Answers to Arguments Against the Necessity of Water Baptism

1.   “(The Eunuch) went on his way rejoicing, which he scarcely could have done if he had gone with dripping garments.” (W.A. MacKay, Immersion and Immersionists, p 40, American Presbyterian Press)

2.   “Not enough water or time to baptize 3000 on Pentecost in Acts 2.”

      a.   Any of a number of pools of water in Jerusalem were large enough to accomplish this task:

            i.   Pool of Bethesda - 365 feet X 131 feet (John 5:2-3)

            ii.  Pool of Gihon - 600 feet X 260 feet

            iii. Others include the pool of Siloam, Hezekiah’s Pool

      b.   A simple mathematical analysis shows the fallacy of the “not enough time” argument:

            i.   Peter began preaching at 9 a.m. (Acts 2:15)

            ii.  If he finished at noon, that would leave 6 hours of daylight

            iii. One man can easily baptize one person per minute;

            iv. Baptizing 60 per hour X 5 hours = 300 per apostle; thus

            v.   12 apostles could baptize 3600 people in 5 hours (Acts 2:41)

      c.   How do Baptists, who deny the necessity of baptism, accept members into their number? (Taken from The Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual, 1965, Edward T Hiscox, p 36-38)

            i.   By letter from one church to another - not applicable here

            ii.  By listening to the candidate’s personal testimony of conversion and Christian life

            iii. By baptism after:

                  (1) investigation of the candidate by the board of deacons;

                  (2) if satisfactory, bringing the evidence before the church;

                  (3) letting the church vote to see if they will accept him;

                  (4) finally baptizing the candidate

3.   “For the remission of sins” in Acts 2:38 means “because of remission of sins,” like going to prison ‘for robbery.’

      a.   Eis appears about 1750 times in the NT = for, into, unto

      b.   Romans 10:10

      c.   What does “for the remission of sins” mean in Matthew 26:28?

4.   “Demanding baptism is teaching salvation by works and denies grace.”

      a.   Genesis 6-7: Did Noah’s building an ark to God’s specifications nullify God’s grace in saving him and his family?

      b.   Numbers 21: Did those who were bitten by fiery serpents nullify the grace of God by looking on the brazen serpent to be saved?

      c.   Joshua 6: Did the Israelite marching and shouting nullify God’s grace manifested in the destruction of Jericho’s walls?

      d.   2 Kings 5: Did Naaman’s dipping in the Jordan 7 times nullify God’s grace in his being healed?

      e.   John 9: Did the blind man’s walking to Siloam and there washing his eyes nullify the grace of God in his receiving sight?

      f.   If the works of these aforementioned people did not nullify God’s grace, then what part did they play in obtaining the desired results?

      g.   Why is it that only baptism is condemned as a so-called “work of merit” and no other work is so designated?

            i.   John 6:28-29 – Faith is a work

            ii.  Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20 – Repentance is a work

            iii. Matt 10:32; John 12:42; Rom 10:10 – Confession is a work

            iv. Ephesians 2:10; Titus 3:8 – Faithful living is a work