The Truth About Water Baptism

An interactive Study based only on scripture.

The purpose of this study is to provide some biblical answers to common questions
that arise regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to baptism.

There is a common belief today that baptism is just a ritual or custom that has no
part in the plan of salvation.

Many have the perception that a person gets saved, and then at some later,
convenient time they are baptized as a "testimony" to the church. However, this
is not what the Bible teaches about baptism.

Why is this topic important?

It is the method by which we receive remission of sins.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto
Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

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.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not
shall be damned.

Jesus gave his disciples only two tasks. He told them to teach others about the
gospel and to baptize others.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Of course, if God commands his disciples to baptize, and baptism is for the
remission of sins, then what is the devil going to fight against? It is the same
today as it was in the garden. The devil is still trying to negate the
commandments of God.

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the
trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said,
Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

The Truth About Water Baptism

What Water Baptism Does for Us

Baptism washes away our sins and is our entrance into the family of Jesus Christ.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink
into one Spirit.

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of
Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith
of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.

Baptism is a Commandment, Not a Suggestion

Many organizations teach that baptism is something one does after one is saved to
show the world that he or she has accepted Christ: "An outward sign of an inward
change" is a common term. However, this is in contradiction to the teachings of
Christ and the Apostles. If baptism is "for the remission of sins," then you can't
be saved without it because no one is going to heaven while they're still in their
sins.

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.

Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they
him to tarry certain days.
A few words about keeping the commandments of Jesus are in order here...

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.

But Doesn't The Bible Say that We're Not Saved By Works?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Many people are familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9. Here is another verse...

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began,

However, what are these works? What is the grace of God Paul is talking about?
Did Paul mean that we don't have to obey Jesus' commandments? Many people misquote
Apostle Paul today. They misquoted him in his own time as well, and this is the
response:

Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that
we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written
unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as
they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Paul never said that we don't have to obey God. In fact, Paul said that we must
obey God in order to be saved.

It is always important to understand who is the speaker, and to whom the speaker is
speaking.

Remember that the first Christians came from a Jewish culture, heritage, and
religion. Many of the most difficult conflicts of the early Church had their roots
in questions pertaining to the Jewish law and tradition. The most heated debates
arose about whether the new Christian converts, some of whom were Gentiles, needed
to obey the law of Moses, whether they needed to submit to circumcision, and if
they needed to adhere to "kashrut" (dietary laws).

When Paul talks about "works," Paul is speaking about the works of the Jewish
Rabbinic law. If you study Jewish custom and tradition, you will understand that
the Jewish people believe that they will bring about the Messiah (or the era of the
Messiah) by doing good works. (See "Living Judaism," by Rabbi Wayne Dossick.)

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works
of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Apostle Paul is simply telling the Jews that no amount of good works according to
the law is going to save them and bring back their Messiah, but that the Messiah
has, in fact, already arrived because of the grace of God. And it is by the mercy
of God that we have access to the Holy Ghost.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The mercy of God is the very fact that Jesus Christ came and died on the cross for
us!

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the
ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man
some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Now what we do with that mercy is up to us. If we choose we can either accept or
reject it. The choice is ours. The way to access that mercy is by obedience to
baptism. However, baptism isn't a "work." In fact, if there is anyone doing any
work, it's the minister who is performing the baptism. The baptizee is merely
submitting to baptism (just as a baby who is born is not doing any "work" to be
born).

While Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, it is apparent from Jesus'
comments in Matthew 7:14 that the whole world is not going to be saved. In fact,
he says there that few people will find the way which leads to life.

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.

It is not God's desire that few find it. He died for the sins of the entire world,
but in order to be a part of that covenant, we must do it God's way, and that way
is through Jesus, and Jesus commanded baptism.

Simply believing intellectually in the existence of Jesus Christ is not what Jesus
intended. He wants us to do what he commands.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words
that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye
shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Notice that it says that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. It doesn't say
that there is no yoke, and no burden. Jesus has something for us to do upon this
earth.

Since people like to use Apostle Paul as their main argument as to why one doesn't
need to be baptized, let's look at the Apostle Paul's testimony, in his own words.

Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto
Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.

7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me?

8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth,
whom thou persecutest.

9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard
not the voice of him that spake to me.

10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into
Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for
thee to do.

11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of
them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

Let's ask ourselves a couple of questions here. Do you think Paul believed on
Jesus at this point in the story? He'd called Jesus Lord after Jesus identified
himself to him. So, I would say that Paul believed at this point and had confessed
with his mouth that Jesus was his Lord. If you read the same account in Acts 9:9,
we find that Paul was praying and fasting in blindness for three days. Do you
think he believed in Jesus then?

However, we find that Paul was still in his sins up until Ananias preached to him.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Read the whole story. It's a good one. And an example that one must be baptized
in order to receive remission of sins.
Not Many People Believe This. What About All the Good People Who Don't Believe
Baptism in Jesus' Name is Necessary?
Jesus told us that the way that leads to life is narrow, and there will only be a
few who will find it. First and foremost, we should be thankful that we did find
the way of life.

Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.

So, how few is few?

1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is,
eight souls were saved by water.

Numbers 14:29 Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were
numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward,
which have murmured against me,

30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you
dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children
of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (Isaiah 10:22-23)

Eight souls were saved in the days of Noah. Only two of the millions who escaped
Egypt actually entered into the land of Israel promised by God.

As for being good people:

Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become
unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

That is the deception of the devil, and that is why we must strive to be examples
and to share this gospel with all the world.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Do you want to be a wise man? Then do what God commands you to do concerning
baptism in his name for the remission of sins!

All Examples of Baptism Are in the Name of Jesus Christ

Very simply, all the examples we have in the New Testament plainly show that
baptisms were performed in the name of Jesus.

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in
the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom
of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Those who baptize in the titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost tell me one thing:
that they don't know the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! If they did
understand, then they would use that one name whereby we MUST be saved.

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If Jesus is the only name whereby we must be saved, then why wouldn't people use
it? In the Old Testament, God tells us that his people shall know his name, and
again in Zechariah we are told that there will be one name known throughout the
world.

Isaiah 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in
that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall
there be one LORD, and his name one.

We are told in Acts 15:26 of men who hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus.
Why would we not use the name of Jesus in baptism, our entrance into the body of
Christ?

Acts 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus didn't say repeat after me. He said to baptize in the
name.... His disciples obviously understood him, and on the day of Pentecost
baptized in JESUS' name!

So, what is the name of the Father? What is the name of the Son? What is the name
of the Holy Ghost?

Let's answer according to the scriptures.

We find Jesus referring to the name of the Father in John chapter 17.

John 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the
world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

John 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the
love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

What name did Jesus manifest (make known) to the people? The name of "Jesus."

Of couse, no one is confused about the name of the Son...

Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord
appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take
unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he
shall save his people from their sins.

But what about the name of the Holy Ghost?

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in
my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Ghost is sent in whose name? The name of Jesus!

Let's face it, the name of Jesus brings division. The Apostles, when brought into
question in the temple about the healing of the lame man (Acts 4:1-24), could have
avoided a lot of controversy if they had used the generic term "God" or "Lord."
They could have told the council, "God gave us the power," or "It was through the
Father that this man stands here before you whole," or even, "By the Spirit of the
Eternal God, our Heavenly Father, does this man stand before you whole."

If they had said that, they might have saved themselves a lot of grief. They
wouldn't have stirred up the bees nest they did. Of course, they were bold and
used the name of Jesus!

Why wouldn't a Christian want to be bold and use the name of Jesus in their
baptism? (The only name whereby we must be saved, according to Acts 4:12.)

In Ephesians we are told that the entire family name is Jesus.

Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

We can also contrast this report of the Great Commission in Matthew 28 with the
account in Luke.

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to
suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Is there any confusion here? In verse 47, Luke simply says that repentence and
remission of sins should be preached in "his" name....

Whose name? The name of Christ. Jesus.

In Acts 2:38 there is no mistake of what name the apostles used: "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."

Peter knew what name to use. He was not confused by Jesus' statement. He was not
confused in Acts 4:12 when he told the council that there was no other name under
heaven whereby we must be saved.

In baptism we are taking on a name. It is important use and acknowledge that name.
Jesus said in John chapter 10 that he was the door and that there was no other way
to enter into heaven.

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the
door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear
them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture.

Baptism (by Definition) is By Total Immersion in Water

Baptism is defined in Strong's Lexicon as "to be wholly overwhelmed by a liquid."

Look it up. However, rather than rely on someone's scholarship, let's just look at
the scriptures to see how it was done...

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:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of
Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the
Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased.

Two things are interesting here. First, Jesus came up "straightway out of the
water." You aren't being sprinkled with a little water to come up out of the
water. Note that he was baptized in the Jordan River. Also note that it was after
Jesus came up out of the water that the words were heard, "Thou art my beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased."

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.

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.

Note again, they both went into the water, "both Philip and the eunuch." Now you
don't both have to go down into the water to sprinkle someone with water.

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.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Bible talks of us being "buried" with Christ in baptism. I don't know of
anyone who was buried by sprinkling a handful of dirt on them.

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of
Judaea,
If it is adequate to just have a little liquid sprinkled over one's forehead to be
baptized, then why did John the Baptist have to go out into the wilderness? Why
couldn't he have just stayed in the city with all the people and baptized them by
sprinkling? Seems illogical, but God didn't ask our opinions, he commands our
obedience.

What do You Think Now?

I challenge you to pray diligently and sincerely about this important topic. God
is not afraid of your questions. In fact, God wants us to ask about issues
pertaining to our salvation and he will answer you in a powerful way.

As you pray about this Bible study, I would ask you to honestly answer the
following questions:

Acts 2:37-41

What does this scripture tell you is the purpose of baptism in regard to your sins?

What does it tell you that you receive from baptism?

According to your answers to the two questions above, which of the following terms
best describes the importance of baptism to salvation?

a. Baptism is unimportant to salvation

b. Baptism is symbolic of salvation but not essential

c. Baptism is essential to salvation

Jesus' Ministry

According to Matthew 3:13-17, why was Jesus baptized of John?

At the conclusion of Christ's ministry on earth, what did he command his disciples
to do? (Reference Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-16.)

According to the Book of Acts

In every example of a person accepting Christ, what was the next thing they did?

Acts 2:37-41 The Jerusalem Pentecost

Acts 8:12 The people of Samaria

Acts 8:36 The Ethiopian Treasurer

Acts 10:48 The First Gentiles

Acts 16:15 Lydia

Acts 16:30-33 The Philippian Jailer

Acts 18:8 The People of Corinth

Acts 22:16 Saul, Who Became the Apostle Paul

According to the previous references, what name would you say the disciples used
when administering baptism?
When you realize in what name the disciples baptized, does that help you to
understand to what name Jesus was referring when he told his disciples to baptize
"in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost"? (Reference
Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:46-47, John 10:30.)

When you read Acts 4:10-12, do you think that the name is important to receiving
salvation?

Romans 6:3-5

What illustration is used in Romans 6:3-5 in reference to baptism?

Is this consistent with what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-5?

Is this illustration of burial consistent with other Biblical descriptions of

baptism?

Matthew 3:16 Jesus' Baptism

John 3:23 John the Baptist's Ministry

Acts 8:38 The Ethiopian Treasurer's Baptism

Act of Faith or Work?

According to Ephesians 2:8-9, we are saved by grace through faith, and not of
works. Keeping this in mind, what does 1 Peter 3:20-21 tell us saves us?

From your conclusion, would you say that baptism is a work or an act of faith?

After all that you have read, what does the Bible say to the following questions:

Is baptism essential to salvation?

Who should be baptized?

How should a believer be baptized? by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion?

In what name should a believer be baptized?

When should a believer be baptized?

Your Salvation

Through this study, what has God revealed to you about baptism?

After reading 1 Corinthians 3:11 and Ephesians 2:19-22, what does God reveal to you
about your salvation?

According to Acts 19:1-5, what was done when believers learned that they did not
have a proper understanding of baptism?

As you pray about what you have learned, what is God asking you to do?