Misconceptions about Baptism
Intro.
A. Baptism, simplest commands of the
Bible.
1. Jesus commands
2. Paul, Peter, and other apostles
support it.
B. Challenged by people and religious
leaders
Matt. 15: 7-9
C. Look at the misconceptions or
“doctrines of men” regarding
baptism.
I. The Misconceptions
A. “Sprinkling And Pouring Are Valid
Forms of Baptism.”
Sprinkling and Pouring for Baptism. (251 A.D.)
a. Closely connected with infant baptism was the practice of affusion (sprinkling or pouring of water over the candidate). The first case of affusion in church history was that of Novatian in A.D. 251. Novatian was seriously ill and the church leaders agreed that he could not be immersed. Since something needed to be done before his death, and baptism was essential unto salvation, the church leaders decided to pour water over him as he lay in bed. This was called "clinic baptism," for the Greek word, kline, a bed.
b. The learned Roman Catholic bishop, Karl Joseph Hefele, says: "The Church has always been tender toward the sick; she has hastened to confer baptism upon them, because it is necessary to salvation; and for that reason she introduced clinical baptism." (History of Church Councils, p. 153.)
c. “…Up to this time the general rule of the church had been immersion, the exceptions being, as a rule, clinic baptism; but in 1311 A.D., by the authority of the Roman Catholic Council, which met in Ravenna, Italy, sprinkling and pouring became legal baptism." (Leslie G.Thomas, The Church, The Falling Away, and the Restoration, p. 36.)
3. Denominational
view on baptism (Chart 1)
4. Bible
states, “buried with Him”
a. Rom. 6: 3,4
b. Col. 2: 11,12
4. So immersion, not sprinkling and pouring, is what
scripture teaches. And we need to follow scripture, not human tradition.
B. “Infant Baptism Is Approved By
God.”
1. Prior to sprinkling and pouring.
Infant Baptism. (250 A.D.)
a. "Prominent among the early departures from the divine order was the substitution of infant baptism for that of believers. This practice originated in the third century, and grew out of the doctrine of original sin…It was contended that baptism was regeneration in the sense of washing away original sin; that infants were depraved by original sin, and could not be saved without this washing away of that sin, and therefore they baptized infants that they might be saved." (J. W. Shepherd, The Church, The Falling away and The Restoration, p. 59.)
2. Catholic church adopted notion of Original Sin—Adam’s
Sin.
a. Ezek. 18: 20, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear
the iniquity of the father, neither
shall the father bear theiniquity of the son; the righteousness of the
righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon
him.”
3. Acts 2:38
a. says repentance must come before baptism.
4. Mark 16:16
a. says belief must precede it.
b. Baptism is for sinners who believe and repent.
c. Infants are neither sinners, nor can they believe or repent.
C. “Water Baptism Is Combined With
Holy Spirit Baptism.” Paul wrote, Eph. 4: 5
A. Elements—Two baptisms listed in Acts 2
and 10
1. Water—
a. Acts 2:38, “Repent
and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
b. Acts 10: 48 “And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
2. H.S. baptism—Acts 2: 1-4; 10: 44-46
3. 2 separate elements DEMAND 2 separate
baptisms
B. Persons received—both baptisms not for
same persons
1. H.S. baptism promised ONLY to apostles
John 15: 26-27
2. Cornelius and household
a. Received it, but not promised it
b. Never promised to others
c. More on that later
C. Purpose
1. Water—“for remission of sins”
a. Acts 2: 38, Peter said “For the
remission of sins”
b. Acts 22: 16, Ananias said “wash away
your sins”
**Never said of H.S. baptism
2. H.S.—for Apostles guided “into all
truth”
a. John 16:13, “However,
when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for
He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come.”
b. “receive power” Acts 1:
5-8 (READ)
c. Proof of Apostles genuine—Witnesses to
Christ (Acts 1: 8)
3. Cornelius—received Holy Spirit
a. Proof Gentiles were subject to Gospel
i. Acts 10: 47, Peter asked, “Can
anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the
Holy Spirit just as we have?”
ii. Acts 15: 7-11—Peter’s defense for the Gentiles (READ)
b. Received in same way as Apostles on
Pentecost.
c. Never given or promised to others
d. Doesn’t save, Water baptism does.
D. Administrators
1. Men are authorized for water
a. Great Commission—Matt. 28: 19, “Go ye therefore, and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit”
b. Philip and the Eunuch—Acts 8: 36-38
2. Jesus baptized with Holy Spirit—Matt.
3: 11
3. Men can’t perform or administer H.S.
baptism. Water: Yes.
a. Example-- Not all apostles had power
to give Holy Spirit.
1. Philip baptized those in Samaria.
(Acts 8: 6-7)
2. Didn’t lay on hands
3. Peter and John did. (vs. 14-17)
D. “Baptism Is To Enter A
Denomination.”
Example: A friend needing surgery for
son, went to Baptist church for money. Agreed
to pay provided they converted to Baptist church by baptism.
Since denominations did not exist in the first century
when scripture was being penned, scriptural baptism could not have been to put
people into denominations. In fact, scripture declares the true purpose of
baptism today. Both Gal. 3: 26,27 and Rom. 6: 3,4 declare that we are “baptized
into Christ.” It is into His fellowship and salvation we are baptized, not into
a man-made religious organization. Into what denomination were first century
disciples baptized? None, for none existed. Baptism puts us in Christ, not a
denomination.
E. “Baptism Is An Outward Sign of An
Inward Grace.”
Does scripture teach that you are saved first and
baptized later? Or does God’s word teach baptism as an essential step in being
saved?
1. Acts 2: 38, “Repent AND be
baptized”
2. Acts 22: 16, “Arise AND be
baptized”
3. 1 Pet. 3: 20-21
Baptism is essential to salvation, not an indication of
previous salvation.
F. “It Is Wrong To Be Baptized
Twice.”
A. Acts 19: 1-5
B. One scriptural baptism is all that a person needs to
do, but if there are questions or concerns about a previous baptism, they
should be baptized scripturally. God wants us confident, not in doubt.
Example: Emerson Hollenbeck
G. “Viewing Baptism As Essential
Voids God’s Grace.”
1. God’s grace and obedient faith
are partners, not enemies.
a. Titus 2:11-14
b.Gal. 5:6; 3:26-29
c. Acts 2:38,40,41.
In these verses we learn that we become sons of God by
faith … when we are baptized. Trusting God enough to be baptized unto salvation
is a proper response to God’s grace, not a contradiction.
2. Remember Jericho: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell
down after they were encircled for seven days” (Heb. 11:30).
Walls didn’t fall down because of the shouting and
trumpet blast. They did
what were told and had faith in God it would happen.
God’s grace coupled with their obedient faith led to
blessing. When our faith leads us to respond in God’s way - baptism for the
remission of sins - He blesses us with salvation.
II. The Gospel Truth
The best way to
understand a Bible command is to study the passages that refer to it in context
comparing them to other passages on the subject. This is especially how we
learn the meaning of words (children do this, so do authors of dictionaries).
Notice what
baptism requires and consider what action fits what the Bible says.
A. Water
Acts 10: 47, 48 - "Can anyone forbid water, that these should
not be baptized..." The command to be baptized refers to baptism in water.
B. Much Water
John 3: 23 - John
baptized near Salim because there was much water there. John chose this
particular location because baptism involves "much water."
*Eliminates sprinkling and pouring
C. Coming to
the Water
Acts 8: 36-39 - They came to some water (v36).
Some folks think the eunuch pulled out a bottle of water and
Philip used some of it to baptize him. Not so! The water used to baptize the
eunuch was a body of water they came to as they traveled. John the Baptist was
at the Jordan River. This
confirms that people who were baptized went to the water.
D. Going Down
into the Water
Bible baptism involves going down into the water.
Acts 8: 38 - Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and he
baptized him. This shows why baptism involves "much water" - it must
be enough for the people to go down into!
But some folks claim you can "go down into the water"
and then sprinkle or pour water on the person.
This is how Jesus' baptism is sometimes pictured.
E. Coming Up
Out of the Water
Acts 8: 39 - After the eunuch had been baptized, he came up out of
the water. In order to come up out of the water, he first had to be down in the
water.
Mark 1: 9, 10 - Jesus was baptized "in" the Jordan
River, then came up from ("out of" - footnote) the water.
F. A Burial
Colossians 2: 12 - Buried with Him in baptism in which you also
were raised with Him.
Matthew 12: 40 - Jesus was buried in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 27: 60, 66 - He was laid in a tomb hewn out of rock and a
great stone covered the opening. He was completely enclosed in the element.
In baptism we are
buried (completely enclosed and surrounded) in water, as Jesus was buried in
the earth.
Romans 6: 4 - We are buried with Him by baptism.
G. A
Resurrection
The same passages
that say we are buried in baptism also say we are raised in baptism.
Colossians 2:12 - Buried with Him in baptism in which you also
were raised with Him.
Romans 6:4 - Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
H. A Washing
of the Body
Hebrews 10:22 - We have our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Note the contrast between the
sprinkling of the heart and the washing of the body.
In the New
Testament, the blood of Jesus is sprinkled on our heart to cleanse us from sin.
This must be spiritual, since it cannot be physical. [Heb. 9:14]
But what is
washed with water? The body!
Clearly, this refers to baptism. Just as with the Lord's Supper, baptism
involves both an inner meaning and an outer action. In baptism the heart is
cleansed of sin when the body is washed in baptism.
Conclusion—
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Scriptural baptism requires all the following: |
|
* Water |
We see that baptism is a very important part of God’s
gospel plan for saving us from sin. Baptism depicts the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus. But baptism is also when God saves us through Jesus’
death, burial, and resurrection. Have you been baptized … scripturally?
From an article by Shane Carrington
Additional material from Larry Hafley,
David Pratte