There is a wide range of teaching when it comes to water baptism.
What is water baptism, why is it important and powerful?
Did it finish with the Old Covenant?
Is sprinkling considered water baptism?
Or was it a Jewish custom not applicable to non-Jewish believers?
And is water baptism necessary for salvation?
Is infant baptism biblically based?
What does putting on Christ at baptism mean?
And what happens at our baptism?
Defining Water Baptism
Greek Meaning.
The word baptism baptisma comes from the Greek word baptizo: from a derivative of bapto; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed. In other words, it is a water immersion, not just a sprinkling as some practice. It is submerging us in water, totally wet.
A better description is that we are a vessel, dipped into the water until totally overflowing. The water fills us to overflowing.
Jewish Tradition.
Water baptism was a Jewish tradition of ceremonial washing for those wanting to join the Jewish faith. Ceremonial washing was the practice of immersion (tevilah) in a ritual bath (mikveh), as seen in the gospel of John.
JOHN 3:25 AN ARGUMENT DEVELOPED BETWEEN SOME OF JOHN’S DISCIPLES AND A CERTAIN JEW OVER THE MATTER OF CEREMONIAL WASHING.
In the Old Covenant, ritual washing was by complete immersion:
LEVITICUS 15:16 … THEN HE SHALL WASH ALL HIS BODY IN WATER AND BE UNCLEAN UNTIL EVENING.
Baptism is Not New Birth.
We found in Communion (on my website), that partaking of the bread and wine is not bringing in the New Covenant. It is the same with Baptism.
Baptism does not mean that we enter the New Covenant, that happens through faith in Jesus.
Likewise, Holy Spirit Baptism is not when we are born again; that happens later. When we are born again, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then again at Holy Spirit baptism, and throughout our walk with God. Faith in Jesus is how we enter the kingdom of God.
Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
People who adhere to the false teaching of “baptism is necessary for salvation” will quote this scripture:
MARK 16:16 HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE WILL BE CONDEMNED.
What baptism is Jesus referring to? Is it water baptism, or is it Holy Spirit baptism?
We will find out that it is most likely both baptisms as in God’s eyes, both baptisms are one.
In Transformation Through Salvation (on my website), we learned that salvation is not a correct terminology for the new birth, although nearly universally used.
“Is water baptism necessary for salvation?”
Here is an example of why this is the case. Once we understand salvation, the answer to this question is no longer a problem. It is also essential to see that we are only condemned (eternal separation from God) based on belief in Jesus.
Water baptism in water is not necessary to enter eternal life. We learned in Covenantal Atonement (on my website) that remission of sins happens through the death of Jesus Christ, not through baptism.
On the other hand, salvation is to be rescued or delivered and therefore transformed into the image of God. Yes, Jesus saves us from our sins because we need rescuing, and that is through reconciliation. He does that through the atonement and the New Covenant becoming active in our life.
SALVATION STARTS AT THE RESURRECTION is why baptism saves us, not that it is part of being born again.
ROMANS 5:10 FOR IF WHEN WE WERE ENEMIES WE WERE RECONCILED TO GOD THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
The Thief on the Cross. If water baptism was essential to salvation, then the man on the cross next to Jesus did not go to paradise (as Jesus promised).
LUKE 23:43 AND JESUS SAID TO HIM, “ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”
It would also mean that all those from before Jesus preached to them in Hades( both departments) could not enter the kingdom of God as we learned in Judgement of God (on my website).
1 PETER 3:19 BY WHOM ALSO HE WENT AND PREACHED TO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON,
If any doubt still exists around “is baptism necessary for salvation” please look closely at Transformation Through Salvation.
How to Water Baptise
Full immersion.
We will see the early church practiced complete immersion, having defined water baptism. Looking again at Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, we find that the New Testament church performed full-immersion baptism.
ACTS 8:38 SO HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL. AND BOTH PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER, AND HE BAPTIZED HIM.
Do you notice that Philip and the eunuch both go down INTO the water? John was baptizing where there was a pool of running water in the river:
JOHN 3:23 NOW JOHN ALSO WAS BAPTIZING IN AENON NEAR SALIM, BECAUSE THERE WAS MUCH WATER THERE. AND THEY CAME AND WERE BAPTIZED. (According to the tradition of the Jews, the minimum amount of water for baptism needed to be between 454 to 952 litres , or nearly one cubic metre).
Wrong Theology; Infant Baptism.
Some say that we should baptize infants. John baptized Jesus as an adult, not as an infant. And how can a baby join with Christ in His death and resurrection, if the baby has not yet believed in Jesus Christ and become a new creation? I do not perform infant baptism. This teaching arose because of the wrong theology of original sin, where sin came through from the parents. Augustine (354-430AD) thought that the sexual act in itself was unholy and sinful.
We discussed this in Sin Entered the World(on my website). Infant baptism also came out of a fear of what happens to a child when they die at an early age. Infant mortality was much higher than it is now.
In the 17th Century Church of England stated that infant must be seven days old.
Water Baptism is for both Jew and Gentile
All nations.
Jesus commands us to baptize people from every nation.
MATTHEW 28:19 GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
Therefore, we are to baptize whoever believes in Jesus Christ.
Ethiopian Eunuch.
ACTS 8:35-38 THEN PHILIP OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND BEGINNING AT THIS SCRIPTURE, PREACHED JESUS TO HIM. NOW AS THEY WENT DOWN THE ROAD, THEY CAME TO SOME WATER. AND THE EUNUCH SAID, “SEE, HERE IS WATER. WHAT HINDERS ME FROM BEING BAPTIZED?” THEN PHILIP SAID, “IF YOU BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU MAY.” AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID, “I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD.” SO HE COMMANDED THE CHARIOT TO STAND STILL. AND BOTH PHILIP AND THE EUNUCH WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER, AND HE BAPTIZED HIM.
First we see that the man is Ethiopian – a Gentile. There are two possibilities here:
He is reading the Old Covenant and wants to join the Jewish faith. However, this is not what it means, as Philip baptizes him into Jesus Christ, not repentance as John did.
Philip has preached the gospel message that includes the step of obedience, which is our initial obedience to the gospel, water baptism.
Roman Centurion.
When we look at the first evangelism of a Gentile believer – Cornelius, a Roman, we can only come to the conclusion that baptism is for both Jew and Gentile.
ACTS 10:1 THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN IN CAESAREA CALLED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION OF WHAT WAS CALLED THE ITALIAN REGIMENT,
He is a Roman! (Italian) Peter’s preaching results in both water and Holy Spirit baptism.
ACTS 10:37-38 “CAN ANYONE FORBID WATER, THAT THESE SHOULD NOT BE BAPTIZED WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST AS WE HAVE?” AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. THEN THEY ASKED HIM TO STAY A FEW DAYS.
The word apostle in Greek means: apostolos; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”) (with miraculous powers). apostle, messenger, sent one.
Baptism of Repentance – No Longer Required.
Incorrect Theology that Water Baptism is Old Covenant.
The teaching that baptism is a Jewish custom, therefore only Jews should baptize, is not logical. We know from 1 Corinthians that Apollos, a non-Jew, was baptizing people with Paul’s full knowledge. Apollos was a gentile and Paul a Jew. If baptism finished with the Old Covenant, then Paul would have said so in his writing to the Corinthians:
1 CORINTHIANS 1:12-17 NOW I SAY THIS, THAT EACH OF YOU SAYS, “I AM OF PAUL,” OR “I AM OF APOLLOS,” OR “I AM OF CEPHAS,” OR “I AM OF CHRIST.” IS CHRIST DIVIDED? WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU? OR WERE YOU BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF PAUL? I THANK GOD THAT I BAPTIZED NONE OF YOU EXCEPT CRISPUS AND GAIUS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD SAY THAT I HAD BAPTIZED IN MY OWN NAME. YES, I ALSO BAPTIZED THE HOUSEHOLD OF STEPHANAS. BESIDES, I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I BAPTIZED ANY OTHER.
Furthermore, Paul was baptizing the Gentiles Crispus and Gaius. It is the view of some individuals that because water baptism was a cultural practice, it is, therefore, Old Covenant and unnecessary.
This view is not accurate and has no scriptural basis. The baptism unto repentance is Old Covenant, but the baptism into the name of Jesus Christ is New Covenant.
Baptism into Repentance.
John’s baptism concerned his calling to ‘prepare the way of the Lord’.
MATTHEW 3:1-11 IN THOSE DAYS JOHN THE BAPTIST CAME PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA, AND SAYING, “REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!”… I INDEED BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE, BUT HE WHO IS COMING AFTER ME IS MIGHTIER THAN I, WHOSE SANDALS I AM NOT WORTHY TO CARRY. HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
The message John preached was: ‘Repent for the kingdom of God is near for the remission of sins’. Or, “Change the way you think- For the Kingdom of God is near.” No longer will you need to obey all of the law requirements to have your sins covered.
In Acts 19, the Apostle Paul sets the precedent. John’s baptism into repentance is no longer valid:
ACTS 19:4-6 THEN PAUL SAID, “JOHN INDEED BAPTIZED WITH A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE, SAYING TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHO WOULD COME AFTER HIM, THAT IS, ON CHRIST JESUS.” WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. AND WHEN PAUL HAD LAID HANDS ON THEM, THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM, AND THEY SPOKE WITH TONGUES AND PROPHESIED.
One Baptism
Water and Holy Spirit Baptism are One. We have just seen that the Apostle Paul, baptized in Holy Spirit and in water – both are an essential part of our full Christian walk. In Ephesians we see there is only one baptism:
EPHESIANS 4:5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM; In “Studying the Bible” (on my website), we learned that we need to be very careful not to take one scripture without taking the whole of scripture. The apostles taught both baptisms are essential. We may not remove one of them. So, when Paul teaches one baptism, he is not taking one away; he says that the two are one.
Water and Cloud.
Let’s look into the scripture about baptism into Moses.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:2 ALL WERE BAPTIZED INTO MOSES IN THE CLOUD AND IN THE SEA, God baptized the Israelites into Moses, so we are baptized into Christ. The sea represents water baptism, and the cloud represents Holy Spirit baptism.
Jesus Our Example.
The writer of Acts; Luke, is clear that Jesus could only start His effective ministry after He had both baptisms. First the water baptism:
ACTS 10:37 THAT WORD YOU KNOW, WHICH WAS PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA, AND BEGAN FROM GALILEE AFTER THE BAPTISM WHICH JOHN PREACHED: Then the Holy Spirit baptism: ACTS 10:38 HOW GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WITH POWER, WHO WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL, FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM.
Until that happened, God could not anoint Him. He was Jesus of Nazareth before-hand, and Jesus Christ after water and Holy Spirit baptism. At His baptism, it was both baptisms as one event:
MATTHEW 3:16-17 WHEN HE HAD BEEN BAPTIZED, JESUS CAME UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER; AND BEHOLD, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED TO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING UPON HIM.
Baptism is Putting On Christ.
Water Baptism is MUCH more than a public declaration of internal change.
We PUT ON Christ.
GALATIANS 3:27 FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.
This Greek word for Christ only refers to Jesus Christ: It is: Christos; from; anointed, the Messiah, an description of Jesus: — Christ. We put on the Anointed One!
There is one baptism – Holy Spirit and water, as we saw above. In Holy Spirit Baptism, we noticed that Holy Spirit comes upon us. Now we see that not only does Holy Spirit come upon us; Jesus clothes us. In Greek, the word anointing is: chrisma; smearing, (figuratively) the special endowment (“chrism”) of the Holy Spirit: — anointing, unction.
Arrayed and Sinking Into.
The word translated put on in Galatians 3:27 in Greek is: endyō; from dyno (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively): — array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on
And the two root words for this word are: en; a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state) And dumi; prolonged forms of an obsolete primary duō; to go “down” to go into. And to be plunged into,
What an incredibly accurate description of water baptism; to plunge into Jesus Christ. Now let’s look at another usage of this word; clothed in splendor:
Clothed with Splendor. This word is used of our wedding garments:
MATTHEW 22:11 “BUT WHEN THE KING CAME IN TO SEE THE GUESTS, HE SAW A MAN THERE WHO DID NOT HAVE ON A WEDDING GARMENT. D. John’s Mantle. MARK 1:6 NOW JOHN WAS CLOTHED WITH CAMEL’S HAIR AND WITH A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST, AND HE ATE LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.
Jesus’ mantle comes upon us through baptism.
The Armor of God.
When we put on Christ, we also put on the armor of God.
EPHESIANS 6:11 PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL.
We will see that water baptism is a good conscience towards God. So, when the devil attacks us, we can declare that we are free of guilt and shame to the devil. We have put on the armor of God. For many people, water baptism precedes a spiritual encounter with demons shortly afterwards. Jesus also experienced this immediately after His baptism:
MATTHEW 4:1 THEN JESUS WAS LED UP BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. Jesus arrays us with His armor. So, Father wants to train us to use our armor against the devil.
Water Baptism is a GOOD Conscience Towards God.
Once baptized, if the devil condemns us, we can declare the Word of God that says we are dead to sin and alive to God (a lack of a BAD conscience). We have a GOOD conscience that tells us we are a son or daughter of Abba Father.
Our conscience recognizes that GOD works everything for good according to His purpose for our life because we love Him and remember Jesus’ Lordship.
ROMANS 8:28 AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
Baptism Brings Recognition of Maturity by the Father
Jesus’ Baptism was Important to the Father. Jesus’ baptism was important enough for Dad to turn up!
MATTHEW 3:16-17 WHEN HE HAD BEEN BAPTIZED, JESUS CAME UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER; AND BEHOLD, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED TO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING UPON HIM. AND SUDDENLY A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”
In “Jesus the Son of God”(on my website), Jesus became the Son of God at His birth. Sonship was not a result of baptism – as we have discussed above. However, we also learned that His full authority did not come until John baptized Jesus in water and Holy Spirit came upon Him, and passing the tests in the wilderness.
Adoption as an Adult Son. The term “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased” is related to the concept of Huiothesia, translated adoption in Ephesians:
EPHESIANS 1:5 HAVING PREDESTINED US TO ADOPTION AS SONS BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL,
Of course, if we are born a male, then we are biologically a son. However, this is not what sonship or adoption means here. Huiothesia is an adult son’s legal and relational recognition to take full authority for the Father’s house.
Adoption does not include daughters in the New Testament because there was no word for that in the Greek-Roman and Hebrew cultures.
Under the New Covenant, females are adopted just like males. Full authority is what happens at water and Holy Spirit baptism, and passing the test in the wilderness. We receive all of the responsibilities and privileges of being a son or daughter of God.
The devil will do anything to stop us being baptized in water and Holy Spirit, because he knows that is an important step in adoption: Full authority and power being released to us to have dominion as a son and daughter of God.
When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we can be confident to use the name of Jesus and all the authority that means.
Being Led as a Son.
According to Romans, the Holy Spirit leads the sons of God.
ROMANS 8:14 FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD.
This passage is directly before the use of Huiothesia (adoption).
ROMANS 8:15 FOR YOU DID NOT RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AGAIN TO FEAR, BUT YOU RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHOM WE CRY OUT, “ABBA, FATHER.”
The first time Jesus was led by the Spirit was after His baptism in water and Holy Spirit. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will start leading us after our baptisms. Being led by the Holy Spirit is an indication we are now mature sons and daughters.
The Father says, “This is my son/daughter, I am well pleased with him/her”. And we now have full authority and power to do the Father’s business.
Water Baptism is Unity with Jesus Christ.
We DIE In Christ in the Vidal aspect of redemption Through Water Baptism.
ROMANS 6:3 OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT AS MANY OF US AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST JESUS WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH
Buried With Christ Through Water Baptism.
COLOSSIANS 2:12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM,
RESURRECTED WITH Christ through Water Baptism.
ROMANS 6:4 THEREFORE WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH, THAT JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. COLOSSIANS 2:12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, IN WHICH YOU ALSO WERE RAISED WITH HIM THROUGH FAITH IN THE WORKING OF GOD, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.
Sonship Declared Through Water Baptism.
ROMANS 6:4 THEREFORE WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH, THAT JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, MATTHEW 3:16-17 WHEN HE HAD BEEN BAPTIZED, JESUS CAME UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER; AND BEHOLD, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED TO HIM, AND HE SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING LIKE A DOVE AND ALIGHTING UPON HIM. AND SUDDENLY A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.”
We WALK in Resurrection Life Through Water Baptism.
ROMANS 6:4 THEREFORE WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM INTO DEATH, THAT JUST AS CHRIST WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD BY THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.
We are UNITED Into the Body of Christ not a Denomination or “Man of God”. Because the church is the body of Christ, and we unite with Christ and His body.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:13 FOR BY ONE SPIRIT WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY—WHETHER JEWS OR GREEKS, WHETHER SLAVES OR FREE—AND HAVE ALL BEEN MADE TO DRINK INTO ONE SPIRIT.
We do not baptize into a particular denomination or person’s ministry, which is made clear by the following scripture:
1 CORINTHIANS 1:13 IS CHRIST DIVIDED? WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU? OR WERE YOU BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF PAUL?
A Water Baptism Prayer
Firstly, the person must receive Jesus Christ. It is not at all uncommon for me to be baptizing someone, and an onlooker who has not yet accepted Jesus will want to accept Jesus and desire to be baptised as well. I lead them in a simple prayer, copying the words I say.
If you also have never received Jesus, asking Him to be Lord of your life, then now is a good time to do so.
Prayer of Receiving Jesus. “Jesus, I believe that you died for me and rose again from the dead. I now confess you as my Lord. I ask you to forgive me of my sins.
You made a New Covenant which means that I inherit eternal life.
I give you my sins and receive the gift of your righteousness.
My sins are no more, and I welcome you into my life and receive the gift of eternal life.
Holy Spirit, I welcome you into my body as your temple. I believe that I am now a son/ daughter of God.
Welcome – as the Spirit of God and the spirit of adoption, so I may come to know that God is my Father and also lives inside of me.
I renounce all fear and bondage and believe I am a brand-new creation and no longer a sinner”.
Prayer of Baptism.
I say the following when I baptize a person after I am sure they believe in Jesus, that He died and rose again.
“(Name of the person) I baptize you into Jesus Christ and His body. You have died with Christ; in these waters, you are buried, you are dead to sin, and your sins are buried in these waters. As you come up out of these waters, you rise in the newness of life.
Abba Father looks down on you with joy and recognizes you as a glorified son/daughter of God. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit Amen”.