Water Baptism
Rev. Charles Foster shares this story in the "Focus On the Family" Magazine: As a minister, I conduct many baptismal services. My denomination baptizes in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. One Sunday, my family and I went to a friend's home in the country. Our four children went outside to play with the others. After a short while, we heard only silence and wondered what the children were up to. We found them behind a barn quietly playing "church." Our 4-year old daughter Susan was conducting the baptismal service. She held a cat over a barrel of water. Trying to be as solemn as her father, she repeated the phrase she had heard many times: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and in the hole you go!"
1. What is Water Baptism?
It is the act of immersing the candidate in the water upon the confession of his/her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his/her Saviour.
2. Why Should I Be Baptized?
A) Jesus was
Matthew 3:13-17:
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John [John the Baptist]. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
He did it not because of His sins but in order to do what was right (Matthew 3:15) and to establish a precedent for us to follow. Jesus was also baptized so He could be recognized as our priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:8-10; 6:20-8:2) and so as the High Priest He could offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Aaron was recognized as the first in a long line of Jewish high priests in Exodus 29:1-7:
1 This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect. 2 And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. 3 Put them in a basket and present them in it — along with the bull and the two rams. 4 Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. 5 Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. Fasten the ephod on him by its skilfully woven waistband. 6 Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. 7 Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.
Oil is a type of the Holy Spirit as alluded to in 1 John 2:20 and 27:
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth ... As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit - just as it has taught you, remain in him.
The Holy Spirit descended from heaven as a dove and rested upon Jesus in Matthew 3:16. Jesus was baptized because He had to fulfill the legal requirements for entering into the priesthood. Priests offered sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. Jesus became a sacrifice for our sin (1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21) in His role as priest.
To be consecrated (set apart) as a priest at 30 years of age (Numbers 4:3), Jesus had to be washed with water (Leviticus 8:6; Exodus 29:4; Matthew 3:16) and anointed with oil (Leviticus 8:12; Exodus 29:7; Matthew 3:16). Both of these were bestowed upon Jesus at His baptism.
B) Jesus taught it.
Matthew 28:19:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit . . .
Mark 16:16:
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
C) The disciples preached it.
Acts 2:38:
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:18:
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized . . .
Acts 10:48:
So he [Peter] ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
D) The disciples practised it.
Acts 2:41:
Those who accepted his [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 8:38:
And he [the Ethiopian eunuch] gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Acts 16:33:
At that hour of the night the jailer took them [Paul and Silas] and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
Acts 19:5:
On hearing this, they [disciples in Ephesus] were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
E) To be a whole-hearted, obedient follower of Christ!
3. How Can I Be Baptized?
The Bible indicates that people were baptized as soon as they were born again Christians. This means that you have:
A) Repented of (turned from) your sin (whatever is offensive to God)
Acts 2:38:
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
B) Believed on the Lord Jesus
Acts 16:31:
They [Paul and Silas] replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."
C) Confessed the Lord Jesus
Romans 10:9-10:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
4. When Should I Be Baptized?
A) As soon as possible after you have become a Christian.
Acts 2:41:
Those who accepted his [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 8:12:
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:38:
And he [the Ethiopian eunuch] gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Acts 16:33:
At that hour of the night the jailer took them [Paul and Silas] and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
B) Or, as soon as you are aware of the truth of water baptism.
Acts 19:3-5:
3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
5. What is the Significance of Baptism?
It is the outward sign of an inward reality, a public declaration of one's identification with Jesus Christ in His death and in His resurrection.
Romans 6:3-9:
3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
Colossians 2:12:
. . . having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
6. What About Infant Baptism?
Infant baptism is the practice of sprinkling babies to remove their inborn sinful nature and to make them ready for heaven. We certainly do not condemn anyone for baptizing an infant or having been baptized as an infant. Having said that, we find no record of this practice in the Bible. Baptism has always been established upon faith and repentance - two concepts that an infant cannot comprehend or practice.
If the parents' intent through infant baptism is to publicly confess their vows to raise the child in the ways of God, then I believe we should respect this tradition of other congregations rather than make an issue over it. I see the practice of child dedication as a suitable substitute for infant baptism (see 1 Samuel 1:27-28). If there are parents who would like to make such a public commitment to raise their child(ren) in obedience to the Lord please talk with me.
Children may be baptized, but I recommend that parents and/or other adults carefully instruct them about the purpose and value of this experience.
7. What Do I Bring with Me to the Baptismal Service?
A) An expectancy to be touched by God
Please don't rush out of the baptismal tank. The Lord might choose to baptize you in the Holy Spirit at this time.
B) Lots of friends and family members
These people are about to witness a significant milestone in your life!
C) A change of clothes
Bring a towel, swimsuit or shorts and a dark-coloured tee shirt. Err on the side of modesty.
D) Someone who has impacted and will impact your relationship with Jesus
Ask a spiritually influential person in your life to assist me in baptizing you. Ideally, I would like to see this person get in the water with you and me to help baptize you. If he/she stubbornly declines after much weeping and wailing, ask him/her to pray over you at the side of the water prior to your baptism. Please inform me a couple days in advance of who that person is and how he/she is willing to participate.
E) A testimony of your faith
Be prepared to answer the question, "Why have you chosen to be baptized?"