Understanding Baptism

Helpful in understanding the biblical purpose of the baptism that Jesus commanded “for all the nations” until “the end of the world” (Matt 28:18-20) is a review of three previous baptisms.

1.   The Baptism of the ISRAELITES

      a.   1 Cor 10:1-2 The Corinthians were told “how that all of our fathers were under the cloud, and passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

      b.   The Israelites did not think they were saved from Pharaoh before their baptism: Ex 14:10 “When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and they cried out to the Lord.”

      c.   Moses relieved their fear: Ex 14:13 “Fear not. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. The Egyptians, whom you see today, will you see never again.”

      d.   Ex 14:30 After the Israelites had been “baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea,” their deliverance was announced: “So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians.”

      e.   There is no way the modern error of baptism being an outward sign of an inward grace would fit into the experience of the Israelites.

      f.   On the other hand, Paul's words in Ephesians 2:8-9 would fit exactly into the experience of the Israelites: “By grace you have been saved through faith, but this is not of yourselves! It is God's gift, not of works, so that no one might boast.”

2.   The Baptism of NAAMAN (2 Kings 5)

      a.   The prophet Elisha told Naaman the leper, “Go, and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean” (v. 10).

      b.   Naaman became angry, saying, Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? could I not wash in them and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.” (v. 12).

      c.   Naaman would have remained a leper, but his servants pleaded with him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says, ‘Wash, and be clean?’” (v. 13)

      d.   “But, after he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (v. 14).

3.   The Baptism of JOHN

      a.   Luke 1:15 He was “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.”

      b.   Luke 1:17 He was the forerunner for Jesus, chosen by God to “make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

      c.   Matt 3:1-3 “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

      d.   Matt 3:5-6 “Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”

      e.   Mark 1:4 “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

      f.   Luke 7:29-30 “All of the people and the tax collectors justified God, being baptized in the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, not being baptized by him.”

4.   The Baptism of the GREAT COMMISSION

      a.   Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47

      b.   Acts 2:41 began on the day of Pentecost, AD 30, in Jerusalem, with “about three thousand” being baptized.

      c.   The 120 faithful ones in Acts 1:15 who had received John’s baptism were not rebaptized.

      d.   Acts 19:3 Some 24 years later, about 12 men, erroneously taught by Apollos, were baptized “into John's baptism.”

      e.   Acts 19:5 Those mistaken people were rebaptized, this time “in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

5.   Baptism: the Great Line of DIVISION

      a.   Baptism WAS the dividing line between:

            i.   Slavery and freedom with the Israelites- Exodus 14:30

            ii.  Leprosy and good health with Naaman- 2 Kings 5:14

            iii. Guilt and forgiveness of sins under John- Mark 1:4

      b.   Baptism IS the dividing line between:

            i.   Guilt & remission of sins under Jesus- Lk 24:46-47; Acts 2:38

            ii.  Those who are not disciples and those who are- Matt 28:18-20

            iii. The unsaved and the saved- Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21

            iv. Those whose have not had their sins washed away and those who have- Acts 22:16

            v.   Those whose father is the devil (John 8:44) and those whose Father is the God of heaven (2 Corinthians 6:18)

            vi. Those who are not in Christ and those who are- Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27

            vii.      Those who do not have “all spiritual blessings” and those who do- Ephesians 1:3

            viii.     Those who are not in the kingdom of God and those who are- John 3:5; Colossians 1:13

            ix. Those who are not in the “one body” (the church- Ephesians 1:22-23) and those who have been “baptized into the one body”- 1 Corinthians 12:13

            x.   Those who have not been added to the church and those who have- Acts 2:41, 47

            xi. Those for whom God does not work all things together for good and those for whom God does (Romans 8:28)

      c.   “Be not foolish, but understanding what is the Lord's will”- Ephesians 5:17.