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Just the Facts About Baptism
It is amazing how so many can agree about salvation with respect to belief, repentance, and confession. But when you get to the subject of baptism, it becomes little more than an initiation ceremony, or a symbol of what has already taken place, or a religious ritual. When Paul came to Corinth and found a group of 12 disciples, he was able to determine with just a few questions that their baptism had not been done “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:1-5). If it was just a ceremony, symbol, or ritual, why even ask them about it investigate the matter further? That alone ought to impress upon us the need to make certain that baptism is carried out properly, according to the pattern we find in the New Testament.
Rudyard Kipling was a famous British author, probably best known for writing "The Jungle Book". He also wrote this poem in 1902:
“I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.”
This problem solving method came to be known as the Kipling Method and was later taught in journalism classes. Many news articles still answer these very questions on the front page of the newspaper.
I want to ask four such questions to discover “just the facts” about baptism: Who? Why? When? How? We should want to know what the Bible says about baptism. It should be done in a way that leaves no question in our minds.
WHO is baptism for? Baptism is for believers. “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). “When they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike” (Acts 8:12). Faith and baptism are always connected in the Scriptures.
When the eunuch asked Philip what prevented him from being baptized, Philip said, “if you believe with all your heart you may” (Acts 8:37). Bible baptism requires a whole-hearted conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Infants can’t have that. Those who are baptized so that their parents or spouse will be pleased don’t have that. Baptism is for those who believe.
WHY should you be baptized? For the forgiveness of sins. “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). You are “baptized into Christ” (Gal. 3:26-27). “Into” is the same word that would be used to describe someone going “into” a city. It speaks to location and access to blessings. In Christ “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7). If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17). If you are saved (in Christ) before you are baptized, why would you need to be baptized “into” Christ?
Sin separates you from God (Isa. 59:1-2). It caused Him to hide His face from you. It results in you being lost eternally. The Scriptures speak of baptism as the point at which you are forgiven of your sins. “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16). It’s what baptism is for.
HOW should you be baptized? By sprinkling? Pouring? Immersion? When John the Baptist was baptizing, he chose a particular place “because there was much water there” (John 3:22-23). When Philip baptized the eunuch, “they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38). The eunuch most likely would have had enough water in his chariot to be sprinkled or poured. But he saw water near the road and commanded the chariot to stop.
Immersion also fits with baptism being a burial. “Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith” (Col. 2:12). In baptism, we become united with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4). How could you not want to carry out this command according to the examples found in the New Testament?
WHEN should you be baptized? Immediately. After Paul and Silas taught the Philippian jailer, “he took them that very hour of the night... and immediately he was baptized” (Acts 16:33). Saul of Tarsus was asked, “Why do you delay? Arise and be baptized” (Acts 22:16). There was an urgency attached to the situation. They did not schedule a baptismal service. They didn’t wait until three or four more were ready. If it is a matter of heaven and hell, why would you not do it immediately?
This day may be your last. The Lord may come before you have one more opportunity. Then, when will be too late.
What was the response of the 12 disciples in Corinth? “And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5). For them, every question had been answered. What will your own answer be?
