Huntington Church of Christ

No doubt one of the greatest differences between Christ's church and the denominations of men is seen in the subject of baptism. It has been a major dividing line for many centuries. What is Baptism? What is it for? Who is it for? Does it pertain to my eternal destiny (between heaven or hell)? These questions are not difficult to answer. The problem comes from one's ability to lay aside prejudices of traditions and accept the simple teachings of God.

What is Baptism? Any standard Greek lexicon will show the basic meaning of the word is "to dip" or immerse. But common sense should prevail when reading the Holy Scriptures. Baptism is a burial or immersion in water. The apostles Paul wrote, "having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith..." (Col. 2:12) and "we were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death..." (Rom. 6:3-5). Immersion is demonstrated in the account of the Ethiopian's conversion when it says, "and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water..." (Acts 8:38, 39). John's preparatory baptism took "much water" (John 3:23). Sprinkling and pouring is to be excluded without hesitation.

What is Baptism for? Peter said it is for (Greek EIS "in order to obtain") the remission of sins. He also said it saves (1 Peter 3:20, 21). Ananias told Saul of Tarsus it would wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). Paul said it would put one into a relationship with Christ (Gal. 3:26,27). Jesus said it would save (Mark 16:16). Our Lord also said, "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!" (John 3:5) In light of God's Holy Word there continues to be those who say we are baptized because we have already been saved or forgiven. I believe these people are mistakenly led by their man-made traditions, and not by God's eternal word. A commonly heard phrase is "baptism is an outward expression of an inward salvation." There is no Bible to back it. Some defend their doctrine by looking at the word "for" in Acts 2:38 and saying that means "because of." If this is the true definition of the word"for" (EIS), then according to Matt. 26:28 Jesus died on the cross "because" men were already saved, not because they needed to be saved. "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto ("for Greek EIS) remission of sins." (matt. 26:28) Why did Jesus die? Why must we be baptized?

Who is to be Baptized? Jesus said one must believe (Mark 16:16). Peter said one must repent (Acts 2:38). Philip told the Ethiopian he must believe. The Eunuch confessed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God (Acts 8:37). The Bible teaches that one must be old enough and sound enough to repent of their sins and believe in Christ Jesus before they are baptized. There is no hint of infant baptism in the New Testament. Children are not born sinful or depraved, but He set them before his disciples as examples of innocence and humility (Matt. 18:2-4; 19:3-4)

Will the Unbaptized be Lost In Hell? Baptism is not the magical key that unlocks the doors of heaven. It is but a step in the process of God's plan of salvation. Those who believe, repent, confess Christ and are baptized do indeed enter into Christ's saved body (the church). But that does not necessarily mean they will be saved at the judgment. upon becoming a Christian one must live faithfully until death. If you really want to be saved, the information has been presented to you. If you are trying to find an excuse to disobey the Lord's plain command to be baptized there is no help available. The scriptures teach that when Jesus comes again he will render "vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thess. 1:7,8) Are you ready for his return? Have you been baptized according to the will of Christ and not after the denominations of men?

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ