Understanding Baptism
Is My Baptism Valid?
Is it Possible to Receive a Baptism that is not valid?
John’s Baptism Prepared his hearers for
the kingdom (Matt 3:1-3) Fruit of repentance
(Luke 7:30) Purpose of God (Luke
7:30) Forgiveness in prospect
of the Christ (Mk 1:4; Acts 19:4)
Is it Possible to Receive a Baptism that is not valid?
Ephesus Disciples Believed strongly in the
Christ Sincere God Seekers Baptized into John’s
baptism Their baptism was still
invalid
Was my baptism by Immersion?
Baptism = Immersionβάπτω means to “to dip in or under”
(trans.): Hom. Od., 9, 392; Aesch. Prom., 863: …The intens. [βαπτίζω
occurs in the sense of “to immerse” (trans.) from the time of Hippocrates,
in Plato and esp. in later writers, a. strictly, act. βαπτίζειν τὸ σκάφος, “to
sink the ship,”
Was my baptism by Immersion?
Baptism = Immersion Paul describes baptism as a
“burial in Christ” (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12)
When Christ was buried He was placed in the “heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40)
The action of baptism in the New Testament was immersion (Acts 8:38-39)
Was my baptism in Water?
Water Baptism “See here is water, what hinders
me from being baptized…” (Acts 8:36, 38)
“Surely no one can refuse water for these to be baptized…” (Acts 10:47-48)
This cannot refer to Holy Spirit baptism, water baptism is commanded
Was my baptism in Water?
Holy Spirit Baptism Direct outpouring in a
miraculous way for confirmation and empowerment
Miraculous gift, not a commandment
Received by the Apostles and Cornelius (Act 1:5; 11:15-17)
Baptism into Christ is never described as Holy Spirit baptism
Was I a proper subject for Baptism?
For Sinners Baptism is for those seeking
forgiveness of sins (Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38, 22:16)
Infants are not sinners and so do not need baptism
The candidate must be convicted of sin
Was I a proper subject for Baptism?
For SinnersRequired for those who
have been taught the Gospel
Baptism must be preceded by repentance
Baptism must be received by a penitent believer in Christ
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
Express Purpose Scripture expressly states
baptism is for forgiveness of sins
More than repeating words, the candidate must understand the purpose
This understanding must precede baptism
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
Acts 2:38 “Repent and let each of
you be baptized” (NASB)
This emphasizes the need for each individual to be baptized
Repentance is active baptism is passive
“The command to repent is in the
second person plural and the command to be baptized is in the
third person singular”
Argument
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
"Henry J. Cadbury, member of the Revised Standard Version
Committee...has this to say... ‘The grammar of the sentence in Acts 2:38 is perfectly regular and better Greek
than if the author had kept the second person plural ‘baptize’ after using the singular ‘each.’ I have no doubt that another author would have written ‘Do ye repent,’ and ‘be ye baptized,’
each of you…”
“The command to repent is in the
second person plural and the command to be baptized is in the
third person singular”
Argument
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
” …But this writer seems to have preferred the less loose construction…
I think that there would be no essential difference in meaning.’
Whether you said ‘Do ye repent, and be ye baptized each of you,’ or as it stands exactly, there would be no essential difference in meaning." (Warren/Ballard Debate, p.164)
“The command to repent is in the
second person plural and the command to be baptized is in the
third person singular”
Argument
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
Acts 2:38 “remission of sins”
modifies both “baptism” and “repentance”
The term “for” is not used in a causal sense but indicates purpose and literally means “in order to” or “so as to obtain”
“for the remission of sins” means
“because of the remission of
sins”
Argument
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
Acts 2:38 “eis aphesin hamartion, to
obtain the forgiveness of sins” (Thayer).
“eis is defined as expressing ‘purpose,’ with the sense of ‘in order to,’ rendered the same phrase: “for forgiveness of sins, so that sins might be forgiven . . . Acts 2:38…” (BDAG)
‘for the remission of sins’ means
‘because of the remission of
sins’
Argument
Was my baptism for the remission of sins?
Acts 2:38 “… eis, in Acts 2:38, is designed to
indicate purpose” (Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, 1990, Vol. 1, 399).
– “the “causal” use of eis in Acts 2:38 (i.e., “because of” instead of “in order to”) has been demonstrated to fail in terms of linguistic evidence.” (Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics p. 370).
‘for the remission of sins’ means
‘because of the remission of
sins’
Argument
Did I obey from the heart?
From the HeartObedience demands hearing
and submission (Heb 5:9)Obedience is the natural
expression of saving faithBaptism is described as
“obedience unto righteousness” (Romans 6:16)
Into what church were you baptized?
Added to His Church In baptism we are not only saved
we are also added to His church The Lord saves and adds
simultaneously At the moment of baptism we are
incorporated into His body We are not added to a
denominational body