On Baptism

The topic of our discussion last Monday was "Baptism."  We talked about what is baptism from the Biblical point of view and that this word meant at that time.  The reasons why an adult is baptized were also discussed, as well as the right moment when someone must be baptized.

Below are the notes of our discussion.

On Baptism

Opening question: Can you think on an English word or expression or situation that at first confused you?

The English language, like all other languages, has certain expressions, idioms that can easily confuse people, especially the one for whom English is not the first language.  However, with a little bit of explanation or study, most of these expressions or situations can be learned and understood properly.

Today, we are going to focus on baptism and what the Bible teaches about it.

1.         What is baptism?

Today baptism means different things to different people, depending on their experiences and their upbringing.  However, things were not always like this.  There was a time when baptism meant only one thing: immersion, plunging.  The examples of people being baptism that we find in the Bible, a few of which we will see today, also testify to the fact that baptism meant that someone – always an adult and never a baby – was put under water, so that his body was completely covered by water.

In Acts 8, we read the story of the Ethiopian eunuch.  In verses 26-28, we read: 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

And in verses 26-39, we read: 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

Did the eunuch have water in his chariot?  Why did they have to go to the water?

In the Bible, baptism is always seen as something done by a grownup, a human being old enough to make decisions for them.  Babies or little children do not have the complete understand that adult human beings have and most of the time they know little of anything.  If baptism is something as important as we believe it to be, then baptism should be done by grownups, who can truly understand and know what is going on and why are they being baptized.

And this lead us to our second point.

2.         Why be baptized?

To a baby, baptism does not mean much, if anything.  However, to an adult, baptism must carry a meaning, if it is to be done.  Our God does not want us to do acts or gestures that have no meaning and serve no purpose.

So, what is the purpose, the meaning of baptism?

In Acts 2:38-39, Paul tells the people who had been listening to his words: 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Baptism is for the forgiveness of your sins.  When a person is baptized, God sees this act of humbleness and submission, conviction and confession and forgives the person’s sin.  And not only that, but in baptism, the person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  A part of God is given to us as a gift in order to help us pray and to help us with our daily struggles in our lives.

In Romans 6:4, Paul explains that: 4 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.  Baptism is the outward sign of death, an end to the old person, the sinful man or woman that did not believe in God and did not have His salvation.  The new life means that we are now walking with God, being in the right relationship with Him and enjoying His forgiveness.

In 1 Peter 3:21, we see another example of what baptism does for us.  This verse says that: 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Baptism saves us in the sense that the baptism is the moment when we accept the forgiveness and the salvation from God and when we show this acceptance through this act.

3.         When should someone be baptized?

While there is no set time for someone to be baptized, meaning no specific age or moment in their life, the urgency of doing this act as soon as possible is seen is all examples from the Bible. 

In Acts 22:14-16, Paul describes the story when he was baptized.  He says: 14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

In verse 16, we see the urgency in the rhetorical question.  Once the person has realized the need to be saved and has understood the message of God, they can be baptized right away and there is no need to wait for anything else.

In Acts 10, the story of Cornelius and his baptism, we read in verses 47-48: 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Once again, baptism follows the reaching of the point when the person knows what he needs to understand his situation as a sinner and his need to be saved from those sins, as well as the offer of salvation that God has given him.  In baptism, the person accepts this offer and receives salvation.

Conclusions

Baptism is the outward acts of showing our faith in God, our need for salvation and our confession that without God we cannot make it.  We are baptized for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  It is always the right time to be baptized, once the person has understood its importance and its purpose for his salvation.