A Few Words on Baptism
I am not wanting to start an argument with anybody. However, as a pastor I do want to correctly divide the Word of God so that people may be properly instructed—not by interpretation but by the actual meaning of the words that God inspired the writers to use. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is literally God-breathed (theopneustos) … and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. Therefore, this is a topic I need to deal with.
First things first— according to Scripture baptism is not necessary for salvation. So I am often puzzled why some churches require it for membership? That said, baptism is a step of obedience. And the New Testament would seem to teach that all believers took that first step of obedience. Therefore my question is: why would a person not WANT to be obedient to Christ? Christ commanded it. As I said, it is not a part of salvation for we are saved by faith alone; but it is a personal sign that we have consciously and knowingly committed our lives to Christ. Indeed, it is a sign that we want to be obedient to Christ, rather than do what WE want?
As to infant baptism— baptism is a step of faith that one takes following salvation to publicly identify with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. If somebody can explain to me how an infant in arms can made such a decision, I could accept infant baptism as fulfilling the requirements of the act. But nobody is able to do that. Thus, baptism cannot be effectual in a baby, as it requires a conscious decision by the one being baptized. Nobody can make that decision for another; not even for a precious child.
There are a few ministers who not only believe it is acceptable to baptize infants, but that sprinkling is the means to use in baptizing. Using dictionary definitions they go through great lengths to justify their views. But scripture indicates baptism is only effectual in a saved person as a result of their confession of faith in Christ. And Greek literature of that time makes it clear that baptism has to mean a complete immersion. The root word baptizo means to dip. If the Holy Spirit had wanted to convey the idea of sprinkling, He would have used the word rhantizo. But baptizo means to fully submerge. For example, the word baptizo is used of dying fabric by plunging it into a vat of dye. It is used of getting wine from a vat by dipping a ladle into the vat. It is used of filling a jug of water by submerging it in a stream or a well. Metaphorically, Plato, in his Euthydemus (277 BC), uses the word to describe being buried by questions. And in a letter written about 153 BC, preserved in the Paris Papyri collection, it is used of someone being submerged (overwhelmed) by troubles. All of these sources would negate the arguments of those who justify sprinkling as being the meaning of baptism.
Baptism clearly means to be literally buried: which is what Paul says in Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12. Scripture tells us that it represents our death, burial and resurrection in Christ. When a person dies we do not sprinkle dirt on their head. Their entire body is buried. Lazarus was buried in a tomb, until he was resurrected and Jesus called him forth. When we go under the waters of baptism, we thus symbolize our own death to the old nature, the burial of our old life, and our resurrection to newness of life.
I hope this helps somebody today
I am not wanting to start an argument with anybody. However, as a pastor I do want to correctly divide the Word of God so that people may be properly instructed—not by interpretation but by the actual meaning of the words that God inspired the writers to use. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is literally God-breathed (theopneustos) … and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man or woman of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. Therefore, this is a topic I need to deal with.
First things first— according to Scripture baptism is not necessary for salvation. So I am often puzzled why some churches require it for membership? That said, baptism is a step of obedience. And the New Testament would seem to teach that all believers took that first step of obedience. Therefore my question is: why would a person not WANT to be obedient to Christ? Christ commanded it. As I said, it is not a part of salvation for we are saved by faith alone; but it is a personal sign that we have consciously and knowingly committed our lives to Christ. Indeed, it is a sign that we want to be obedient to Christ, rather than do what WE want?
As to infant baptism— baptism is a step of faith that one takes following salvation to publicly identify with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. If somebody can explain to me how an infant in arms can made such a decision, I could accept infant baptism as fulfilling the requirements of the act. But nobody is able to do that. Thus, baptism cannot be effectual in a baby, as it requires a conscious decision by the one being baptized. Nobody can make that decision for another; not even for a precious child.
There are a few ministers who not only believe it is acceptable to baptize infants, but that sprinkling is the means to use in baptizing. Using dictionary definitions they go through great lengths to justify their views. But scripture indicates baptism is only effectual in a saved person as a result of their confession of faith in Christ. And Greek literature of that time makes it clear that baptism has to mean a complete immersion. The root word baptizo means to dip. If the Holy Spirit had wanted to convey the idea of sprinkling, He would have used the word rhantizo. But baptizo means to fully submerge. For example, the word baptizo is used of dying fabric by plunging it into a vat of dye. It is used of getting wine from a vat by dipping a ladle into the vat. It is used of filling a jug of water by submerging it in a stream or a well. Metaphorically, Plato, in his Euthydemus (277 BC), uses the word to describe being buried by questions. And in a letter written about 153 BC, preserved in the Paris Papyri collection, it is used of someone being submerged (overwhelmed) by troubles. All of these sources would negate the arguments of those who justify sprinkling as being the meaning of baptism.
Baptism clearly means to be literally buried: which is what Paul says in Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12. Scripture tells us that it represents our death, burial and resurrection in Christ. When a person dies we do not sprinkle dirt on their head. Their entire body is buried. Lazarus was buried in a tomb, until he was resurrected and Jesus called him forth. When we go under the waters of baptism, we thus symbolize our own death to the old nature, the burial of our old life, and our resurrection to newness of life.
I hope this helps somebody today
