So why would Christians need to be baptized, and how is it done, lets look.
Since Jesus is the way the truth and the life, obviously you would look at His example and His revealed will, especially on being baptized. The scriptures are our guide, and through them we can learn to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and we begin at his commision to preach the gospel to the world.
...Go 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 will be condemned. Mark 16:15,16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16
Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As Christ died, so we must die to sin; He was buried in the tomb, so we are buried in the watery grave; He was raised from the dead, so we are to be raised in newness of life. "Know you 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." Romans 6:3,4.
Some may ask if adults were immersed, but babies sprinkled as they see it done in some churches. But infants were never baptized in any form in Biblical times, either by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. There is no text or example that proves that sprinkling or pouring was used at any time. Immersion only was practiced as the only approved mode of baptism.
Jesus said: "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14. Some persons use this text to support their views on sprinkling. But they must remember that "Jesus Himself baptized not." John 4:2 Jesus received the children "and He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark 10:16. Jesus blessed the children, but did not baptize them. To pronounce a blessing on children is not to baptize them.
The word "baptism" comes from the Greek word "baptizo," which means "dip" or to "immerse;" but never to "sprinkle."
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Matthew 3
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Note that John the Baptist did his baptizing in the river Jordan. Ever wonder why? A clue is in the definition of baptism. Here are the Greek words used in connection with baptism, from Strong's Greek dictionary:
G907. baptizo, bap-tid'-zo; from a der. of G911; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N.T.) of ceremonial ablution, espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Chr. baptism:--baptist, baptize, wash.
G908. baptisma, bap'-tis-mah; from G907; baptism (techn. or fig.):--baptism.
G909. baptismos, bap-tis-mos'; from G907; ablution (cerem. or Chr.):--baptism, washing.
G910. Baptistes, bap-tis-tace'; from G907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:--Baptist.
G911. bapto, bap'-to; a prim. verb; to whelm, i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; in the N.T. only in a qualified or spec. sense, i.e. (lit.) to moisten (a part of one's person), or (by impl.) to stain (as with dye):--dip.
Apostolic baptism was by full immersion, and that is why John the Baptist used the river Jordan. In other words, the one being baptized was fully dunked under the water, which is clear from the Greek.
The only examples we have in the Bible of persons who were baptized were adults. Let us take a look at a few more examples of men and women who were baptized. Acts 8:12; 2:41,42.
Paul was baptized after he was converted. Acts 9:18. Of the three thousand that were baptized the record states: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:41,42.
There were certain disciples at Ephesus who had been baptized, but who had not received sufficient instruction. They said, "We have not so much as heard
whether there be any Holy Ghost." Then Paul reminded them of what John had said, "that they should believe on ... Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19:2-5. Thus they were baptized again after they received sufficient instruction.
So why immersion? What is the reason for it?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
Col 2:12 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.
Baptism is symbolic of burial with Christ, which is the reason for full immersion, and coming up out of the water is symbolic of being raised from the dead to a new and eternal life.
Since Jesus is the way the truth and the life, obviously you would look at His example and His revealed will, especially on being baptized. The scriptures are our guide, and through them we can learn to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and we begin at his commision to preach the gospel to the world.
...Go 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 will be condemned. Mark 16:15,16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Mark 16:16
Baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. As Christ died, so we must die to sin; He was buried in the tomb, so we are buried in the watery grave; He was raised from the dead, so we are to be raised in newness of life. "Know you 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." Romans 6:3,4.
Some may ask if adults were immersed, but babies sprinkled as they see it done in some churches. But infants were never baptized in any form in Biblical times, either by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. There is no text or example that proves that sprinkling or pouring was used at any time. Immersion only was practiced as the only approved mode of baptism.
Jesus said: "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14. Some persons use this text to support their views on sprinkling. But they must remember that "Jesus Himself baptized not." John 4:2 Jesus received the children "and He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark 10:16. Jesus blessed the children, but did not baptize them. To pronounce a blessing on children is not to baptize them.
The word "baptism" comes from the Greek word "baptizo," which means "dip" or to "immerse;" but never to "sprinkle."
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Matthew 3
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Note that John the Baptist did his baptizing in the river Jordan. Ever wonder why? A clue is in the definition of baptism. Here are the Greek words used in connection with baptism, from Strong's Greek dictionary:
G907. baptizo, bap-tid'-zo; from a der. of G911; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N.T.) of ceremonial ablution, espec. (techn.) of the ordinance of Chr. baptism:--baptist, baptize, wash.
G908. baptisma, bap'-tis-mah; from G907; baptism (techn. or fig.):--baptism.
G909. baptismos, bap-tis-mos'; from G907; ablution (cerem. or Chr.):--baptism, washing.
G910. Baptistes, bap-tis-tace'; from G907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:--Baptist.
G911. bapto, bap'-to; a prim. verb; to whelm, i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; in the N.T. only in a qualified or spec. sense, i.e. (lit.) to moisten (a part of one's person), or (by impl.) to stain (as with dye):--dip.
Apostolic baptism was by full immersion, and that is why John the Baptist used the river Jordan. In other words, the one being baptized was fully dunked under the water, which is clear from the Greek.
The only examples we have in the Bible of persons who were baptized were adults. Let us take a look at a few more examples of men and women who were baptized. Acts 8:12; 2:41,42.
Paul was baptized after he was converted. Acts 9:18. Of the three thousand that were baptized the record states: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:41,42.
There were certain disciples at Ephesus who had been baptized, but who had not received sufficient instruction. They said, "We have not so much as heard
whether there be any Holy Ghost." Then Paul reminded them of what John had said, "that they should believe on ... Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 19:2-5. Thus they were baptized again after they received sufficient instruction.
So why immersion? What is the reason for it?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 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.
Col 2:12 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.
Baptism is symbolic of burial with Christ, which is the reason for full immersion, and coming up out of the water is symbolic of being raised from the dead to a new and eternal life.
