaration of your faith. Here is where the baptism comes in. Jesus is the head of the body and when you have baptism you come into the fellowship of the body.
What is in your mind when you are baptized? Some people tell you when you are sick you pray for healing, you go into the water sick and come out healed. It may happen by God's grace but If you read Romans then you will realize that the significance of baptism is not primarily about healing..
The significance of baptism is the gospel call preached, accepted and actualized. And you are identifying with that. This is what your focus should be. Can God heal during the baptism? Yes. In God's presence it can happen but that is not the purpose and focus of baptism.
If you go into baptism without knowing that it is about identification with Jesus, then you have missed the point. Through baptism you become incorporated into the body in a real sense.
In the next part I want to ask this question.
Is baptism necessary for salvation? The answer is NO. But salvation is necessary for baptism. Here I have to be very careful. I walk a tight rope. Baptism is not necessary for salvation but is necessary. That is a safe statement.
I give you one instance in the bible to illustrate my point. The criminal on the cross. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."
I like this, it answers a lot of theological questions. Today you will be with me in paradise. Saved? Yes. Baptized? No. He believed. Not baptized. He is in heaven.
Look at the following;
Romans 10:9-10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Is there a mention of water baptism in these two verses?
Ephesions 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast
Acts 20:21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ
Luke 24:46-47 Then He said to them, " Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
There is no mention on water baptism in ail these verses. Check the sinner's prayer. It is believing in Jesus and repentance of sin. No baptism mentioned. Those are the terms of salvation.
Back to the three stories.
In the first story, my father told me he wants to be baptized but to give him some time. My father is saved. Very important. He has the desire to be baptized.
In the second story, this person did not have the desire to be baptized. A person who is regenerated will have a desire for that which is godly. That is why we say a tree is known by its fruit. So if a person does not desire to be baptized, we are forced to wonder whether he is regenerated or saved? There is a question mark about his salvation. I am not saying baptism is necessary for salvation. But I must say baptism is the fruit of your salvation. If a person is not baptized after many years, the issue is that, at best he is a baby in Christ and at worst he is not saved.
Referring to the third story we have already seen that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
In this verse we can see that the first thing a young believer must do is to be baptized. It is a
commandment. It is not an option.
And here is a perfect example.
Matthew 3:13-16
John Baptizes Jesus
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, " Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
Jesus himself was baptized. How much more us. Although baptism is not necessary for salvation, we must bear in mind that it is necessary.
And to end with my own example. When I was saved, In my heart I wanted to be baptized but I was worried that after I get baptized there would be no one to handle the funeral rites for my dad when he passes away.
But the conviction to get baptized came to me and in Dec 1993 as I was marking papers one night there was a still small voice urging me to get baptized. However I decided not to follow that urging. The Lord left me alone.
The next morning I went to church and when I saw Sis Sandy, I wanted to say good morning but the words that came out was "I want to be baptized". I asked her whether I could be baptized that day itself. Later that day she informed me about a water baptism that the church wwould be conducting in two weeks time. I waited for two weeks and was baptized in Swimwell then. I had such a strong desire to be baptized.
I want to end on a good note. When I was baptized I told the Lord that now that I have taken that step of faith I believe that my father will be saved too so that I will not be burdened about not being able to be a filial son if my father were to pass away as an unbeliever. Praise the Lord! My father accepted the Lord ten months later. The commandment of the Lord is indeed not burdensome.
Acts 8:39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.
Baptism is a joy. If you cannot catch that, you have missed it. After the baptism at Swimwell, I was full of the Spirit. I want to impart this to you, if you are a believer, make a public acknowledgment of your faith by taking baptism and it will be a joy. Amen!
Roman Catholic View (Sacrament View)
- Infant baptism
- Baptism is necessary for salvation
- Act of baptism causes regeneration
- Baptism imparts saving grace
Response of Luther
Salvation is by faith alone. Sola fide. Not by faith plus works and baptism is work.
Galatians 5:1-6 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look:I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Protestant Paedobaptist View (Covenant View)
- Infant baptism
- Baptism is not necessary for salvation
- Baptism symbolizes regeneration. It does not cause regeneration.
- Baptism does not impart saving grace
Why did Luther subscribe to infant baptism?
Infants born to believing parents are part of the covenant community of God's people. Baptism paralleled with circumcision but there is no mention that baptism substituted circumcision. Circumcision is for physical birth. Salvation is spiritual birth. An analogy but not complete.
Baptist View
- No infant baptism
- Baptism is not necessary for salvation
- Baptism symbolizes regeneration. It does not cause regeneration
- Baptism does not impart saving grace
- Salvation is necessary for baptism
Baptism has a form and substance. The form is not as important as the substance. Infants for example may be baptised but because they don't know anything, there is no substance. A sick old man may be baptised by sprinkling because his physical state does not make it practical to baptised by immersion.
Who can baptise? Someone in authority in the church. Children can be baptised if they have understanding of faith, even 9-10 years or better 13 years.
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