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Matthew 3:11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I,
whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."
Rom 6:3
�Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?�
baptizo, bap-tid'-zo; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N.T.) of ceremonial ablution or cleansing,
espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Chr. baptism:--baptist, baptize, wash.
I wish to present these comments in the spirit of love and for unity of faith because of the many different views and beliefs
concerning "water baptism" and its relevence to salvation. No doubt, many will dispute what I am presenting and I respect
that. I would only ask that as you study this presentation, you would do it prayerfully and objectively, and not from a
sectarian point of view.
A. TERMINOLOGY
First of all, let us understand the term, BAPTIZED and its origin.
1. What does it mean?
As the definition above states, it is a term used only in the New Testament. It is not a translation of a Greek word
but a transliteration, its spelling in English letters. The word is used in the classics of a smith who dips a piece of hot iron in
water, tempering it, also of Greek soldiers placing the points of their swords in a bowl of blood. The usage of the word
resolves itself into the definition of the word baptizo, �the introduction or placing of a person or thing into a new
environment or into union with something else so as to alter its condition or its relationship to its previous environment or
condition." The believing sinner, through an act of God, is placed into vital union with Jesus Christ. We were placed in a new
environment, Christ. The old one was the first Adam in whom, as our head, we were made sinners and came under
condemnation. In our new environment in Christ we have righteousness and life. Our condition is chamged from that of a
sinner to that of a saint.
John the Baptist, understood what baptism meant and used water symbolically till the true �baptizer� would arrive.
2. When did it start?.
In 2 Kings 5:10-14 we find Naaman being told to (go wash) dip seven times in the Jordan for cleansing from his
skin disease. Judaism placed heavy emphasis on ritual washings to cleanse from impurity. This goes back to priestly
baths prior to offering sacrifices (Lev. 16:23-24), "Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, shall
take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. And he
shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the
burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.�
With symbolic cleansing in mind, John the Baptist cleansed with water, till Christ, who would cleanse us with the
Holy Ghost would come.
Baptism is not something new that started when Christ came. It was a continuation of a Jewish custom of
ceremonial cleansing. Judaism placed much emphasis on outward observance of rituals and formality.
3. Why was it used?
Eph 4:5 �One Lord, one faith, one baptism�
If Scripture says there is only one baptism and that one baptism is the one Christ will baptize us with, there is, then,
no basis for emphasizing another baptism, �water baptism� as many would stress.
Why then, is baptism practiced?
a. Mat 3:11-15 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is
mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. "His
winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into
the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the J
ordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You
coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all
righteousness."
b.The first occassion in the New Testament records John the Baptist and his baptism. Notice what he says
as it relates to Christ. �His winnowing fan is in His hand and He will cleanse.� Here as in every other place, the
emphasis is on Christ. Following John�s humble statement Jesus said, �Allow it for now.� Jesus, who had no sin,
was through John�s baptism identifying Himself with sinful man. Sinful man could then through baptism be
identified with Christ. Water baptism began to be associated with Christianity. When an individual accepted Christ
he was then baptized in water as a sign of his association with the Messiah. It was a representattion of the death,
burial and resurrection of Christ. It aslo pictured the death of the �old man� and its burial. Coming up out of the
water pictured a resurrected life of the �new man� in Christ.
Unfortunately, the emphasis was placed on the outward formality rather than the inward cleansing of the heart.
Notice what the Peter says in 1Pet.3:20-21, �... while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight
souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,�
Peter very plainly states that water baptism has no power in the removing of sin, but an answer of a good
conscience. We are cleansed by the Blood (Heb.9:13-22) and saved by the Resurrection (Rom.10:9-10). The water,
to Noah, was a sign or symbol of death. The eight that were saved, were saved from death because they believed
God (Gen.7:1). Is water baptism essential? Yes. Is it essential to be born again? Emphatically NO!!! John 1:12-13,
�John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who
believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.�
Water baptism is important in that it is in obedience to God and the outward act, following our acceptance of Christ
as Saviour and Redeemer, firmly identifies us with HIM.
B. APPLICATION
There is a serious danger in applying water baptism as an essential to God�s salvation. Water baptism came to
represent identification with Christianity, much like circumcision identified an individual as an Israelite
(Gen.34:15-16). Because circumcision identified one as an Israelite, Judiazer�s emphasied circumcision in order to
be saved (Acts 15:1-5). The were believing Jews who had accepted Christ as their Messiah but that wasn�t enough.
They claimed you had to become as a Jew and obey the law in order to be saved.
This was and is Satan�s tool to deminish to finished work of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of sin. Satan
seeks to add a personal, physical action on our part in order to secure God�s favor. That is what Paul had to
confront in the Galatian church. (Gal 3:1-3 �O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to
learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish?
Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?� )
If we today are not careful in our use and abuse of Scripture, we become like the Pharisees and the Judiazer, not
fully accepting God�s way by adding something else to His salvation. Notice what Paul says in Romans 10:1- 4,
�Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that
they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and
seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end
of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.�
Here Paul shares his concern for his people, Israel, that they may be saved. Why were they not saved? Although
they were very religious in keeping the laws and ordinances, they did not have full and complete knowledge of God
and were ignoring God�s provision and were seeking, through the forms and rituals, to establish their own
righteousness. Is that not like many groups today who, through outward actions and observances, seek to gain
God�s approval and saying this is the way it must be done!!
C. CONCLUSION
Sectarians and their views are divisional and not God�s way. God�s way is simple and not confusing. It is also
unifying, not divisional. God�s way gathers together not scatters. God sent His Son that we might have life and that
life is in His Son. Christian life is not in religious. It is the life of christ in us. That is why Paul said, �I live, yet not I
but Christ that lives in me.� It is not our life but His. Not our way but His. We are baptized by Christ into Christ
and that is the Baptism to be emphasized. We are in union with Him. Any more or any less is unscriptural and
heresy.
We practice water baptism, not as an essential for salvation, but because we have been born anew from above.
Because of this new birth, we have a new Father, a new home, a new family. All, regardless of nationality, race,
color or gender, who have been born again belong to this new family and we are brothers and sisters in the Lord.
We can and should �dwell in unity� as only a family can . God Himself places us in the family as it pleases Him to
fulfill His plan and purpose. If we spend all His time debating, arguing, over which group of believers are the only
ones who are right, we miss our calling and are not being �good and faithful servants� in the household of God.
May God the Father richly bless and keep you. If you have any comments on this dissertation, I would welcome hearing from
you. Like the Word says, �Come let us reason together�
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