BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

by brother Given O. Blakely

INTRODUCTION

 When it comes to matters that have been revealed by God, there is no room for human opinion, or the wisdom of men. What God has said is to be believed. That will bring glory to Him and blessing to the one who believes the word of the Lord. There is no substitute for believing God. Nor, indeed, is there anything that can compensate for a failure to desire to believe Him.

 The subject of this study is “baptism,” and it is something concerning which the Holy Spirit has said very much. The purpose for this study is to encourage you to see “baptism” the way God intends for you to see it, for that is the only way to be blessed by God.

 There is considerable disagreement among Christians on the subject of baptism, and I write with a very keen awareness of that unfortunate circumstance. However, my intention is not to side with what men have said on this subject, or to promote what a particular church or contemporary individual has said on this subject. That is not as proper way to approach any matter on which the Lord has spoken. The objective is to understand what God intended by what He said.

 I will, therefore, affirm what the Lord has said about baptism, and the various associations that are made with baptism in the Scriptures. I will make no apology for what the Spirit of the Lord has inspired to be written. Nor, indeed, will I make an attempt to stuff what is written in Scripture into the opposing traditions of men.

You will be expected to believe what God has said, and to reflect that belief in your life and in your teaching. Like myself, God will hold you accountable for how you respond to and handle what He has said. If you find your present beliefs do not harmonize with the Word of the Lord, they your duty is clear. You must abandon those contradicting persuasions, casting them from you as refuse and “dung” – just like Paul did: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Phil 3:8).

BAPTISM IS ASSOCIATED WITH SALVATION

 You may have heard someone say that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. It is not uncommon to hear this said among professing Christians. However, God never said such as thing, nor did He ever suggest this to be a proper representation of the case. When we want to see the matter of baptism properly, we must consider what God has said about baptism itself – not what He has said about other subjects. Here, then, I will show what the Lord has said on the subject of baptism. We can only expect to take hold of the truth of a subject when we devote ourselves to what God has said about that subject. You will not come to a proper understanding of baptism studying what God has said about faith, or works, or some other subject. You must deal with what he has said about baptism itself, and that is what we will do.

What Jesus Said

The Lord Jesus Himself sent His disciples into the world to preach the Gospel and make disciples. In His commission He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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” (Matt 28:18-20). Mark records this commission in these words, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

A person who is preaching the Gospel is, therefore, to consider the baptizing of those who believe the message a part of the work to be done. This is not something to argue about, but something to do. The King has spoken, and there simply is no room for disagreement on the matter. Jesus said “Baptizing them!” Who is the person who would dare to say we ought not to do so. Jesus said the one who believes and is baptized will be saved. Who is the person who will garble what He said by declaring he would believes and is saved should be baptized?” We must say it like King Jesus has said it.

 The day of Pentecost. When the disciples preached the Gospel, those who believed were moved to be baptized. The book of Acts make a point of this. On the day of Pentecost, when the Gospel was first preached in the power and illumination of the Holy Spirit, the people were convicted in their hearts of their sin – the sin of crucifying the Lord of glory.” They cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter did not hesitate in his answer. Knowing what the Lord Jesus had said about baptism, it is written, “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” (Acts 2:38). It is also written “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). They were not baptized the next week, but “the same day.” This is how the Holy Spirit reported that blessed occasion.

 Philip in Samaria. Later, when Philip went down to Samaria to preach the Gospel, the people believed what he said. It is written of that occasion, “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 8:12). Those who believed “were baptized” – that is how the Spirit said it. They did not wait to be baptized, but did so “when they believed.”

The Ethiopian Eunuch. After preaching in Samaria, Philip was sent by God to a desert road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he found a political official riding in a chariot and reading the Bible. Directed by a holy angel, Philip ran to the chariot, and asked the man if he understood what he was reading. The man replied that he did not understand whether the text he was reading was speaking about the prophet who wrote it, or of some other man. The man needed someone to explain the text to him. Philip found the man was reading from the 53^rdchapter of Isaiah – a passage that spoke about the coming Savior, Jesus Christ. He started at that text and preached Jesus to the man, who, we are told, was an Ethiopian eunuch. The man believed what Philip was saying and asked, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Philip, knowing what Jesus had said about baptism, replied, “If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest.” The man immediately replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He then “commanded the chariot to stand still,” and Philip and the eunuch “went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:37-38). Again, the man was baptized right way, with no delay. What kind of question would people ask who hear the various gospels that are in the world today? Why didn’t that eunuch ask, “How do I receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost? Why didn’t he ask, “What do I have to do so I can work miracles?” Why did he ask about baptism? It is obvious that Philips preaching provoked him to ask that question. Our preaching should do the same. I do not doubt that Philip told the man Jesus Himself was baptized. After all, that is included in the Gospel (Mark 1:1,9-10).

 Saul of Tarsus. When Saul of Tarsus was called by Jesus on the Road to Damascus, he was struck blind. When Saul asked Jesus what he should do, the Lord told him to go into the city, and someone would tell him what he was supposed to do. Upon arriving at the appointed place, Saul fasted and remained in prayer for three full days. It was then that a man named Ananas came to him, being sent by the Lord. After telling Saul that Jesus had called him to be a witness for Him, and to turn men from Satan to God, Ananias said to him, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). Once again, there was no tarrying. It is written that he “received his sight forthwith, and arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18).

 The House of Cornelius. When God first sent Peter to the Gentiles, he went to the house of a man named Cornelius. This man was told by an angel that Peter would come to him and “shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” (Acts 11:14). When Peter arrived, he first told Cornelius that God had sent him, then he began preaching. It is written that the Holy Spirit fell on these Gentiles while Peter was preaching, thus confirming to Peter that the Gentiles were included in the great salvation of God. Knowing what Jesus had said about baptism, Peter replied, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:47-48). Again, the believers were baptized right away. In fact, they were “commanded” to do so.

 Lydia and Her Household. Some time later, Paul and Silas were directed by God to go into Macedonia to preach the Gospel. When they arrived there, they found some women praying by a river. They sat down and declared the Gospel to the women. It is written that when they did this, a certain woman named Lydia believed what they had said. Of that occasion it is written, “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul” (Acts 16:14). Immediately, “she was baptized,” and asked Paul and Silas to spend some time in her house (Acts 16:15). Again, baptism took place immediately.

 Philippian Jailor. Following the conversion of Lydia, Paul and Silas were eventually arrested and placed in jail in Philippi. While in jail, with their feet restrained in stocks, these two men sand praises to God, and the other prisoners heard them. As though honoring His faithful servants, the Lord sent an earthquake that resulted in the freeing of all the prisoners. Knowing what had happened, the jailor was afraid the prisoners had all escaped, and he thought to take his own life. Running in with his sword drawn, and about to commit suicide, he heard Paul quickly say, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” The jailor “called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.” He knew something miraculous had happened, and that God was on the side of the men he had beaten and imprisoned. Bringing Paul and Silas out he said to them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul quickly answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Because the man had not yet heard the Gospel of Christ, “they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.” The result is recorded in these words, “And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:24-33). Once again, the believers were baptized immediately – “the same hour of the night.”

 Ephesian Disciples. In their travels in the Macedonian area, Paul and Silas came across some disciples from Ephesus. Evidently, it was apparent that these men had not been exposed to the Gospel, so Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed. Remarkably, the men confessed, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost” (Acts 19:2). Paul then asked them about their baptism, and they replied they had been baptized “unto John’s baptism.” Immediately Paul knew they had not yet heard the Gospel of Christ, but only the preaching of John the Baptist, who was sent to prepare people for Jesus. He explained to the men, “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus” (Acts 19:4). It is written, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). Again, the baptism took place right away.

 I have shown you how the commission of Jesus was carried out in the book of Acts, which is a record of the activities of the Apostles and the early spread of the Gospel of Christ. If we had no more teaching on the subject than this, we should be convinced that baptism is associated with salvation – first, because Jesus said it was, and second because that is how His disciples understood His words.

What Peter Said

 In his First Epistle, Peter spoke of baptism. His teaching on the subject is not extensive, but it is very plain and powerful. He mentions those who were saved in Noah’s ark, making a most unusual statement. He first tells us that Jesus went in the Spirit and preached “unto the spirits in prison.” These were people who had died, and were confined in some unknown region. Later Peter tells us that Jesus “preached the Gospel” to these spirits: “For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (1 Pet 4:6). This is a most unusual circumstance. Yet, it is to be believed, even though there are many things about it we do not understand. We do know this cannot be speaking about the Spirit of Jesus preaching in Noah, for Noah did not preach the Gospel. He had no good news to declare, for God had determined to destroy the world of Noah’s day, not to save it. In his time, Noah and his family were the only ones with any good news from God.

 Referring to this unique circumstance Peter says of these spirits, “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” (1 Pet 3:20). These “eight souls” were “saved by water” – that is, the water that drowned every one else, actually became a testimony to Noah and his family of God’s acceptance of them. The ark floated on the waters that destroyed everyone else. Now, Peter reasons on this circumstance adding, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21). Notice, men say “Baptism does NOT save us.” Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says, “baptism DOTH ALSO NOW save us.” You must decide which word you will believe.

 Peter continues to show us how baptism saves us. It is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh.” That is, baptism is not a mere ceremony, as was instituted under the Law. Of those lifeless ceremonies the Scriptures say, “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation” (Heb 9:10). The “washing” that took place under the Law was only external, or outward. It did not touch the heart or the conscience. That “washing” only had to do with people being able to physically come into the camp. It dealt with ceremonial filthiness, not moral defilement.

 Baptism, however it not like that. It is “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” The idea is that in baptism, our conscience is cleansed – like sins being washed way, as Ananias told Saul (Acts 22:16). It is as though God answered our baptism by saying to our hearts, “You are forgiven, and your record is clear.”

Peter adds one other thing that must be seen. The effectiveness of baptism is said to be owing to “the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” If we read this verse without the parenthetical explanation, “(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God),” here is how it reads: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us BY the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21). I will tell you that anything empowered “by the resurrection of Christ” cannot be unimportant or optional. The resurrection of Christ has nothing whatsoever to do with the traditions of men, or things that do not have something to do with salvation. This is something that should be very apparent to you.

What Paul Said

 Paul the Apostle was sent to the Gentile world. His commission was, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). How does he speak about baptism? What kind of importance does he attach to it? Remember what he was sent to do! He was to “open men’s eyes” – that is, to bring spiritual understanding to them, so they could see the truth and embrace it. He was sent to turn men away from darkness, so they would not stumble through life, making mistakes, and having wrong ideas about God and His great salvation. He was to turn men to the light, so they could see, understand, comprehend, and discern – so the Word of God would make sense to them. He was to turn men from the power of Satan, so he could not hold them in bondage any longer – bondage to ignorance as well as iniquity. He was to turn men to God, from whom they would receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. All of this would be done so that the people could receive the forgiveness of sins, having them blotted out, and God remembering them no more. He was also to bring people to the point where they could receive the inheritance that God has prepared for those who are reserved for Him because of their faith. What does a person like that have to say about baptism?

 Baptized into Christ’s death. There is no vagueness in what Paul says on this matter. It is found in his teaching about the unreasonableness of sin. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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” (Rom 6:4). Our baptism is something that took place at a particular point in time – something with which we are familiar. This is not speaking of being baptized with the Holy Spirit, for that is not associated with Christ’s death. To be baptized into Christ’s death is to be placed into the realm where we receive the benefits of His death. Those benefits include being saved (Rom 5:9), reconciled (Rom 5:10), and realizing the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), redemption (Col 1:14), and living together with Him (1 Thess 5:10).

 Paul continues to reason on baptism throughout the sixth chapter of Romans. If a person chooses to think of baptism as something that has nothing to do with salvation, or a response that optional and not essential, it will be like tearing the sixth chapter of Romans out of the Bible. Ponder what is said about baptism in this remarkable text of Scripture.

· We rise from baptism to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:4).

· In baptism we are planted together in the likeness of Christ’s death that we may also be in the likeness of his resurrection (Rom 6:5).

· In baptism, our “old man,” or sinful nature, is crucified with Christ, that the entirety of that nature might be destroyed (Rom 6:6).

· If, in baptism, we are “dead with Christ,” we believe that we will also live together with Him (Rom 6:8).

· Because of our baptism, we are to reckon ourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. That is, we are to be confident of these things, and live in the power of them (Rom 6:11).

· Following our baptism, our capacities of expression are to be yielded to God, not to sin (Rom 6:13-16).

· Baptism is “the form of the doctrine” that was delivered to us (Rom 6:17). The doctrine if the “death” (Rom 6:3), “burial” (Rom 6:4), and “resurrection” (Rom 6:9) of Christ (1 Coir 15:2). All of those are portrayed in our baptism, in which we are effectively identified with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.

· In submitting to be baptized (“the form of the doctrine”), we were “made free from sin” and “became the servants of righteousness” (Rom 6:18).

 Now, ask yourself the question, “Does being in Christ’s death have anything to do with being saved?” The answer should be very obvious to you.

 Baptized Into Christ, and Putting On Christ. Again, Paul speak plainly on the subject. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). Whatever we may think about getting into Christ, Paul says we were “baptized into Christ.” This cannot refer to some mystical experience that cannot be clearly identified. It is not the manner of the Spirit to reason with us about something that cannot be clearly recognized by us. Our baptism took place at a particular point in time, in a specific place, and even by a particular person. It was a point in time when we became a part of Christ (“baptized into Christ”), and Christ became a part of us (“put on Christ”).

 Now, ask yourself the question, “Does coming into Christ and putting on Christ have anything to do with being saved?” Is not the answer very clear to you?

 The Circumcision of Christ. Of old time, Moses prophesied of a time when the Lord would circumcise the hearts of the people. “And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live” (Deut 30:6). This refers to making the people of a tender and sensitive heart. It is what Ezekiel referred to as the removal of a heart of stone, and the giving of a heart of flesh (Ezek 11:19; 36:26). The people would not be hard hearted anymore. Later, Paul said that real circumcision took place in the heart, not in the flesh: “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Rom 2:29). Now, in Christ, this circumcision actually takes place.

 Paul refers to this as “the circumcision of Christ,” and he associates it with our baptism. “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: buried with Him in baptism . . . ” (Col 2:11-12). When we were “buried with Him in baptism,” the circumcision took place. It was then that He cut away the flesh from us – the things that had alienated us from God, making us incapable of being sensitive to Him, hearing His voice and seeing His works. The deadness was cut away from our hearts so that they could become tender.

 Paul continues by identifying “the circumcision of Christ” with the time when we were “buried with Him IN baptism, WHEREIN (that is, in baptism) “ALSO ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God.” By this he means when we were “buried with Christ” God connected us with Jesus, so that when we were raised, we were raised with Him. This means that we are now identified with the resurrection power of Jesus, which enables us to be triumphant over sin.

 Now, ask yourself the question, “Does the circumcision of Christ, and being buried and raised with Him ,have anything to do with being saved?” The answer is clearly “YES!”

REASONING FROM HEBREWS

 There is a phrase in the book of Hebrews that refers to our baptism into Christ Jesus. It is teaching us about our access to God, and is urging us to come close to Him. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb 10:22).

Drawing Near

 Drawing near to God, or coming close to Him, is contrasted with the conditions that existed under the Old Covenant. Under Moses, the people were not allowed to come to close to God. In fact, they were commanded to keep at a distance from Him. Hear the awful word spoken from Mount Sinai, from which the Law was given, and where the Old Covenant was made. “And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount” (Ex 19:12-13).

This condition existed because the people were not cleansed. Their sins were not forgiven, because it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin (Heb 10:4). The people did not think like God, and their ways were not His ways. That is why He said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa 55:8-9). In that condition, when they came close to God His wrath was awakened, and they stood in danger of being consumed.

But now, in Christ Jesus, this is not the case. Our natures have been changed through the circumcision of Christ. Now we can think the thoughts of God, agreeing with Him, and delighting in His Word. Now we want to be close to Him, instead of being so afraid of Him we do not want Him to talk to us. God now welcomes us in His presence, and therefore says, “draw near!” It is like Him saying, “Do not stay away! Do stand afar off! Come close to Me and get the blessing!” He says this because in Christ Jesus we have “boldness,” or confidence to come close to the Lord – and we were “baptized into Christ.”

A True Heart

 A “true heart” is a sincere heart – one that is without pretense or hypocrisy. It is a heart that does not condemn us when we stand before God. And why is it that our heart does not condemn us? It is because it has been circumcised by Jesus in our baptism. It is because we have obtained a good conscience in our baptism – a conscience that has been purged by the blood of Jesus. Now, when we come before the Lord, we do not remember that we have sinned, but that our sins have been forgiven. That, of course, is what we also remember at the Lord’s table, where we are said to “proclaim the Lord’s death till He come” (Heb 11:26).

Full Assurance of Faith

 A strong faith brings assurance and confidence to the believer. That is, when the person who is in Christ comes conscientiously before the Lord – that is, he is before God and knows it – he is not afraid of being condemned. The “full assurance of faith” expects blessing, not cursing, and the smile of an approving God rather than the frown of an angry One. This also is the effect the cleansed conscience and circumcised heart, both obtained in our baptism.

Sprinkled Hearts

 Sprinkled hearts are hearts that have been sanctified, or set apart, by the blood of Jesus. Under the Law, the blood of the covenant was sprinkled on the people. As it is written, “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words” (Exodus 24:8). The book of Hebrews refers to this as a key point: “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you” (Heb 9:19-20). This is what put the people in covenant with God.

The difficulty with the Old Covenant is that it was not a covenant of blessing. Rather, it was a covenant of works. That is, in order to obtain favor from God, the people had to do everything God told them, all the time, and without a single act of disobedience.

 Now, the whole situation has changed. In Christ Jesus our sins have been “washed away” in our baptism (Acts 22:16), we have been joined to Christ and put Him on in our baptism (Gal 3:27), and our hearts have been circumcised in our baptism with “the circumcision of Christ” (Col 2:11-12). Now the blood of Christ sets us apart as an accepted people (Eph 1:6) – a people in whom the Lord delights because we have believed the record He has given of His Son (1 John 5:10-11). The sprinkling of our hearts speaks of purity, and of an acceptance with God that we realize, and of which we have been persuaded.

Bodies Washed

 When our sins were “washed away” in our baptism, our bodies, at the same time, were “washed.” This is a purifying and sanctifying washing that means we can serve God with our bodies. That, of course, is the whole point of the sixth chapter of Romans. “Washed bodies” are referred to in such a way as to convince us we can now use them for the glory of God. Ponder what we are told about our bodies – now that we have been baptized.

· “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Rom 6:12). Our “mortal bodies” are bodies that are dying, yet can be used for serving the LIVING God. They do not have to be dominated by sin, even though that is what they want. They have been washed with the waters of baptism, and can now be used in the service of the Lord. The grace of God will teach us to say “NO!” to the sinful passions that rise within them (Tit 2:11-12). Having “washed us from our sins,” Jesus has now made us “kings and priests” unto God (Rom 1:5-6). One of our first commissions is to NOT ALLOW sin to reign in our mortal bodies. They have, after all, been “washed with pure water.”

· “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom 6:13). Our “instruments” are the various means of expression that we possess. They include our eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. What are we to do with these “members?” Now that our bodies have been “washed with pure water,” we are present them to the Lord for His own use. This requirement is also expressed in the twelfth chapter of Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom 12:1).

· “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Rom 6:19). Because our bodies have been “washed with pure water,” they can be used to produce the result of “holiness.” Holiness is a state of purity before the Lord. It involves the absence of sin and the presence of pureness. If we use our bodies to sin, doing the things that only please us, we will become more and more enslaved to sin, becoming more and more unclean and defiled before the Lord. However, if we yield our capacities as servants to righteousness, we will become more and more holy in a practical sense. Holiness, you must remember, is something that is to be pursued zealously. As it is written, Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). Is it possible for holiness to be pursued in this manner? Indeed it is! In Christ, your bodies have been “washed with pure water.”

A SUMMARY

 Although there is never a question about the necessity or effectiveness of baptism in Scripture, professing Christians dispute very much concerning this ordinance. Some believe that most of the references to baptism are speaking of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Others say it has nothing whatsoever to do with our salvation. Still others consider baptism as a sort of step in a sequence of commandments to be obeyed. Some think we are baptized after we are saved. Some feel baptism is what puts a person into the local church, yet has nothing to do with going to heaven.

 How should you feel about baptism? Has God spoken clearly about it? Does the Holy Spirit leave any question in our minds about how we are to think about baptism? I am going to say that this is one of the clearest subjects in all of the Bible. Wherever there are arguments put forward that say it is not essential, or that it has nothing to do with salvation, something is wrong with that person’s understanding. They have a bad heart, for there is simply too much said about baptism for any of God’s children to be ignorant of it.

JESUS WAS BAPTIZED

 Let me introduce this subject with a few elementary observations. Jesus was introduced to the world by John the Baptist, or John the baptizer. John was noted for baptizing people – baptizing them in water. In fact, he came baptizing because that is precisely where Jesus would first be revealed as the Son of God. John himself testified on this subject, explaining why he came baptizing. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a Man which is preferred before me: for He was before me. And I knew him not: but that He should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon Him. And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).

 Behold what John said.

01. He did not know who the Savior of the world was – even though Jesus Christ was his cousin. His mother Elizabeth was the first cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:36a).

02. John said he came baptizing because that is where Jesus, the Lamb of God, would be made known, or manifested – in baptism.

03. God sent John to baptize, telling him how Jesus would be made known. When the Savior was baptized, the Holy Spirit would descend from heaven and remain upon the Savior.

04. John saw this happen, and testified that Jesus was the Son of God.

 There are some other things about Christ’s baptism that should be noted. First, John tried to convince Jesus he should not baptize Him. When Jesus came to be baptized by him, John said, “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest thou to Me?” (Mat 3:14). Second, when Jesus was baptized, we are told He was “praying.” As He prayed, heaven opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son; in Thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). God confessed Jesus to be His well beloved Son when He was baptized.

 If this is all we knew about baptism, it would be enough to compel every person following Jesus to also be baptized. What would move any person to not follow Jesus in this matter, being baptized in water? Jesus has set the example, and you must not allow any person to take away the power of His example by saying you do not have to be baptized. That is what John told Jesus – that He should not be baptized by John. However, Jesus responded, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him” (Matt 3:15). No person who follows Jesus can fulfill all righteousness by refusing to be baptized.

BAPTISM IN WATER

 When the Bible speaks about “baptism,” it most always is referring to being baptized in water. To be baptized in water is to be buried in water – “buried with Christ by baptism into death” (Rom 6:4). When Jesus was baptized, it was in water. John was baptizing “in Aenon near to Salim, because there was MUCH water there: and they came, and were baptized” (John 3:23). John needed “much water” because he buried the people in the water. When Jesus was baptized, He went under the water, and “went up straightway out of the water” (Matt 3:16). Mark says Jesus “came up out of the water” (Mark 1:10).

 When Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius, God showed him that the Gentiles were received in Christ Jesus. After seeing this convincing proof, Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:47). They were then baptized in water. “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48).

 When Philip preached to the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch was convicted of his need to be baptized. “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Philip told him if he believed with all of his heart, he could be baptized. The eunuch responded, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37).” Immediately 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 8:38).

 In his first Epistle, Peter referred to baptism in a very remarkable way. He likened it to the waters of Noah’s flood, upon which the ark floated, keeping those eight souls safe. That water separated Noah from the rest of the world. “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. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: (1 Pet 3:20-21). The phrase “putting away of the filth of the flesh” does not refer to washing dirt off of the body, like taking a bath. Rather, this is referring to the ceremonies of the Law of Moses, which had many washings (Heb 9:10). Those washings did not cleanse the heart or the conscience, but were only outward ceremonies that allowed the people to come into the camp once again. In baptism, however, the conscience is purged, so that the individual does not feel defiled before the Lord. Peter says baptism “saves us” – baptism in water.

 Our baptism is also clearly related to spiritual circumcision, where our hearts are made new. This is confirmed by Colossians 2:11-12. "In Him [Christ] 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." Ponder the magnitude of this teaching! Jesus cut away, or circumcised, from our inner persons what was unacceptable to God, and He did it when we were baptized. In our baptism we were buried with Jesus. In our baptism we were also raised with Jesus, believing the work, or “operation,” that God performed in our baptism. No person can take that teaching seriously and wonder whether or not they should be baptized.

 Let it be clear in your mind: the essentiality and effectiveness of baptism are NEVER questioned in the Word of God. The Spirit consistently speaks of our baptism as a pivotal, or central, point in spiritual life – the point where some very essential things happened.

Baptism is associated with nearly every aspect of salvation. These associations confirm to us how important baptism really is. Here are a few of them.

01. Repentance: “REPENT and be baptized” (Acts 2:38).

02. The remission of sins” be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS” (Acts 2:38).

03. The gift of the Holy Spirit: “be baptized . . . and ye shall receive THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST” (Acts 2:38).

04. Believing: He that BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16) “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 8:12). “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, BELIEVED on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized” (Acts18:8).

05. Salvation: “He that believeth and is baptized SHALL BE SAVED” (Mark 16:16). “The like figure, whereunto baptism doth now also SAVE US”(1 Peter 3:21).

06. Being buried with Christ: “BURIED WITH HIM by baptism into death” (Rom 6:4). “BURIED WITH HIM in baptism” (Col 2:12).

07. Being raised with Christ: “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM” (Rom 6:4). “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are RISEN WITH HIM” (Col 2:12).

08. Being identified with Christ's death: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized INTO HIS DEATH?” (Rom 6:3).

09. Becoming dead to sin: “God forbid. How shall we, that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Rom 6:2-3).

10. Becoming alive to God: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? . . . Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but ALIVE UNTO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 6:3-11).

11. The circumcision of Christ, in which the whole body of sin is cut away: “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: 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” (Col 2:11-12).

12. Faith in the operation, or working, of God: “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” (Col 2:12).

13. Coming into Christ: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHRIST were baptized into his death?” (Rom 6:3). “For as many of you as have been BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27).

14. Putting on Christ: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have PUT ON CHRIST” (Gal 3:27).

15. A commandment: “And he COMMANDED THEM, TO BE BAPTIZED in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days” (Acts 10:48).

16. The confession of Christ: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? and Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD” (Acts 8:36-37).

17. Gladly receiving the Word of God: “Then they that GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41).

18. Washing away our sins: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and WASH AWAY THY SINS, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

19. Calling upon the name of the Lord: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, CALLING UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD” (Acts 22:16).

20. Coming into one body through the Spirit: “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” (1 Cor 12:13).

21. Obtaining a good conscience: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of A GOOD CONSCIENCE toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21).

22. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST” (Matt 28:19).

23. Believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:36-37).

 Just as with circumcision, and other ordained signs, there is no question about the necessity of baptism. One who argues that baptism is not necessary might as well attempt to tell Abraham that circumcision was not necessary, or that Israel did not really have to put the blood on the posts of their doors when they came out of Egypt (Exodus 12:7). It makes just as much sense to tell Israel they did not have to honor the Sabbath days.

To affirm that baptism has no bearing on our relationship to God is as absurd as saying circumcision was inconsequential to Abraham and his offspring. Such statements are unworthy of a child of God, and reflect an uncomely spirit.

However, when men begin to trust in their baptism, they have committed precisely the same sin as the Jews who trusted in circumcision. Faith must NOT be placed in the sign, but in the God of the sign.

 Can there be any question about the necessity of being baptized? Jesus told His disciples to make disciples, then to baptize them (Matt 28:19). If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and yet have not been baptized, then I say to you what Ananias said to Saul of Tarsus: “And now why tarriest thou? ARISE AND BE BAPTIZED, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). If you are a preacher or teacher, learn to do what Paul did when he baptized the Philippian jailor. It is written of that occasion, “And he took them THE SAME HOUR OF THE NIGHT, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway” (Acts 16:33).