Why Do We Baptize by Immersion?

Why Do We Baptize by Immersion?

"It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He was the heavens parting and the Sprit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven. "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." MARK 1:9-11

Baptizo The word meant to immerse, dip, or dunk. It was used to describe ships that sank in the sea or cloth that was dyed in a certain color. One ancient Jewish historian even described a man being murdered by baptism. In other words, he was drowned. Women baptized their dishes. Sinking ships were baptized into the sea. Kids playing in a river dunked or baptized each other.

"John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins." MARK 1:4

"After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them and baptized. New John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized." JOHN 3:23

"So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him." ACTS 8:38

"Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." ROMANS 6:4

Why Do We Only Baptize Adult Believers? Why Don t We Include Babies?

In the New Testament, the way you would profess your faith in Christ would be to be baptized. Baptism was a profession of faith, because in the Bible two things always go together - Belief and Baptism. They always go together in that order. Without exception, every time you read about someone being baptized in the New Testament, it was after they believed, after they had committed their heart to God, never before. None of these can be done by infants or young children.

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. ACTS 2:41

"But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized." ACTS 8:12

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ACTS 8:36-38

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. "Can anyone forbid water that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. ACTS 10:44, 47-48

And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." Then they spoke the world of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their strips. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. ACTS 16:30-33

Is Baptism Required? Is It Something We Have to Do for Salvation?

2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. ROMANS 9:2-4

Peter, who would not permit anyone to put a needless burden on the necks of believers, told a divided assembly [Acts 15:10-11] that all men are saved by grace. Yet this same apostle told grace-saved believers that they had been saved through baptism [I Peter 3:2-3, 18-19, 21].

He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved. ACTS 10:48

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. TITUS 3:5-7

8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. TITUS 3:8-9

When Noah was building the ark, he was working, but building the ark wasn t earning Noah his salvation; building the ark simply put him in a position to connect with God s grace.

When Joshua and Israel marked around Jericho thirteen times in seven days, they were doing something, but the march didn t earn their conquest, it simply put them in position to connect with God s grace.

When Naaman washed seven times in the Jordan River, he was doing something, but he wasn t earning his healing, he was simply putting himself in a position to connect with God s healing.

In the book of Romans, Paul s powerful statement of God s grace, he tells us through the Holy Spirit, we have redemption in Christ [Romans 3:24] and we have eternal life in Christ [Romans 6:23]. He tells Timothy [2 Timothy 2:10] salvation is in Jesus and he tells the Ephesians [1:3] every spiritual blessing is in Jesus. So how do this apostle and the Spirit tell us that we get in Christ?

don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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. ROMANS 6:3-4

all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. GALATIANS 3:27