A Bible Study on Baptism

For today's topic we will be going over what the bible teaches about baptism. I will be addressing questions such as What is Baptism? Is it necessary for Salvation? and is it done by sprinkling, pouring or Immersion?

What Is Baptism?

The first question that I will be addressing is What is it?

To put it simply Water Baptism is the symbolic act which represents the believers burial with Jesus and being raised to new life (Rom 6:3 -4, Col 2:11-13). It is an outward expression of their new birth (2 Cor 5:17, Gal 6:15). 

Some Church denominations baptize babies, but the bible teaches one must believe before they are water baptized (Act 8:36 -37).

It is done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but it can also be done in Jesus' name (Mat 28:19, Act 2:38, Act 10:48). 

The reason why John did baptize was so that Jesus would be manifested to Israel (Joh 1:30 -31, 1Co 1:22). 

So is it done by pouring, sprinkling, or Immersion? In my opinion the proper way to water baptize someone is by Immersion. The reasons why I say this is because as I mention before it symbolizes our burial (death) and new birth. Also I believe that (Joh 3:23) emphasis my point well. 

Ok, so I mentioned that there is a baptism of water, but did you know that there will be a baptism of fire? It is given to all those who die without being saved (Mat 3:11-12, Luk 3:16 -17, Rev 21:8). If you don't understand who the chaff is in these passages take a look at Psa 1:4. 

The Baptism of the Spirit!

Besides the Baptism of water and the Baptism of fire there's another baptism that all believers should know about. I am referring to the Baptism of the Spirit, this is what Jesus was referring to in Joh 3:5 as being born of the Spirit. In Joh 7:39 we learn that the Holy Spirit wasn't given until Christ was glorified, see also Joh 12:16, Joh 12:23-25.

Who gives the Spirit Baptism? It is Jesus of coarse (Mar 1:8, Mat 3:16, Joh 1:33)! It is given to those that obey him (Act 5:32), and it is this baptism which saves you (Rom 8:9). It is by the Spirit that we are baptized into the body of Christ (1Co 12:13, Gal 3:27, Eph 5:30-32). 

See also: Act 1:5, Act 11:16

People who were Baptized 

Let's go ahead a look briefly at a few people in the scriptures who were baptized. Of coarse we have our Messiah Jesus being baptized in Mat 3:13-17 and Mar 1:9  -11. We find out by reading Mat 20:20 - 23 and Mar 10:35-39 that James and John (the sons of Zebedee would be baptized with the same baptism Jesus was baptized with when they asked to sit on his right and left hand when he entered into his glory/kingdom. 

We also see that Saul was baptized when Ananias met him in Acts 9:17 -18. Then there's the merchant of purple lady Lydia's Baptism in Acts 16:14 -15, a Jailor's baptism in Act 16:33, and also alot of the Corinthians were baptized in Act 18:8.

Is Water Baptism Necessary for Salvation?

There are some "Christian" religions that teach that water baptism is essential in order to be saved including the Catholic church, Mormonism, and Jehovah's witnesses (see links below). However this is an incorrect teaching as I am going to show by going over several key verses regarding this matter. 

First let's take a look at some bible passages that supporters of water baptism for salvation use to try and justify this false doctrine. There's  Mar 16:16 but I find two problems with saying this supports water baptism for salvation. One the verse doesn't say water baptism and two it doesn't say the unbaptized will be damned. Joh 3:5 is also used to support this doctrine by wresting it out of it's context the "water" spoken of in Joh 3:5 is referring to a woman's water breaking when she is about to give birth see Joh 3:4-6. 

They may also site Act 19:2-6 and say "see these people didn't receive the Holy Ghost until after they were baptized with water". Well couldn't that because the Holy Ghost wasn't given until Jesus was glorified (see above) and their water baptism was way back when John was still alive. Also at that time the Holy Ghost was Given by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18). 

They may also site Act 22:16 and say "see you wash away your sins with baptism", not so fast! How do they know it's not the calling on the name of the Lord that washes away the sins (see Rom 10:13)? After all washing away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord is not separated by and like the other parts of the verse. 

The last verse that we will take a look at that seems to support this false doctrine is Acts 2:38. The word "for" in this verse can be interpreted "on account of" and not just "to cause". Therefore using the first interpretation would perfectly reconcile this verse with the rest of scripture as teaching that salvation is the result of grace through faith apart from works (Rom 4:1-8, Rom 11:6, Gal 3:1-14, Eph 2:8-9, Tit 3:5). 

Salvation therefore comes from hearing the word of God and believing it (Rom 10:17, Eph 1:13,  Eph 5:26, 1Pe 1:23). 

Now I want to list several other reasons why I believe water baptism isn't done to obtain salvation but instead because one is already saved. There's the passages in the bible where peoples sins are forgiven where water baptism isn't even mentioned such as Mar 2:5, Luk 7:48, and Luk 23:43. The remark Jesus made in 

Joh 6:63 that shows that the flesh does not profit. 

Act 8:13-21 which shows that even though Simon the sorcerer believed and was baptized he didn't have part or lot in the matter. The time that the gentiles received the Holy Ghost baptism while Peter spoke because it happened before they were water baptized (Act 10:44-47).

The fact that Jesus didn't send Paul to baptize (1Co 1:13 -17), one should wonder why not if it was so necessary to be saved. The part in 1Pe 3:20 -21 where Peter tells us that the removal of filth from the flesh (aka water baptism) isn't what saves us.

Now don't get me wrong I think people should get baptized ASAP after they believe. I am not teaching against water baptism, we should do it as an act of obedience to Jesus because we love him (Mat 28:19, Joh 14:15). 

So in conclusion we see that Water baptism is a sign that one has been saved and not something one does to be saved, that belief in Jesus is a prerequisite to baptism, and that it is done in Jesus' name.  We also learned that it is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that makes one a part of the body of Christ, and that if one doesn't have the Holy Spirit he/she will be "baptized" in the lake of fire! Those that teach water baptism is needed for salvation would do well to remember Jesus' words of Luk 11:39, so we see that washing the outside doesn't give one a new heart it is the spirit that quickeneth Joh 6:63.  

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See also: Mat 3:6, Mat 21:25 -26, Mar 1:4 -5, Luk 12:50, Joh 4:1 -2, Act 2:41, Act 18:24 -26, 1Co 10:2, 1Co 15:29, Eph 4:5

References and Links that show Catholics/Mormons/JW teach water baptism for salvation. 

https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/culture/catholic-contributions/is-baptism-necessary-for-salvation.html

http://www.4witness.org/is-water-baptism-essential-for-salvation/

http://www.moroni10.com/Mormon/Bible_References/baptism.html