THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM
Baptism
was instituted as a means of giving everyone who comes to Christ, God’s own
promise of forgiveness (Acts
A
BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE
Matthew
Mark 1:4 John baptized in the wilderness, and preached
the baptism of repentance for the
remission of sins.
Mark 1:5 And all the
Luke 3:3 And he came to all
the country about
Acts
Acts
[Comment: Notice how
that John and Peter both called upon their listeners to repent and be baptized "for the remission of sins." There
was no essential difference between John's baptism and Peter's. Both of them
held up Christ as the source of forgiveness, while calling for repentance (Luke
3:3, John
Mark
Acts
Acts
Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the
chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with his entire household;
and many of the Corinthians who heard believed, and were baptized.
[Comment: Since
those who are truly repentant look to Christ for forgiveness, coming to baptism
goes hand in hand with believing the gospel.]
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost:
[Comment: When we
interpret this passage in the light of what the Bible says about baptism being
a "baptism of repentance," it is clear that Christ is calling on us
to baptize those who repent. (See Luke 24:47, Mark
John 3:5 Unless a man is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
[Comment: Since
the Bible clearly defines baptism as a "baptism of repentance," if
the word "water" in this passage is a reference to baptism, it is
also a reference to repentance. Therefore, since faith is a gift of the Holy
Spirit the words "water and… Spirit" can be seen as a reference to
repentance and faith. We are born again through repentance and faith in Christ
(John
Colossians 2:11-12 In whom you were also circumcised
with a circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of
the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, in which
you were also raised up with him through faith in the working of God,
who has raised him from the dead.
[Comment: The
circumcision made without hands is not baptism, for hands are used to baptize.
Instead, it is the inner circumcision of the heart that takes place when we
come to faith in Christ (Romans
Titus 3:5 He saved us, not by works of righteousness
that we have done, but because of His mercy, through the washing of rebirth and
renewing of the Holy Ghost.
[Comment: While
the Greek word "baptizo" is not used in
this passage, because of the reference to "rebirth", there is a clear
parallel between this passage and what Christ said about being "born
again" (John 3:5). Furthermore, both passages refer to water (or washing)
and the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5, John 3:5). Therefore, since the Bible clearly
defines baptism as a "baptism of repentance," if this passage is
referring to baptism, the words "washing" and "Holy Ghost"
can be seen as a reference to repentance and faith. And the Bible clearly
teaches that we are born again (regenerated) through repentance and faith in
Christ (John
Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but you
will be baptized with the Holy Ghost a few days from now.
[Comment: Our sins
are not washed away by the outward application of water, but by the blood of
Christ (1John 1:7). And, since that inner washing (baptism) takes place when
the Holy Spirit brings us to faith in Christ, John referred to it as a baptism
(or washing) of the Spirit (Galatians 3:6, Mark 1:8).]
Acts
Acts
[Comment: To be
baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins," is
to be baptized believing that there is forgiveness in Christ, and that He is
the source of the forgiveness offered in baptism (Acts 2:38). Therefore, while
both of these passages speak of forgiveness in connection with baptism, because
the promise is "He who believes and is baptized will be saved," it is
only through personal faith in Christ that we receive that forgiveness
(Galatians
"Do
not be misled by those who say that Baptism is not important. They contradict
Christ. They put their own opinion above Scripture. Take Jesus at His word, and you will find that through Baptism — and I mean of
course, not merely the performance of the ritual itself, but by your personal
faith in Jesus and in His promise — the Holy Ghost unmistakably comes to
you." (The Power of Pentecost, 1943)
1Peter
[Comment: Because
the Bible defines baptism as a "baptism of repentance," Peter’s
definition of baptism was broad enough to include repentance and faith in
Christ. Therefore, when Peter said "baptism… also now saves us," he
was talking about conversion, not simply applying water. He was talking about
being baptized believing that there is forgiveness in Christ (see my comments
on Acts
1-
The call to repent, and promise of forgiveness in Christ (Acts
2-
Our response to that call (Acts
3-
The application of water according to God's Word.
4-
The assurance that when we came to Christ our sins were washed away (Acts
THE
DISCIPLES OF JOHN
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos
was at
[Comment: In
reading these verses we should not assume that Paul rebaptized
men who had originally been baptized by John the Baptist. After all, Apollos was baptized by John the Baptist and he was never rebaptized, nor were the Apostles.
We need to remember that Christ continued the work of John the Baptist (John
4:1-2), and John held up Christ as the source of forgiveness, and referred to
the Holy Ghost in his teaching (Mark 1:8). In fact, Apollos
learned the way of salvation from John (Acts
CONCLUSION
All who come to baptism receive God's
promise of forgiveness in Christ. That promise is important, for our faith
consists of believing what God has promised (Galatians 3:6). However, because
Christ is the object of our faith, the focus must be on Christ. He must be seen
as the source of forgiveness. Therefore, while God's uses baptism to give us
His promise of forgiveness, it is only through personal faith in Christ that we
receive what is promised (Galatians
Gary Ray Branscome