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 BAPTISM

 

Its Meaning, Methods, and Recipients

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Rooney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 BAPTISM

Its Meaning, Methods, and Recipients

                                                   Copyright © 2012                                                  

By James P. Rooney

All rights reserved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: All Scripture used is from the New King James Version (NKJV).

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

Page

Preface ………………………………………………………………………………………...4

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..5

Chapter:

1     The Purpose of Baptism……………………………………………….……….7

2     The Meaning of Baptism……………………………………………………..10

3     A Sacrament or Ordinance?………………………………………………..14

4     The Biblical Case for Sprinkling……………………………………….….16

5     The Biblical Case for Pouring……………………………………………...21

6     The Biblical Case for Immersion………………………………………...26

7     New Testament Cases of Baptism……………………………………….29

8     Concluding Thoughts on the Methods of Baptism……………...34

9     The Biblical Case for Baptizing Believers Only…………………...37

10   The Biblical Case for Baptizing Infants of Believers…………...39

11   Concluding Thoughts on the Recipients of Baptism…………...56

12   Epilogue…………………………………………………………………………………58

 

 

 

 

 

Preface

 

The purpose of this book is to show the biblical basis of the differing viewpoints regarding Christian baptism.  This will be a positive approach making a strong case in support of each position.  In writing this book, I have two goals.

First, I want to share this information to help some Christians be more informed on this subject. Second, I want to increase the level of tolerance among some believers who may be critical of the way other Christians practice baptism.

I hope this book with be a help to others and accomplish these two important objectives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Baptism is a subject that has caused much division within Christ’s church.  It is one of those issues about which, when we look to the Bible for answers we have difficulty discerning the truth. I have written this book to try to put these differences among Christians concerning baptism in their proper perspective. We, in the body of Christ, must have an understanding and tolerant attitude toward each other when it comes to the differences in the way we practice some aspects of our Christian worship.  This tolerance is not to accept error but to have honor, respect, and acceptance toward those differences the Bible does not clearly address.

It is my hope that this book will provide a better understanding of our Christian brethren who worship God with baptism differently than others do.  Let us not criticize or deny the validity of the baptisms of others without specific scriptural authority. 

Fine Christian men and women have disagreed concerning several aspects of baptism which will be discussed in this book.  Many of these people have spent much time studying this subject and have sincerely and honestly come to different conclusions.  After I have spent some time studying these differences, I have come to appreciate and respect the various positions discussed in this book. 

This is the key point. We may come to a different opinion based on our own set of conclusions.  However, as is the case with the issues discussed in this book, only God knows for sure which set of conclusions is right. Let us be only as dogmatic about these issues as the Bible is.

 

Thus, in this book I have attempted to show the biblical basis for the purpose, meaning, methods, and recipients of baptism. I have tried to be fair and even-minded in discussing these differences. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

The Purpose of Baptism

 

Why Baptize?

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen (Matt.28:18-20)

Why did Christ command us to baptize?  To properly answer this question, we must first examine the Trinity and see what part each member of the Godhead played in man’s salvation.

The Father’s role in the salvation of man was His choosing or electing, before the foundation of the world, those who would be saved. Therefore, the Father’s part in man’s salvation was election.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  (Eph. 1:3-6)

The Son’s work was to die sacrificially for the sins of believers by shedding His blood for their atonement and forgiveness. He redeemed or paid the penalty for their sins.  His part in man’s salvation is redemption.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  (Eph. 1:7,8)

The Holy Spirit’s role in this process of man’s salvation is to apply what the Father and Son did to the heart of the chosen sinner and cause him to be born again or re-created spiritually. 

Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You,
That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple.  (Psalm 65:4)

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  (John 3:3-5)

The work of the Spirit in the new birth of the Christian is called regeneration.  This being “born of water and the Spirit” is a spiritual washing and comes about by the mercy of God and not according to our works or what we did in life.

not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)

 

Signs and Symbols

Since the Father sent both His Son and Spirit to the world to accomplish the work of man’s salvation, He instituted signs and symbols to commemorate or picture Their work.  The Lord’s Supper is a symbol that represents the sacrifice of Christ in His redemption of Christians.  Water baptism is a symbol that pictures the new birth of the believer “…by the washing (baptism in the Greek) of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.”  (Titus 3:5)

Knowing that the flesh is weak, God ordained these signs and symbols to remind man of His love, grace, and mercy. By participating in these acts of worship, the Christian will never take for granted or forget the great love, grace, mercy, and sacrifice God made for him.  These signs and symbols are a visual aid to help the Christian grow spiritually.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

The Meaning of Baptism

 

The Washing of Regeneration of the Holy Spirit

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word baptism from the Greek word baptismos means simply a ceremonial washing or cleansing:

909. baptismos bap-tis-mos' from 907; ablution (ceremonial or Christian):--baptism, washing

In the Old Testament, washings or baptisms were for the purifying or cleansing of both people and objects.

Why is water used in baptism?  There is a threefold aspect regarding washing or cleansing in the Bible.  Water is the natural agent for washing and cleansing, and it was used for that purpose in Scripture.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean. (Num. 8:5-7)

Blood was used in Scripture for atonement:

15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; (Lev.