BAPTISM
The word baptism is the Greek word ‘baptisma’; it is derived from ‘bapto,’ which means “to dip” or “to immerse.” Based on the way the Greeks used this word and on what the Bible teaches us, we believe that the correct way to baptize is by immersion and not by sprinkling, as some Christian churches practice it.
There are aspects of the Christian life where the way things are done is not relevant, but in the case of baptism it is, and the reason is obvious: only the method of immersion can represent the reality of all the types and figures the Bible uses when it teaches us about baptism. For example, Scripture says: “we have been baptized into His death … […] “we were buried with Him through baptism into death…” […] “we have been united together in the likeness of His death…” (Romans 6:3, 4, 5). When the person being baptized is immersed in the water and then brought up out of it, he or she is fulfilling the likeness of being buried and raised together with Christ. The form of sprinkling does not conform at all to the teaching of Scripture.
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Study: 14 questions about baptism
1. What did John the Baptist preach and do?
Matthew 3:1-6 “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ 3For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.”’ 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.”
2. Why was Jesus baptized, and what happened on the day of His baptism?
Matt. 3:13-17 “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. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
3. Besides believing, what else is necessary to do in order to show our acceptance of the Gospel?
Mark 16:15, 16 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’”
4. With what did Saint Peter link baptism in his sermon on the day of Pentecost?
Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
5. In whose name must those who accept the faith of the Gospel be baptized?
Matthew 28:1 “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.”
6. When we are baptized into Christ, into what are we baptized?
Romans 6:3 “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
7. Most Christians believe that baptism is merely a rite or a ceremony, but what is the true, deep, and spiritual meaning of baptism?
Romans 6:3-13 ” Being baptized into the name of Christ means that we are united with Him, we lose our own name and take on His; now we are Christians
Baptism is not a rite; it is a lived experience. It is not a ceremony; it is an experience of sharing with Christ in His redemptive acts. When we are baptized into His death, our old man is crucified and buried with Him. We die to sin so that we no longer serve sin. In baptism, we also rise with Him to live the new life of the new man in Christ Jesus.
8. Whom do all who are baptized into Christ put on?
Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
The Greek verb for “put on” that is used in this passage means “to enter into,” “to get inside clothing.” The idea expressed is that Christ is the garment and we are the body that is covered with the garment. When we are baptized, we get inside Christ, we wrap ourselves in Christ, we hide ourselves in Christ. Now He is the One who is seen, and we are hidden in Him. When people look at us, they see the beauty and perfection of Christ, because we are clothed with Him.
9. In what manifestation of power must we believe in order for the resurrection to be real in our baptismal experience?
Colossians 2:12 “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead”
10. In what way does baptism represent the unity and equality of all the members of the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 12:12, 13 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”
11. Should we prevent or delay baptism for a person who has believed in Christ with all his or her heart?
Acts 8:34-39 “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.’ 38So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 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.”
12. What is the relationship between baptism and the believer’s rising up?
Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
“not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”
“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”
13. In what way did the Hebrews receive baptism after they came out of Egypt?
1 Corinthians 10:1, 2. “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea”
14. In what other baptism do believers in Christ take part?
Matthew 3:11; Acts 1:4, 5 “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.”
“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”