Part 1 1

Water BaptismWater BaptismAuthority and ActionAuthority and Action

Part 1 2

He who believes He who believes and is baptized and is baptized will be saved; will be saved; but he who does but he who does not believe will not believe will be condemned.be condemned.

Mark 16:16Mark 16:16

Part 1 3

Much DisagreementMuch Disagreement• Purpose of baptismPurpose of baptism• Mode of baptismMode of baptism• Element of baptismElement of baptism• Subject of baptismSubject of baptism• Time of baptismTime of baptism• Not God’s fault! Not God’s fault! 1 Cor. 14:33 1 Cor. 14:33

(Jno. 8:32; Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17)(Jno. 8:32; Eph. 3:3-4; 5:17)

Part 1 4

Baptist Church:Baptist Church:Baptism not Necessary for SalvationBaptism not Necessary for Salvation

““While While baptismbaptism is is importantimportant it is it is notnot necessarynecessary for for salvationsalvation. The biblical . The biblical passages quoted by the Churches of passages quoted by the Churches of Christ to argue for the necessity of Christ to argue for the necessity of water baptism do not prove their point.”water baptism do not prove their point.”

Website: North American Mission Board, SBC Website: North American Mission Board, SBC (emphasis, jrp)(emphasis, jrp)

Part 1 5

New Baptist president wants New Baptist president wants 1 million baptisms a year 1 million baptisms a year

““As the new president of the Southern As the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Rev. Bobby Welch Baptist Convention, the Rev. Bobby Welch says he will travel to all 50 states to push says he will travel to all 50 states to push his goal of baptizing 1 million people a his goal of baptizing 1 million people a year.”year.”

--Skagit Valley HeraldSkagit Valley Herald, C1, 14Aug2004, C1, 14Aug2004

Part 1 6

““Christian baptismChristian baptism is the immersion of a is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is anthe Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act ofact of obedienceobedience symbolizing the believer’s faith symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.of life in Christ Jesus.

Baptist Faith and MessageBaptist Faith and Message

Part 1 7

““It is a It is a testimony to his faithtestimony to his faith in the final in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a resurrection of the dead. Being a church church ordinanceordinance, it is , it is prerequisiteprerequisite to the to the privileges of privileges of church membershipchurch membership and to and to the the Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper.”.”

The Baptist Faith and MessageThe Baptist Faith and MessageVII. Baptism and the Lord’s SupperVII. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper

(emphasis mine)(emphasis mine)

Baptist Faith and MessageBaptist Faith and Message

Part 1 8

Question:Question:Why all the time & expense Why all the time & expense over something said to be over something said to be

unnecessaryunnecessary for salvation? for salvation?

Part 1 9

If baptism is not necessary for salvation, If baptism is not necessary for salvation, then according to SBC, then according to SBC, not necessary tonot necessary to::

• Obey to be saved Obey to be saved (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9)(Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9)• Show one’s faith to be saved Show one’s faith to be saved (Jas. 2:17)(Jas. 2:17)• Show faith in resurrection Show faith in resurrection (Jno. 11:25-26)(Jno. 11:25-26)• Be member of Baptist Church Be member of Baptist Church (Acts 2:47; (Acts 2:47;

1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4; 5:23)1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 4:4; 5:23)• Eat the Lord’s Supper Eat the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:24-26)(1 Cor. 11:24-26)

Part 1 10

Beware the Tradition of MenBeware the Tradition of MenColossians 2:8Colossians 2:8

• Speak the words of God, Speak the words of God, 1 Pet. 4:111 Pet. 4:11• First principles needed, First principles needed, 2 Pet. 1:122 Pet. 1:12• Establish your faith, Establish your faith, Col. 2:6-8Col. 2:6-8• Persuade you to obey the gospel of Persuade you to obey the gospel of

Christ & be saved, Christ & be saved, Acts 22:16Acts 22:16

Part 1 11

Divine Authority for BaptismDivine Authority for BaptismMatthew 21:23-27Matthew 21:23-27

• Authority of Christ, Authority of Christ, Matt. 28:18-19Matt. 28:18-19• In the name of: In the name of: A A relationshiprelationship

with God that is by with God that is by divinedivine authorityauthority (Gal. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5:17)(Gal. 3:27; 2 Cor. 5:17)

Part 1 12

Divine Authority for BaptismDivine Authority for BaptismMatthew 21:23-27Matthew 21:23-27

• Not a “baptismal formula” or rite, Not a “baptismal formula” or rite, Matt. 28:18-19Matt. 28:18-19• Allegiance to & relation with Christ,Allegiance to & relation with Christ,

Acts 19:2-5; 16:14-15 (Gal. 3:27)Acts 19:2-5; 16:14-15 (Gal. 3:27)

Part 1 13

Authority Applied through WordAuthority Applied through Word1 Corinthians 1:13-171 Corinthians 1:13-17

• Not by the person who baptizesNot by the person who baptizes• Christ was crucified for you,Christ was crucified for you, 1:131:13• Baptized into His name,Baptized into His name, 1:131:13• Therefore, be named after ChristTherefore, be named after Christ

• Authorized by Christ through gospel, Authorized by Christ through gospel, not the person who baptizesnot the person who baptizes

Part 1 14

Authority Applied through WordAuthority Applied through Word1 Corinthians 1:13-171 Corinthians 1:13-17

• Not a “church ordinance”Not a “church ordinance”• Baptism before the church, Baptism before the church, Acts 2:41Acts 2:41• How one is added to church, How one is added to church, ActsActs 2:47 2:47

(1 Cor. 12:13)(1 Cor. 12:13)• Authorized by Christ through gospel, Authorized by Christ through gospel,

not the churchnot the church

Part 1 15

The Element of Baptism The Element of Baptism “in the name of” Jesus Christ“in the name of” Jesus Christ

• A commanded element, A commanded element, Acts 2:38, 41Acts 2:38, 41• Not the Holy Spirit, Not the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:12-17 Acts 8:12-17 • Water is commanded, Water is commanded, Acts 10:47-48Acts 10:47-48• Baptism “in the name of” Jesus Baptism “in the name of” Jesus

Christ is Christ is waterwater baptism! baptism!

Part 1 16

The Action of BaptismThe Action of Baptism• Usage of the word (Usage of the word (baptobapto): “to dip, ): “to dip,

dip in, immerse…Jno. 13:26”dip in, immerse…Jno. 13:26”• baptizo:baptizo: “baptize” (80), “baptize” (80), Acts 2:38Acts 2:38• baptisma:baptisma: “baptism” (22), “baptism” (22), Eph. 4:5Eph. 4:5• baptismos:baptismos: “baptisms, washings” (4), “baptisms, washings” (4),

Heb. 6:2Heb. 6:2• baptistēs:baptistēs: “a baptizer”, “Baptist” (14), “a baptizer”, “Baptist” (14),

cf. John, cf. John, Matt. 3:1Matt. 3:1

Part 1 17

Action of BaptismAction of Baptism• The lexicons:The lexicons:

• baptizobaptizo::• ““to baptize....was used among the Greeks to baptize....was used among the Greeks

to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc.” another, etc.” ((VineVine, 50), 50)

• ““prop. to dip repeatedly, to immerge, prop. to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge...to cleanse by dipping or submerge...to cleanse by dipping or submerging…” submerging…” ((ThayerThayer, 94), 94)

Part 1 18

Action of BaptismAction of Baptism• The lexicons:The lexicons:

• baptizobaptizo::• Bagster: “To dip, to immerse”Bagster: “To dip, to immerse”• Bloomfield: “to immerse; to sink”Bloomfield: “to immerse; to sink”• Donnegan: “to immerse…to submerge”Donnegan: “to immerse…to submerge”• Greenfield: “to immerse, immerge, Greenfield: “to immerse, immerge,

submerge, sink” submerge, sink”• Green: “to dip, immerse:Green: “to dip, immerse:• Liddell & Scott: “to dip in or under water”Liddell & Scott: “to dip in or under water”

Part 1 19

Action of BaptismAction of Baptism• The lexicons:The lexicons:

• baptismabaptisma::• ““baptism, consisting of the processes of baptism, consisting of the processes of

immersion, submersion and emergence immersion, submersion and emergence (from (from baptobapto, to dip)” , to dip)” ((VineVine, One Vol. Ed., 50), One Vol. Ed., 50)

• “…“…immersion, submersion” immersion, submersion” ((ThayerThayer, 94), 94)

Part 1 20

Action of BaptismAction of Baptism• Contextual usage:Contextual usage:

• Matt. 3:16:Matt. 3:16: “When He had been “When He had been baptized, Jesus baptized, Jesus went upwent up straightway straightway out ofout of the the waterwater””

• Jno. 3:23:Jno. 3:23: “…there was “…there was much watermuch water there” there” ((“were many waters there”“were many waters there”, YLT), YLT)

• Acts 8:38-39:Acts 8:38-39: “…went “…went down intodown into the the waterwater, and he , and he baptizedbaptized him…they him…they came came up out ofup out of the water…” the water…”

Part 1 21

Action of BaptismAction of Baptism• The figure of baptism is The figure of baptism is burialburial

• Col. 2:12:Col. 2:12: ““buriedburied with Him in baptism” with Him in baptism”• Rom. 6:4: Rom. 6:4: “Therefore we were “Therefore we were buriedburied

with Him through baptism into death”with Him through baptism into death”• Rom. 6:5:Rom. 6:5: “For if we have been “For if we have been united united

togethertogether in the in the likenesslikeness of His of His deathdeath” ”

Part 1 22

What about Sprinkling?What about Sprinkling?• 22ndnd cent: cent: Allowed if a scarcity of water Allowed if a scarcity of water

Part 1 23

• 22ndnd cent: cent: Allowed if a scarcity of water Allowed if a scarcity of water• 251 AD:251 AD: Death bed (clinical baptism) Death bed (clinical baptism)• 753 AD:753 AD: Pope Stephen II okayed cases Pope Stephen II okayed cases

(illness, cold weather, infants, hindrances)(illness, cold weather, infants, hindrances)• 99thth cent: cent: Still viewed as exceptional Still viewed as exceptional• 1313thth cent: cent: Thomas Aquinas said allowable Thomas Aquinas said allowable• 1311 AD:1311 AD: Council of Ravenna approved it Council of Ravenna approved it• 1616thth cent: cent: John Calvin was indifferent John Calvin was indifferent

Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9Galatians 1:6-9; 2 John 9

What about Sprinkling?What about Sprinkling?

Part 1 24

Water BaptismWater Baptism• Not a church ordinanceNot a church ordinance• Not a rite or ceremonyNot a rite or ceremony• Not validated by a certain personNot validated by a certain person• Authorized by Christ through His Authorized by Christ through His

gospel, gospel, Mk. 16:15-16Mk. 16:15-16• For salvation from sins, For salvation from sins, Acts 2:38;Acts 2:38;

Rom. 6:3-7; 1 Pet. 3:21Rom. 6:3-7; 1 Pet. 3:21