THE BATTLE OVER BAPTISM

Through the years many people have voiced objections to the essentiality of New Testament baptism. Granted, anyone with an honest and good heart should be able to discern through a careful examination of the New Testament that baptism is mandatory for salvation (Lu. 8:15; Acts 17:11; 2:38; Mk. 16:16). The Bible plainly teaches that baptism is the point at which time a person is added to the church, which is the house of the saved (Acts 2:38, 41, 47; Eph. 5:23). All who object to the importance of baptism have unwittingly set themselves at variance with Jesus and the apostles.

Edward Thurston Hiscox, in The Standard Baptist Manual wrote, “It is most likely that in the Apostolic age when there was but ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism,’ and no differing denominations existed, the baptism of a convert by that very act, constituted him a member of the church, and at once endowed him with all the rights and privileges of full membership. In that sense, ‘baptism was the door into the church.’” (Hiscox, 22). He then added, “Now it is different” (Hiscox, 22). Question. Who has the authority to change the terms of admission into the church? It is my understanding we have “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (II Pet. 1:3). The Lord has left us with His last will and testament (Heb. 9:15-17), identified as “the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2), and “the perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25). The covenant enacted by Jesus and His blood is not subject to alteration or modification (Matt. 28:18; 17:5; Col. 3:17; Rev. 22:18-19). The Psalmist said it well, “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Ps. 119:89).

When Jesus was in northern Palestine, He asked the disciples what people thought regarding His identity. They responded by saying, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, but whom do you say that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:13-16). Based on Peter’s affirmation of His Deity, Jesus promised to build the church (Matt. 16:18). He then said, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19). Keys signify authority, and on Pentecost Day, Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:14-32). He pointed out that Jesus ascended to heaven and has been “exalted to the right hand of God,” where He sits upon the spiritual throne of David and wields all authority (Acts 2:33-35; Matt. 28:18). Luke, the inspired historian indicates those present on that day were convicted of sin and cried out “to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter then took the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” and unlocked the doors into the church by commanding, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter, and the apostles, were inspired men preaching an inspired message (Lu. 24:49; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4). Their message was backed by apostolic authority (Jo. 14:26; 16:7-13).

The terms for salvation and admission into the body of Christ have not changed, the Baptist church and denominationalism notwithstanding. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but He who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:16). Note carefully that Jesus placed belief and baptism before salvation. Peter placed repentance and baptism before the remission or forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). The apostle Paul placed baptism before the washing away of sins (Acts 22:16).

The New Testament teaches that salvation is in Christ Jesus (II Tim. 2:10). It is only in Christ that we have access to the blood that cleanses us from sin (Eph. 1:7; Rev. 1:5). Baptism is the point at which time we contact His saving blood. Think about it like this, Jesus shed His blood in death, and in order to procure the benefits of His divine blood we must go where it was shed. It is in this context that Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).

Obedience to the gospel entails faith in the Lord Jesus (Jo. 8:21), repentance from sin (Acts 17:30), confession (Rom. 10:9-10), and baptism (Acts 2:38). When we comply with the terms of the gospel, the Bible says we enjoy pardon or forgiveness (Acts 2:38), peace with God (Rom. 5:1-2), and the hope of eternal life (Tit. 1:2). In essence, the redeemed child of God is entitled to all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3).

God’s plan to redeem us from sin and its consequences is not obscure and difficult to understand. (Jo. 8:32). If we go to the Scriptures free from pride and prejudice, we can come to an understanding of what we must do to be saved (Acts 17:11). That being the case, let us resolve to obey the will of the Father and live faithfully in His kingdom (Matt. 7:71-23; Rev. 22:14).