|
|
Baptism One subject that is often misunderstood is baptism. Many people downplay the importance of baptism and even ridicule what the Bible teaches on this subject. Yet most of those same people have been baptized. Almost every denomination practices some form of baptism. It can create confusion when people want to identify with us. Baptism becomes the sticking point with them, for numerous reasons. Some were not baptized at all. Many religious groups sprinkle or pour water on the person instead of actually baptizing them. It does not help that in Webster’s Dictionary the definition of baptize is; to immerse in water, sprinkle, or pour water on, in the Christian rite of baptism. Webster is giving the modern usage of the word baptize but the original Greek word is different. Baptize came from the Greek word baptizo. It was not translated into the English language, but transliterated. The equivalent English word for baptizo is immerse, to submerge, to sink. The Greek word for sprinkle is rhantizo and pour is ballo. If the Holy Spirit wanted us to sprinkle or pour water on the recipient, it would use those words.Those who are immersed are often baptized for the wrong reason. They are baptized because they believe they are already saved and are baptized into a denomination or a "local fellowship." In the Bible, people were baptized in order to be saved, "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2.38b). The word for comes from the Greek word eis which means in order to obtain or receive. It is the same word used in Matthew 26.28, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Jesus did not die on the cross because man already had the remission of sins, but in order to obtain the remission of sins. Saul of Tarsus was told to be baptized and "wash away your sins" (Acts 22.16b). He was not baptized because his sins were already gone, but in order to wash away his sins. We had a number of people from a nearby denomination come to our congregation (another state) wanting to worship with us. They maintained that they were baptized "for the remission of sin." I called the preacher at that church and asked if that was true. He said yes, but they meant they are baptized because they already had their sins forgiven. Such is unscriptural, no where do we read in the New Testament people are baptized after they are saved. I know of one group that immerse for the remission of sins, but they do so by the wrong authority. To quote Peter on the Day of Pentecost, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2.38), the phrase "in the name of" means by the authority of, in this case by the authority of Jesus Christ. Let me illustrate what I am talking about. Let’s say you want to join some civic organization. In order to do so you must live in a certain area, pay your dues, and be baptized for the remission of your sins. Would this be a valid baptism? No, it was not performed because Christ said so, but because the civic organization said so. The Church of Christ of Later Day Saints baptizes for the remission of sins, but their authority is wrong. They do so because their leaders say so, not because of God’s word. I could easily baptize for the remission of sin by the authority of Carl Marx and it would be just as valid as the Later Day Saints. For a person to be baptized with God, it must be the right act (immersion), for the right reason (in order to be saved), and by the right authority (Christ’s). D .T. |