Christian Baptism In Water

Colin Melbourne
© 02-08 Born-Again-Christian.Info

The Lord Jesus Christ commands

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Holy Bible Mtt. 28:19 NIV

While Peter was still speaking (The Gospel) the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues, and praising God. Then Peter said, 'Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.' So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Ac. 10:44-48

What Does Christian Water Baptism Mean?

A Lisu Hill-Tribe woman is baptized in water soon after receiving Christ as Saviour

Christian baptism in water is the public symbolic outward representation of the Born Again Baptism, identifying the newly born again believer with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is done in obedience to Christ, by believers, to a born again believer signifying their prior spiritual new creation in Christ.

Baptism in water is a vital tenet of Christianity, a pillar of the message of Christ, and essential for every Christian today. Christ commands that every believer be water-baptised, and that they in turn evangelize and baptise others.

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Mtt. 28:19-20 NIV

Water baptism is not an optional-extra. It is a command of the Lord Jesus Christ to be baptised and to baptise others. Have you been baptised in water, the bible-way since you were genuinely born again?

The Greek word used for baptism, 'baptizo' means to immerse, submerge, to overwhelm, it should not be confused with the word 'bapto', which means only to dip.

Wetted or Pickled?

A Greek recipe for making pickled vegetables written around 200 BC uses the term 'bapto' to describe the dipping or blanching of the vegetable in boiling water, to prepare it for the next stage of pickling, for which the word 'baptizo' is used, meaning totally immersing the vegetable in vinegar. 'Bapto' means a quick dip, 'baptizo' means immersing, 'baptising', to produce a pickle. If they are not baptised ('baptizo') they are not pickled.

So the candidate must be totally immersed in water in order to obey Christ's plain word. Splashing, sprinkling, pouring, washing and dabbing are NOT baptism. The Holy Spirit makes plain the symbolism of water-baptism in describing the actual born again baptism that occurs prior to water-baptism, when the sinner is born again;

Don't you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Ro. 6:3-4

The Holy Spirit is talking of the New Birth baptism into Christ, done by God to the repentant sinner, the instant they receive Christ as Lord and Saviour. The sinful nature is circumcised by God Col. 2:11, crucified with Christ Gal 2:20, and buried with Christ, Ro. 6:4.

Water baptism publically symbolizes this death, burial and liberation from the old sinful nature, and the believer's spiritual re-birth and resurrection in Christ. Ro. 6:5-14

Get water baptised properly, exactly as specified in God's Word, the Holy Bible, with nothing added or taken away. Sprinkling, splashing, dipping, and washing are NOT baptism. If that is how you were 'baptised', you have not yet been baptised.

He said get baptised; not splashed or sprinkled. Baptism means full-immersion in water, which symbolises the burial of the dead. If you merely 'sprinkled' a corpse with earth rather than burying it completely in soil, there would rapidly be an awful smell in the cemetery.

Much like the stench of rank apostasy in many denominations today who cut-corners on water-baptism. He said get baptised: Obey Him.

Does Water Baptism Save?

The author's water-baptism,
he was saved the day before

Water baptism does not save a person. If they are unsaved when they go down into the water, they will still be lost in sin when they surface. There is only one way to be saved. You MUST be born again. By repentance and genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Water baptism is only for people who have already experienced the New Birth. A baby or an infant cannot understand repentance and faith in Christ and so are too young to be born again. Christening of babies or infant baptism of any description is totally unbiblical. In order to justify the practice, false-teachers must add to God's Word their own demonic interpretations and teachings, to their eternal shame.

Private Baptism for Shy Believers?

The public aspect of water baptism is very important. There is no point in being baptised in secret, to avoid persecution. Part of its significance is to show the world that you have repented of your sins and have come under the Lordship of Almighty God, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ for the rest of your life. This open declaration is vital, and many people verbally testify, confessing Christ's Lordship in their lives, as they are being baptised.

Jesus Did Enough

Nothing is added to the individual's salvation through baptism in water, Christ did enough at Calvary to save everyone who believes. But it certainly galvanizes the new Christian to be serious about their walk with God, knowing that many eyes will now be watching to see if they are sincere. The Holy Spirit will also convict them to walk in the Light with integrity.

Have you obeyed Christ's command, and been baptised the Bible way since you were born of God?

Many common questions concerning water-baptism are answered here.