The Importance of Baptism
Who qualifies for baptism?
Acts 8:35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Acts 8:36. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Acts 8:37. 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.
Acts 8:38. 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.
It is clear that only believers in Christ qualify for baptism. The reason is because batism is for the purpose of identifying oneself AS a believer. As a soldier wears a uniform to show he is in the military, and a man wears a wedding ring to show he is married. If a man who is not in the military puts on a uniform, it doesn't make him a soldier, but rather he is portraying himself to be something he is not. So is the man that is not married but puts on a wedding ring. So is the person who is baptized without truly being a believer in Christ. This is serious! Many people have been deceived that they will be in Heaven because they were baptized. This is why the baptizing of babies is doctrinally wrong. A baby isn't qualified, because it isn't old enough to choose to believe on Christ for salvation. Besides this , logic would tell us that a righteous God would not punish a baby with Hell because the parents failed to get him sprinkled! That would be totally unjust! In many of the corrupt versions of The Bible, Acts 37 is even MISSING from the text, because translators who practiced infant baptism had to either admit and change their doctrine and practise OR CHANGE THE SCRIPTURES to cover up their heresy!
The proper mode of Baptism.
Along with the initiating of infant baptism came the idea of sprinkling as an acceptable mode. This might have been convenient, especially when baptizing a baby, but is in no way scriptural. There are many passages in scripture that show proper baptism is by immersion.
Romans 6:3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Romans 6:4. Therefore we are BURIED with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Baptism portrays the burial and resurrection of Christ. When a person is buried, he doesn't have a few particles of dirt thrown on him, but is COVERED with dirt. That is what buried means!
Besides this, we see when people, including Christ, were baptized in scripture, they went INTO the water and CAME UP out of the water.
Matthew 3:6. And were baptized of him IN Jordan, confessing their sins.
Matthew 3:16. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Matthew 3:17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
One of the clearest scripture on immersion is this:
John_3:23. And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was MUCH WATER THERE: and they came, and were baptized.
The reason this location was chosen for baptism is the MUCH WATER needed for baptism. If sprinkling were an acceptable method, any mud puddle or cup of water would have been sufficient!
What baptism does and does not do:
Baptism does not wash away sin. Only the blood of Christ can do that.
I John 1:7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Baptism does not get one into Heaven.
John 14:6. Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by ME.
We also have the example of the thief on the cross which believed on Christ.
Luke 23:42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
Luke 23:43. And Jesus said unto him, “Verily, I say unto thee today thou shat be with me in Paradise.
You will notice, Jesus didn't refuse the man because he was not baptized, nor told him to come off the cross and get baptized in order to be in Paradise. Remember. Jesus is THEE WAY, one cannot be saved by a different method than another! Therefore God cannot require baptism for some and not others!
Baptism does save us from having a guilty conscience for not identifying with Christ.
I Peter 3:21. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ( not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a GOOD CONSCIENCE toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Not everyone who accepts Christ as Saviour will have the opportunity to be baptized, but if possible, one should do so to be obedient and to identify himself as a believer. As we see when Jesus was baptized in the scripture above, God the Father was “Well pleased”! He will also be well pleased when you identify with Christ.and reward you with a good conscience!