WATER BAPTISM

WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM IN THE BIBLE?

Biblical terms Verse Biblical terms Verse
1. Burial of an old life
Rz 6:4 ; Kol 2:12
11. Forgiveness of sins
Dz 2:38 ; Kol 2:13
2. Washing of rebirth
Tyt 3:5
12. Putting on Christ
Gal 3:26-27 ; Rz 6:3-8 ; Kol 2:12-13 ; 1 Kor 12:12-13
3. Baptism saves
1 Pt 3:21; Mk 16:16 ; Tyt 3:5
Baptism in the name of Jesus
Dz 2:38 ; Dz 8:16 ; Dz 10:48 ; Dz 19:5 ; 1Kor 1:13 ;
4. Being born again
J 3:5 ; Kol 2:12 ; Rz 6:4 ; Tyt 3:5
Baptism of believers as something done
Kol 2:11-13 ; Gal 3:27-27; Rz 6:3-8 ; 1 Kor 1:13; 1 Kor 12:12-13
5. Crucifixion with Christ
Rz 6:6-8
The command of Jesus
Mat 28:19
6. Deliverance from sin
Rz 6:7
Requirements for water baptism
Dz 8:37 ; Mk 16:16 ; Dz 2:38
7. Resurrection with Jesus
Kol 2:12-13
Water baptism immediately
Dz 8:36-38 Dz:2:41 ; Dz 9:18 ; Dz 22:16 ; Dz 10:44-48 ; Dz:16:30-34 ; Dz 19:1-6
8. Shedding (circumcision) of the sinful body
Kol2:11-13
Reaction to preaching the gospel
Dz 8:35-38 ; Dz:16:30-34 ; Dz 8:12-16
9. The washing away of sins
Dz 22:16 ; Ef 5:26
Other than John's baptism
Dz 18:25 ; Dz 19:1-6
10. Incorporation into the body of Christ
1 Kor 12:12-13

Used in the New Testament for baptism, the Greek word το βάπτισμα, derived from the Greek verb βαπτίζειν, means immersion of the body.

BAPTISM STARTS A NEW LIFE

Baptism is immersion in the death of Jesus Christ, burying the sinful life and raising in Him to new life.

Water baptism accepted with faith gives New Life in the Lord Jesus. Baptism in the Bible is a burial of our old, “dirty” and sinful body and life! It is the spiritual death of the body bounded to sin. The baptized person gets a completely new identity as a child of God, and heir to the Kingdom of God. Debts, curses, and other matters concerning the old man are removed and “nailed to the cross.” Water baptism is also putting on the Lord Jesus and joining His Body.

The first man Adam was born in God’s image, but his children were born in the image of Adam afflicted with the corruption of sin. Through faith and baptism, we are born again as a child of God, in the image of God.
This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
[Genesis 5:1-3 NKJV]

Baptism is not a symbol or an empty tradition

Baptism is not a symbol! The main essence and purpose of baptism is not a public confession/testimony of faith! Water baptism is a kind of making a covenant with God. It can be compared to a wedding: without it you are not married to someone, just like without baptism. You can believe, love, etc. but you are not a “spouse”, you are not officially in the “papers”. Baptism is for us not for God. It’s a grace for us, not a “show” for God. Water baptism performed in the proper Biblical way is a great spiritual event and life-changing power.

Baptism and SIN

Without burying the old life in baptism, we cannot be completely free from sin. After baptism, however, we can experience the grace of freedom from sin and the actual possibility of stopping it. Baptism does not erase the guilt of “original sin” because God does not impute to us the sins of our ancestors. What we inherit from our ancestors is corrupt human nature. And that is what we get rid of when we are baptized into Jesus Christ. 

WHEN TO BE BAPTIZED?

When we die to ourselves, to the world, to sin, then we must be baptized. It’s just like in life: when we find death, we have to do a burial. Without acknowledging the death of our old man (our “I”), a burial (baptism) cannot be performed.

In the Bible, there was no mention of delaying, postponing baptism until a corporate event was organized, an important guest arrived. This is such an important thing that no one who decided to be baptized did not hesitate! When a person who is all dirty realizes this and is disturbed by it, he will immediately want to wash himself. So it is with water baptism! It is not advisable to postpone this step for later, for a better ceremony, at the invitation of guests. So when you believe in the Lord Jesus and are converted (that is, you turn away from sin, the world, your plans and want to follow the Lord Jesus), be baptized immediately.

*What is not in the Bible about baptism?

That baptism is just a “symbol”, infant baptism, baptism based on the faith of another person (e.g. parents), white robes, baptism as a public proclamation of faith, baptism as a proclamation of faith in general, baptismal rules, baptismal promises, that baptism is an outward sign of inner transformation, godparents, baptism by pouring the head.

IN WHOM IS WATER BAPTISM?​

Baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit or in the name of the Lord Jesus?

  1. Jesus Christ is God, so the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit is JESUS. Reading the Book of Acts, one can see that the disciples knew this and baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. * A verse from Matt. 28:19 speaks of baptism in “Name”, not “Names”.
  2. Baptism is in the person of Jesus Christ. Biblically speaking, it is putting on Him and incorporating into His Body. It is not a ritual of incorporation into an organization, a testimony of faith, or a declaration of membership.
  3. All the baptisms we read about in the bible after the resurrection were in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
[Acts 4:12 NKJV]

BAPTISM IN JESUS AND BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Two different baptisms (Acts 18:25 ; Acts 19:1-6)

The baptism that John the Baptist baptized is not the same baptism that disciples of Jesus have been performing after his Resurrection! These baptisms are similar in form, but they are different in essence. Until Jesus died, there couldn’t be baptism into Jesus Christ because he had not yet died and was not resurrected. So the disciple could not be immersed in him in the likeness of his death.

The baptism of the Lord Jesus in Jordan was not exactly the same baptism that believers must be baptized with. It is not the same baptism that Jesus disciples did after his resurrection. Baptism into Jesus was possible only after His death and resurrection.

Baptism into Jesus is equated with the Cross: death with the Lord on the cross, burying our “old man” with Him and rising to the New Life.

scriptures on water baptism

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
[John 3:5 NKJV]
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit
[Titus 3:5 NKJV]
There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
[1 Peter 3:21 NKJV]
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
[Romans 6:3-8 NKJV]
In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 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. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
[Colossians 2:11-13 NKJV]
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
[Acts 2:38 NKJV]
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
[Galatians 3:26-27 NKJV]
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 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.
[1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NKJV]
Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
[Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV]
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
[Ephesians 5:25-27]

Do I need to be baptized to be saved?

TAK

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
[Mark 16:16 NKJV]

To put forward the thesis that baptism “is not necessary for salvation” knowing the command of the Lord Jesus to baptize is at least fearless, and it is certainly not a sound doctrine. It is like writing articles and making the thesis that “stopping adultery is not necessary to salvation” or “stopping stealing is not necessary to salvation” or “obeying God is not necessary to salvation”.
What is salvation?
The Bible uses the term “salvation” mainly in two different contexts. We have salvation in terms of generally attaining eternal life in heaven, which the Bible speaks of in the imperfect future form: “will be saved” “we will be saved” “await for salvation” (Matthew 24:13, 1Pe 4:18, Luke 13 :23, Ac 15:11, Heb 9:28, 1 Cor 5:5, 2 Tim 3:15, Heb 1:14).

We also have “salvation” in terms of forgiveness of sins, new birth, salvation from sin (both from the effects and the ability not to sin), deliverance from carnal nature, etc. Without water baptism, we cannot speak of salvation from the flesh, nor from sin, etc. Without the new birth (of which water baptism is a part), we cannot talk about salvation in the context of entering the Kingdom of God.
Ale doesn't the second part of Mark 16:16 say it's all about faith?
The second part of the sentence from E. Mark 16:16 doesn’t mean that water baptism is not essential for salvation! Baptism is an expression of faith. If someone tells you “Stop! The abyss is before you”, if you believe him – you will stop, if not – you will fall. You can’t believe and go into the abyss at the same time. Read the above passage in this way: Whoever believes and stops – will not fall into the abyss. Those who do not believe will fall into the abyss. (Because if he doesn’t believe, he certainly won’t stop.) Just like with a wedding, whoever loves and gets married will be a spouse, whoever doesn’t love, will not get married.

“Faith” in biblical language is identified with the word “obedience”. To believe is to obey. To believe in God is to obey him! Also read this passage like this: “Whoever obeys and is baptized will be saved, whoever disobeys will be damned.” We tell the children: If you obey and clean the room – you will get a reward. If you disobey you will be punished.
The preaching of the gospel is also (and mostly) the teaching of water baptism
The teaching of water baptism was obvious to the disciples (Acts of the Apostles). The preaching of the gospel ended with baptism (immediately, no waiting) of believers or asking them if they could be baptized. (see table above).
In the Bible, a Christian / believer is a person, e.g. baptized into Jesus Christ

This is clearly seen in the lists. When Paul writes to the Galatian believers or the Colossians, he is always talking about baptism in the perfect form. (Colossians 2:11-13, Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-8, 1 Corinthians 1:13 1 Cor 12:12-13). The recipients of the New Testament letters are always the baptized. There were no “unbaptized” believers in the early church.

But isn't salvation only by grace, by faith, apart from works?
For by grace you are saved through faith, and that is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest anyone should boast. [Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV]

Remember that one verse in the Bible cannot contradict another. If our professed “theology” makes certain verses “not fit” then there is probably something wrong with it. You have to look at the Bible holistically and believe what it says.

Here we return to the topic of what faith is, and Biblical faith is identical with obedience.

One verse taken out of context about salvation only by grace must not cross out the command to obey God and fulfill His commandments (e.g. the command to repent and be baptized). Opening your eyes and heart to the Lord God, to the gospel, to the truth about baptism is God’s grace. The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, enabling us New Life and forgiveness of sins, is God’s Grace. Grace is the forgiveness of sins of a repentant man. Therefore: yes – we are saved only by grace.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ [Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV]

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. [James 2:23-26 NKJV]

Why does one verse say salvation not by works and another by works?

It is necessary to look at the context that distinguishes the so-called works of the law, but there are also works related to obedience to the Lord Jesus. The point is simply that empty religion will not save us, but obedience to the Lord Jesus will (or faith in the Lord Jesus).
What about the thief on the cross? Exceptional cases

The thief on the Cross was saved without water baptism. It should be remembered that before the Resurrection of Christ there were times of the Old Covenant and there was no water baptism into the Lord Jesus yet. When someone sincerely converts and does not have time / cannot be baptized due to sudden death, accident, being in prison, in war, in the desert, etc., we have no reason to say that there is no chance of entering heaven. However, we cannot take the same principles for those who have the physical ability to be baptized.

Why does God need water for salvation? Isn't it about His blood, sacrifice, word?

Of course God doesn’t need anything. But he can and does use water to cleanse us of sin.

Biblical Examples:

1. In the old covenant people had to be circumcised. Yes, today baptism is called. circumcision (shedding) of the sinful body. (Colossians 2:11)

2. To save Egypt from the last plague, the Israelites had to put the blood of a lamb on the doorposts. Here we see that the blood of the lamb (which is a foreshadowing of the blood of the Lord Jesus) saved them, but they physically had to sprinkle it on the doorposts of the houses.

3. Israel came out of Egypt (which is also a symbol for us of getting out of sin and the world), but later, in order to free ourselves from Egypt, he had to go through water. God chose the water – the Red Sea to free Israel from Egypt. So today conversion can be compared to the Exodus from Egypt. But the way of the Israelites would not have been long had it not been for the crossing of the sea. Egypt (the world, sin) would quickly catch up with them and swallow them up.

4. Naaman the Syrian was healed of leprosy on the basis of God’s Word given to him by the prophet Elisha, but by obeying that Word and dipping seven times in the river. He wasn’t healed in 4, 5, 6 dives, but in the 7th time he did exactly what God wanted him to do. So we should obey God’s Word in exactly the same way today.

5. The example of the flood, when God washed the world from sin with water. 1Pet 3:20-21

WATER BAPTISM IN THE BIBLE

Peter spoke to the crowd, and many accepted his words, and on the same day they were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who [m]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
[Acts 2:38-41 NKJV]

Many of the people of Samaria believed Philip and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[Acts 8:12-16 NKJV]

The King’s eunuch believed and was immediately baptized by Philip.

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.
[Acts 8:36-38 NKJV]

Baptism of the Apostle Paul.

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
[Acts 9:17-18 NKJV]

Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
[Acts 22:14-16 NKJV]

Peter commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized after they believed the gospel and received the Holy Spirit.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “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.
[Acts 10:44-48 NKJV]

The godly woman Lydia had an open heart and believed with her home.

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.
[Acts 16:14-15 NKJV]

The prison guard, after hearing the gospel, was baptized in water with his house that same day. It was, as seen here and elsewhere, a natural decision after preaching the gospel.

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
[Acts 16:30-34 NKJV]

Baptism of the synagogue leader and many Corinthians.

hen Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.
[Acts 18:8 NKJV]

Apollos preached the Lord Jesus knowing only about John’s baptism, but other disciples explained to him more precisely the way of God.

This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
[Acts 18:25-26 NKJV]

Paul met a group of disciples who were baptized with the baptism of John but not baptized into the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit. This passage clearly shows that you can “be a believer” and not have the Holy Spirit, and that John’s baptism is not the baptism into Jesus Christ. We may think we are baptized, but this may not be biblical baptism.

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 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.
[Acts 19:1-6 NKJV]

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BAPTISM?

1. FAITH wholeheartedly in Jesus Christ. To believe is to turn your back on the world and your life and follow the Lord Jesus. To believe that He is, to believe His Word. Ready to leave everything for the Lord Jesus.

2. REPENTANCE – understanding the sin in your life, your guilt. Repentance of one’s sins consisting in 100% willingness to turn away from everything bad and sinful. The baptized person must know and understand what he wants to crucify and bury in baptism.

3. Full IMMERSION in water.

4. Baptism into JESUS CHRIST, His Name, person. Not simply “baptism”, not baptism into an institution. It is important that the baptized person knows in whom they are baptized.

5. Own, conscious and unforced DECISION!

SECOND BAPTISM / REBAPTIM?

Shall I be baptized again?

What if you feel doubt that your baptism, which you theoretically already had in your life, was actually a biblical baptism?

1. If the baptism you have undergone in your life definitely deviates from the above requirements, you should declare it invalid and receive biblical baptism into the Lord Jesus. Of particular importance is the awareness of what baptism is, in whom one is baptized and what one wants to bury.

(e.g. infant baptism is not by faith, by choice, not by immersion, no understanding of sin. Not even sin because the infant inherits a corrupt nature, but it’s hard to attribute sin to him.)

2. If the finer points have not been kept, then you must discern for yourself with God, with yourself, with other believers. God will show you what to do! If this is going to torment you, you’d better baptize yourself properly (although remember that your opponent is accusing you all the time). If, on the other hand, you have peace of mind that the previous baptism is valid, then do not be baptized a second time.

* There are no baptism formulas or ritual-style requirements in the Bible. The validity of a baptism is not determined by: the place of baptism, the quality of the water, who administered it and what exactly was said, whether it failed to immerse the whole hair or the tip of the elbow, lack of full understanding of all the truths of the faith, or the imperfection of the baptized.

How can I receive water baptism?

Option number 1: Attend a regular baptism organized by your local church. Find out if they baptize biblically. It is often necessary to report to a pastor or elder for an interview and possibly a short course.

Option number 2: If possible, you could be water baptized in a smaller home community, or ask a disciple of Jesus you know to help you. Baptism can take place in a swimming pool, by a lake, in a bathtub, in a garden pool, etc. The form is not the most important thing here.

water baptism

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