Baptism

Baptism is one of two ordinances that are commanded in the Scriptures. One is the Lord’s Supper and the other is the ordinance of baptism.

“And Jesus came and said to [His disciples], ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Baptism is a visual picture of our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that the believer, once dead in sin, is alive in Christ Jesus. It is a public testimony of the miraculous work of God that has already been accomplished in the life of the one who has come to faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:3-6)

“For in Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in Him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross.”(Colossians 2:9-14)

Wayne Grudem states, “The practice of baptism in the New Testament was carried out in one way: the person being baptized was immersed or put completely under the water and then brought back up again. Baptism by immersion is therefore the ‘mode’ of baptism or the way in which baptism was carried out in the New Testament.”1

Certainly the passages in Romans and Colossians would picture a baptism by immersion. Being submersed in water is a reflection of Christ’s death. Coming up out of the water is a picture of being raised up with Christ.

Baptism is commanded in the Scriptures. When we are baptized we are identifying with both the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a reminder that we are no longer slaves to sin, therefore we are to walk in newness of life.

1 Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology, Inter-Varsity Press 1994 p. 967

At Grace Bible we practice what is called Believer’s Baptism. This is because the Bible teaches that baptism is an ordinance for those who have come to personal faith in Jesus Christ. It is an act of obedience that does not confer any special grace. It is a testimony of the redeeming work that God has already accomplished in the life of the believer.

“And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:40-41)

“And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:36-38)

“And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 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.”(Acts 16:31-33)

Once a person “believes in the Lord Jesus” they should be obedient to the Lord by being baptized. Baptism is a picture of what has already taken place in the life of the one who has come to faith.

There are some who have taught that baptism is required in order to be saved. They have often referred to a verse in Acts to establish this doctrine:

“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.’” (Acts 2:38)

At first glance one might conclude that baptism and repentance are both necessary for salvation. However, there are several reasons why we know this is an erroneous belief.

While baptism is a very important step of obedience for the believer, to conclude that it is necessary for salvation would be to contradict other very clear passages of Scripture.

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5)

In fact, the Bible declares over 200 times that salvation is based on personal faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In his commentary on the book of Acts, John MacArthur reminds us that, “Throughout the book of Acts, forgiveness is linked to repentance, not baptism (cf. 3:19; 5:31; 26:20). In addition, the Bible records that some who were baptized were not saved (Acts 8:13; 21-23), while some were saved with no mention of their being baptized (Luke 7:37-50; Matt. 9:2; Luke 18:13-14).”2

The Bible emphasizes that salvation cannot be merited by any works that we do.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5)

Baptism is not a necessary component for salvation. It is an act of obedience for those who have already placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone, for salvation.

2 MacArthur, John. P. 74 The MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Acts 1-12. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994

Baptism prior to conversion does not accomplish the Biblical purpose of baptism. Keep in mind that the purpose of baptism is to demonstrate what the Lord has already accomplished in your life through salvation.

If you have not been baptized as a believer then this would be an important step of obedience for you.

Grace Bible Church offers Baptism Classes for regularly attending believers interested in taking that next step of obedience. Classes are usually offered every Fall and Spring. Contact the Church Office by email at info@gracebiblevisalia.org or by phone at (559) 627-3912 for details on the next upcoming Baptism class or more information on what it means to be baptised.