The Baptism of Jesus, and  Believers’s Baptism

Jesus’ baptism, was the affirmation of His Lordship; whereas, believers’ baptism, the affirmation that Jesus is Lord.

As Baptist, we have called ourselves, “a people of the Book;” that is, other than the Bible there is no authority by which we determine what we believe or what we are as a people. We have no Pope or other positions of authority beyond that which is invested in the local church, or a group of churches banded together for the proclamation of the gospel, education of our ministers, providing Christian materials for our people, etc., therefore, the Bible is our only source for our faith and practice.

For Southern Baptist, The Baptist Faith and Message, as adopted and revised from time to time, is a body of beliefs that express the general tenants of our faith. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the two ordinances set forth in the Bible that are observed and practiced by Baptist. (BF&M section 7)

In this article I would like to review the stated biblical purpose for which Jesus was baptized, and, in the light of this, ask the question: how does baptism relate to our own personal faith, and practice?  

 John the Baptist said this about Jesus’ baptism: “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel , I came baptizing in water” (John 1:31). Then he said, He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit’”  (John 1:32,33).

(When John the Baptist said,  “I did not recognize Jesus, he was referring to his Messianic Kingship, for he had known Jesus all of his life as his kin and his friend),

Mark’s gospel gives this account: “Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased’” (Mark 1:10,11).

“The next day he [John] *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

It is clear that Jesus was baptized so that He might be manifested to Israel as Messiah as He was revealed to John that day. This was His inauguration as king and master - the redeemer of His people Israel , and through them, the multitudes who subsequently would believe in His name.

Therefore, the purpose for which God sent John the Baptist to preach and baptize was not only to call the people to a baptism of repentance, but in order that Jesus might be manifested as the promised Messiah to His people Israel .  (John was the “Elijah” of Old Testament prophecy (Malachi 4:5) – to “make His path straight” (understandable] (Matthew 3:3). Therefore, when Jesus enter His public ministry, John the Baptist baptized Him as God’s anointed Messiah!  

The Scriptures teach over and over that one’s salvation is received only by faith in the finished work of Christ, [It is a grace gift to the repentant sinner, e.g., Ephesians.2: 8], but as baptism was the inauguration of Jesus into His Messianic ministry; baptism is the inauguration of the new believer into Christ’s body - picturing the death of the old “man,” but alive to God in Christ and His body, the church, “The ekklisia of God.” (Dr. Frank Stagg: New Testament Theology)

In other words, just as the deity of Jesus was affirmed to Israel by His baptism; even so, baptism is the public affirmation of the believer as being set apart in Christ as the body of Christ waiting His second coming: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19,20).

It was on the day called “Pentecost” [an annual celebration], that these “devout Jews” from many nations asked the apostle Peter the question: “what shall we do” (note: the question is a general question, “not, what shall we do to be saved”), and Peter gave a general answered:  “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name [authority] of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).

It is important for us today to understand that these people who ask the question, “what shall we do” were “God fearing Jews from every Nation of the world” (Acts 2:5b,NIV) They were not heathens, but Jews who believed in the promise that God had given to Abraham, now fulfilled in Christ. (The same could be said of John the Baptist who called the Jews to repentance and baptism; they too were waiting for the promise to be fulfilled when Messiah came. It is a fact that John did not baptize everyone that came to him, only repentant Jews and proselytes who were looking for the promised One. They were already saved under the old covenant promised to Abraham. That is the reason the gospel as we now preach was not called for, they were already saved by faith in the promise, as now fulfilled in Jesus).

Then the day for which they had all come to Jerusalem to celebrate was fully come, the news spread throughout Jerusalem about something special happening at the place where Jesus’ disciples were staying, called, “the upper room.” As these believing Jews, who had waited so long for the promise, first given to Abraham, now fulfilled in Christ, had now arrived on the scene, what they heard astonished them. These Jews heard these twelve apostles telling the people in their own languages the message of the resurrected Lord who had been crucified, and had risen form the grave and ascended back to the Father, and had now sent forth the Holy Spirit as promised in the prophets, cried, “Sirs, what shall we do!”

[Then] “Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea, and all you who live in Jerusalem , let this be known to you and give heed to my words. “For these men [the twelve apostles (including Peter)] are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day.” Peter’s response: Repent and be baptized in the name [authority] of Jesus and you also will receive this blessed gift which has been poured out upon us today. (Paraphrase mine)

(Maybe you had thought as I once did, that all the people who were in the upper room, who had also received the gift of the Holy Spirit, also gave witness that day, but not so. The tongues, the many languages spoken that day, were limited to the twelve Apostles, (including the new apostle Matthias who replaced Judas who betrayed Jesus to Caiaphas the high priest). Remember some had said, these men are drunk (not all the men and women who were in the upper-room when the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost, gave witnessed, or spoke in tongues), “For Peter, standing with the eleven said, these men are not drunk as you suppose, seeing it is but the eleventh hour of the day, but this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel,”  (It was at this time the Peter quotes the prophet Joel).

With this a background, I would like to point out the importance of baptism as viewed form the New Testament perspective. Not only is baptism commanded in the great commission, but it was also practiced in every encounter in the New Testament when some one was witnessed too. For example, Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts 10:36-40). The question now is this: how did the Ethiopian know to ask to be baptized? Certainly, Philip had so instructed him as part of his witness to him. “Here is water, what hinders me from being baptized? “If you believe with all your heart,” said Philip. So he baptized this new believer. True, there was no local church for him to join, but he, no doubt in my mind, became a first charter member of the FBC of the Ethiopians.

Therefore, I ask the question, How did Lydia know to be baptized down by the river that day? (Acts 16:11-15). How did the Philippian Jailer know to be baptized at midnight? (Acts 16:29-33) Yes, How did the Ethiopian know?

(It is unfortunate that the doctrine of  “baptismal-re-generation” has so muddied the waters that we Baptist’s have too often distanced ourselves from this doctrine to the extent that we sometimes give the impression that because salvation is by faith alone-grace alone-Christ alone - that baptism is optional. This thought is foreign to the scriptures).

In those early years of the New Testament church, all that accepted Christ as Savior were subsequently baptized as soon as possible – most often, immediately - regardless of the inconvenience.  E.g., Peter baptizing Cornelius and the people who responded to the gospel there with him that day, etc.

(It is true that out of the many conflicts there in the church at Corinth where members were saying, “I am of Paul,” I am of Peter, I am of Apollos, I am of Christ” that Paul had asked the question, “is Christ divided” (1 Corinthians 1:13a).  It was in this context that the apostle Paul said, “I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius...” (1 Corinthians 1:14).  The apostle was not saying that baptism was not important - he himself was baptized within three days of his conversion (Acts 9:18b). He, being an evangelist, reasoned that it was better that others in the church at Corinth render this service rather than he, thus avoiding the divisions that they had already experienced there in the Corinthian church saying, “I am of Paul,” etc.  

(It is of special interest that immediately following Jesus’ baptism, the marriage in Cana , the Nicodemus encounter that we have this record of Jesus and his disciples baptizing. I raise the question, is this scripture passage a reference of the disciples themselves being baptized, likely? “After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea , and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized. for John had not yet been thrown into prison” (John 3:22-24)).

Remember the apostle Peter’s message to the believing Jews who asked, “what must we do? The reply was, “repent, and be baptized.” True, baptism will not save your soul, but baptism will anchor your faith in the will of God.

I rejoice that I have been privileged to lead many to the Lord whom I could not baptize because of the circumstance, and I know this is also true today for all of us. Yet, it is important that we understand that in our presentation of the gospel that we make it clear that obedience baptism is what sets us apart in the family of God. Baptism is that important!

Peter, in his Pentecostal message, said, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you, for this promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself” (Acts 2:39).