The Ordinance of Baptism

Historically, there has perhaps been no other single issue that has so identified Baptists as different and distinct from other groups of people calling themselves Christians (many of which would of course not be true churches or really born again regenerated people). The single issue of Baptism has also been perhaps the one issue that has caused the Baptist people to be persecuted the most since it is a visible matter of compliance to offer your infant to the state church for baptism. The refusal to do so does mark you quickly and clearly. A truly Baptist people will reject Infant Baptism and insist that Baptism is for saved people only, and that it is a requirement to be accepted into the membership of a local Baptist Church, but is NOT a requirement for salvation. Speaking of Baptists, Clarence Larkin records (page 6 - Why I am a Baptist)

They have also suffered by themselves for their peculiar views as Baptists, at the hands of Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Congregationalists; and for no one thing more than their rejection of infant baptism.

Biblical Requirements for Baptism The Book of Acts shows us the New Testament Church requirements for Baptism. Repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ’s death burial and resurrection for the payment of sin. That is, salvation. Acts 2:38-41 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 8:36-39 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See,

1 | P a g e here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. Notice the confession of the eunuch “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God”. It may interest you to note, that verse 37 is missing in many modern bibles. For example, the NIV and ESV leave the entire verse OUT completely. They add a footnote which says that some manuscripts include “all or most” of verse 37. Why would this verse have been messed with by the Bible corrupters over the centuries? Because this is a clear confession of Jesus being God. Most of your historical Bible corruptors like Origen (185-242 A.D.), had among their many heresies the denial of Jesus Christ’s deity (being God in the flesh). In fact Origen denied the resurrection and taught that Jesus was a created being and was not eternal. He believed that stars and planets have souls, and taught that baptism was a means of regeneration of the individual (salvation), accepted Infant Baptism and that works were part of your salvation. He also denied the literal fire nature of hell, and taught universalism to the extent that even Satan would eventually be forgiven and “saved”. Origen denied the infallibility of the scriptures saying “The Scriptures have little use to those that understand them literally.” Origen and his ilk call into question and seek to change the clear reading of God’s blessed Holy Scriptures to fit their view of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to conform to the Bible, not the other way around!

The Proper Mode of Baptism is always Immersion Notice in the scriptures we just read that Philip (officiate) and the eunuch (candidate) went down into the water and came up out of the water. John the Baptist needed “much water” for baptism in John 3:23, and in Matthew 3:16 Jesus at his Baptism is said to have “went up straightway out of the water”. If someone is baptized by sprinkling or even pouring there is no need to come out of anything let alone water. How far will Bible commentators go to support their denomination’s improper baptism like sprinkling? Consider the following commentary by Matthew Henry on Acts 8 that we just read says the following:

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“The eunuch ordered his coachman to stop, commanded the chariot to stand still. It was the best baiting place he ever met with in any of his journeys. They went down both into the water, for they had no convenient vessels with them, being upon a journey, wherewith to take up water, and must therefore go down into it; not that they stripped off their clothes, and went naked into the water, but, going barefoot according to the custom, they went perhaps up to the ankles or mid-leg into the water, and Philip sprinkled water upon him…”

IF PROTESTANT PEOPLE TODAY ARE GOING TO USE THIS TEXT, TWISTED TO THIS MEANING, AS A PROOF FOR SPRINKLING AS A MODE OF BAPTISM, THEN WHY DO THEY NOT TODAY PRACTICE GOING IN ANKLE DEEP TO SPRINKLE?

Interestingly enough, for around 1300 years after Christ, the majority of even infant baptizers practiced this baptism by immersion. The Meaning of the Words “Baptizo” and “Baptisma” Simply put, and in accordance with dozens of authorized Greek Lexicons, the words in our Bible translated baptize and baptism means to dip, plunge, immerse, bathe, or overwhelm. Understand that this definition comes from scores of expositors, commentators, theological professors, and untold numbers of the most “learned” writers of all sorts of DIFFERENT denominations! Consider the example of Prof. Moses Stuart, a Congregationalist, in response to a student’s translating the word “baptize” as sprinkled:

“Sprinkled,” replied the Professor, “is not correct.” “Is it not in accordance with the practice of the denomination?” asked the student. “That is not the question,” replied the Professor. “You are now translating the Greek Testament, and the word means, immerse.” If Christ had intended us to sprinkle, he would have used the Greek word “rantizo”; if to pour, the word “cheo.” Reference to read, “Why I am a Baptist” by Clarence Larkin, page 12 concerning the greek word “eis” translated into in such verses as Acts 8:38 (down INTO the water).

Infant Baptism

Let us first be clear that one can search the scriptures in vain to find one reference to an infant being baptized. It is nowhere to be found. Even those who practiced infant Baptism generally agree on this statement.

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MARTIN LUTHER, THE GREAT FATHER OF THE REFORMATION, SAYS: -- "IT CANNOT BE PROVED BY THE SCRIPTURES, THAT INFANT BAPTISM WAS INSTITUTED BY CHRIST, OR BEGUN BY THE FIRST CHRISTIANS AFTER THE APOSTLES." JOHN CALVIN TESTIFIES THUS: -- "IT IS NOWHERE EXPRESSLY MENTIONED BY THE EVANGELISTS, THAT ANY CHILD WAS BY THE APOSTLES BAPTIZED." BISHOP BURNER AVERS: "THERE IS NO EXPRESS PRECEPT, OR RULE GIVEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT FOR THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS.

Infant Baptism is wrong because:

1. NOWHERE TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 2. CONTRARY TO THE CLEAR TEACHINGS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CONCERNING BAPTISM 3. EITHER STATES OR IMPLIES SALVATION IS BEING IMPARTED THROUGH THE RITUAL AND / OR FAITH OF ANOTHER 4. IMPLIES THAT THE “CHURCH” CAN IMPART SALVATION AND BLESSING TO WHOMSOEVER IT PLEASES WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PERSONS OWN WILL OR FAITH 5. RESULTS IN A FALSE SECURITY FOR ETERNAL READINESS 6. RESULTS IN “CHURCHES” BEING FULL OF UNREGENERATE (UNSAVED) MEMBERS 7. CAUSES THE OFFICIATING “MINISTER” TO DECLARE FALSEHOODS DURING CEREMONY. IF SPRINKLING, SAYING “I BAPTIZE YOU” IS INCORRECT. SUCH STATEMENTS AS “THIS CHILD IS REGENERATED AND GRAFTED INTO THE BODY OF CHRIST’S CHURCH” (ANGLICAN BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER). In 204 A.D., Tertullian in his work “De Baptismo” speaks of infant baptism (protesting against it) as if it were something completely knew and heretofore unknown to him. The concept of infant baptism, sprinkling, and pouring all had their origin about the same time – during the third century and were the outgrowth of the heresy of Baptismal Regeneration. Council of Carthage (A.D. 253) Sixty-six bishops gathered together, presided over by Cyprian. One questions on the table for consideration at this council was “Whether a child should be baptized before it was eight days old?” That this question was being considered at this time shows that it was indeed something “new”. Had infant baptism been in practice long before this council, the question would have already been settled. The council’s answer to this question was a resounding “YES”. Their reason? “As far as in us lies, no soul, if possible, is to be lost”. Why not require baptism at birth instead of waiting all the way up to eight days later?

Contrasting Baptist with Other Denominations Baptism In brief, let us consider a survey of statements made by other denominations to solidify the contrast (distinctiveness) of our Baptist position. Roman Catholic: “By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. ... The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she

4 | P a g e has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit.’ God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism ... Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte ‘a new creature,’ an adopted son of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and co-heir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. ... From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant” (The New Catholic Catechism, 1994, # 1263,1257,1265,1267). Eastern Orthodox: “We confess one baptism for the remission of sins” (Constantinopolitan [or Nicene] Creed, 381). “Our sacraments, however, not only contain grace, but also confer it on those who receive them worthily ... Through baptism we are spiritually reborn” (Council of Florence, 1438-45). Lutheran: “Baptism effects forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and grants eternal salvation to all who believe, as the Word and promise of God declare. ... It is not the water that produces these effects, but the Word of God connected with the water, and our faith which relies on the Word of God connected with the water” (Luther’s Small Catechism, 1529, IV). The August 2001 issue of The Berean Call contains the following warning from a reader of that publication: “Enclosed is my ‘Memento and Certificate of Baptism’ and my daughter’s ‘Certificate of Holy Baptism,’ both as babies into the Lutheran Church. As you can see, my certificate was printed by the Missouri Synod’s Concordia Publishing House and reads, ‘In Baptism full salvation has been given unto you; God has become your Father, and you have become His child.’ My daughter’s reads, ‘You are a child of God because God has made you His child through this act. All of God’s promises belong to you as you live under Him in His Kingdom.’ You must know that Luther’s Catechism, used in every Lutheran Synod, declares concerning the ‘Sacrament of Baptism,’ that ‘it works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.’ It also states regarding the ‘Sacrament of the Altar’ [the Lord’s Supper], ‘namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words.’” Anglican: “Baptism is a sign of Regeneration or New-Birth, whereby, as by an instrument, they that receive Baptism rightly are grafted into the Church; the promises of the forgiveness of sin, and of our adoption to be the sons of God by the Holy Ghost, are visibly signed and sealed.... The Baptism of young Children is in any wise to be retained in the Church, as most agreeable with the institution of Christ” (The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, XXV, XXVII). Methodist: “Sacraments are ... signs of grace ... by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in him. ... Baptism ... is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth. The baptism of young children is to be retained in the Church” (The Articles of Religion, 1784, XVI, XVII).

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Reformed: “We condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that young infants, born of faithful parents, are to be baptized. ... We therefore are not Anabaptists, neither do we agree with them in any point that is theirs” (The Second Helvetic Confession, 1566, chapter XX). Presbyterian: “Baptism ... is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins ... Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience to Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized. ... by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time” (The Westminster Confession of Faith, 1646, XXVIII). World Council of Churches: “Through baptism, Christians are brought into union with Christ, with each other, and with the Church of every time and place. Our common baptism, which unites us to Christ in faith, is thus a basic bond of unity” (Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, 1982).

THE BIBLE WAY

PHYSICAL BIRTH -> SAVED (SPIRITUAL BIRTH) -> BAPTIZED -> MEMBERSHIP LOCAL CHURCH

THE WRONG WAY

PHYSICAL BIRTH -> BAPTIZED -> MEMBERSHIP LOCAL CHURCH

Baptist Distinctive – Saved, Baptized Membership It is absolutely critical that our membership be maintained of only those having a solid testimony of salvation and have submitted in obedience to God and the Bible, to believers baptism. This is the only way we have a chance of maintaining the purity of our church and other Baptists their churches.

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