Acts 8:26-39 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip: Go south to the road the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. See NOTE 1
See NOTE 1 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 ).
See NOTE 1 This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.
See NOTE 1 The Spirit told Philip, Go to that chariot and stay near it.
See NOTE 1 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet.
Do you understand what you are reading? See NOTE 1
See NOTE 1 How can I, unless someone explains it to me? So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
See NOTE 1 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
See NOTE 1 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.
Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else? See NOTE 1
See NOTE 1 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they travelled along the road, they came to some water See NOTE 1 Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? If you believe with all your heart, you may.
See NOTE 1 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
See NOTE 1 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
See NOTE 1 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.
WHY BE BAPTISED? It was the practice of Jesus in his ministry: John 3:22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. John 3:26 They came to John and said to him, Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan - the one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him. John 4:1-2 The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.
WHY BE BAPTISED? It was the practice of the early (i.e. apostolic) church. The accounts of repentance and salvation in the book of Acts are always followed by baptism in water. On the day of Pentecost we read:... they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:37-39) Peter makes it clear that the promise is still for us today ( for all whom the Lord our God will call.)
WHY BE BAPTISED? Why should we be baptized? It is a command from the Lord: Matt 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you... Anyone who has experienced God s grace in salvation, should automatically respond with a desire to obey his commands. Thus, every true believer should naturally want to be baptized. So while baptism is not necessary for salvation, their experience would be questionable if a person claiming to believe refused to be baptized.
WHY BE BAPTISED? It is thus a PUBLIC DECLARATION AND CONFESSION OF OUR FAITH to all in attendance: Rom 10:9-11 That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. Matt 10:32-33 Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
We are baptized to follow the precedent set by Jesus. Not being sinful, Jesus didn t need to be baptized, but nevertheless he chose to both identify with sinful men and to set us an example. See NOTE 1 Matt 3:13-15 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? Jesus replied, Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness. Then John consented.
WHY BE BAPTISED? It is THE PLEDGE OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE TOWARD GOD. By our baptism we publicly declare our faith that Jesus has made us spiritually clean and that our conscience is now clear before God. 1 Peter 3:20-21 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
WHY BE BAPTISED? Baptism is a powerful external symbol of a number of spiritual things. 1) It is a symbol of CLEANSING FROM SIN. Note what Paul was told by Ananias subsequent to his Damascus Road conversion (Acts 22:16). Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. See NOTE 1
WHY BE BAPTISED? 2) The immersion in water also symbolizes a CLOTHING OURSELVES WITH CHRIST : Gal 3:26-28 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
WHY BE BAPTISED? 3) Any covenant must be signed and baptism is the SIGN OF THE NEW COVENANT. In the Old Covenant, circumcision was an outward sign of an inward reality. In the New Covenant baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality. Col 2:11-13 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins...
WHY BE BAPTISED? 4) Baptism also symbolizes our DEATH TO SIN and the BURIAL OF THE OLD LIFE OF SIN. Rom 6:3 Or don t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Baptism symbolizes death, burial and resurrection. Rom 6:4 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.
Going under the water represents the death and burial of the old nature. Coming out of the water represents the new birth of the spiritual nature. Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
WHY BE BAPTISED? Coming out of the water symbolizes the RESURRECTION TO A NEW LIFE. Some years ago a Brahmin believer in the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized in the Meeting-room, Broadway, Madras. He came to the ceremony wearing, as all Brahmins do, the Yajnopavita or sacred thread, hanging round his neck. Immediately after his baptism, as he came out of the water, he snapped the thread and threw it into the water in which he had been immersed, thereby signifying that the old life as a Brahmin had come to an end and that he would thenceforth walk in newness of life in Christ.
This is not a good way to bury someone!
In a burial the whole body is immersed, not just sprinkled with earth.
Likewise this is not a good way to baptize someone! How does sprinkling symbolize burial?
In baptism the whole body is immersed, not just sprinkled with water. This symbolizes burial!
JEWISH BAPTISM According to a Messianic Jewish website: Baptism is a Greek translation of tevila, meaning Immersion. Jewish immersion is usually done in a Mikveh, which means a pool where water has gathered. A Mikveh is an essential in any Synagogue and they were also part of the temple. 1 Baptism by total immersion is practiced by Baptists and other evangelical denominations, but the connection to Jewish practice is not generally appreciated. 1 1 http://www.wildolive.co.uk/baptism.htm Hezekiah's Tunnel, where it comes out at the Pool of Siloam, counts as a mikveh. 1
SPRINKLE, POUR, IMMERSE In the NT Greek, there are different words for immersion, pouring and sprinkling. Baptizo (pronounced bap-tid'-zo) is never translated as sprinkle or pour, but as baptize, dip or wash. Greek rhantizo, ekcheo, baptizo rhantismos epicheo, katacheo English sprinkle pour immerse
BAPTIZO Our English word baptize is transliterated (via Latin and Old French) from the Greek word baptizo and means: 1) Vine s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words: immersion, submersion and emergence 2) Thayer s Greek-English Lexicon: to dip, immerse, submerge 3) Strong s New Testament Greek Lexicon: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one s self, bathe to overwhelm
BAPTIZO The Septuagint - used in Jesus day - is the Greek translation of the Hebrew OT. In 2 Kings 5:14 Naaman was told to dip seven times in the Jordan River. Baptizo is used to translate the Hebrew word tabal which means to dip or to plunge (Strong s). It s unlikely that Naaman sprinkled or even poured some water on his head. He would have washed or plunged into the water. See NOTE 1
SPRINKLING In the Bible, blood was sprinkled (rhantizo); not water. 1 The first recorded departures from the practice of immersion in baptism were in special cases only i.e. due to deathbed or sickbed baptisms, or scarcity of water. 1 However it was not until AD 1311 that the Council of Ravenna seems to give sprinkling preference over immersion: Baptism is to be administered by trine aspersion or immersion. 2 (Aspersion refers to sprinkling.) 1 See http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=670 for details 2 Labbe and Cosasart, Sacrosancta Concilia, II. B. 2.1586. Paris, 1671
ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH In the case of the Ethiopian eunuch we read: Acts 8:38-39... Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized ( baptizo or dipped) him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away... See NOTE 1
BAPTIZO While went down into the water and they came up out of the water is not referring to the act of immersion, as it is applied to both the eunuch and Philip it would have been unnecessary for them to go into the water if only a few drops were needed to sprinkle. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia : It may be remarked that no Baptist has written a lexicon of the Greek language, and yet the standard lexicons, like that of Liddell and Scott, uniformly give the meaning of baptizo as dip, immerse. They do not give pour or sprinkle, nor has anyone ever adduced an instance where this verb means pour or sprinkle. The presumption is therefore in favor of dip in the New Testament.
IMMERSION Dr. Everett Ferguson writes, The baptism commanded by Jesus in the making of disciples is an immersion in water. The topic formerly was warmly debated, but in these days there is general scholarly agreement. 1 Dr. Warren Wiersbe notes that New Testament scholars generally agree that the early church baptized by immersion. 2 Prof. Larry R. Helyer says that modern NT scholars generally concede, regardless of denominational affiliation, that Christian baptism in NT times was by immersion, as it was and still is in Judaism. 3 1 Ferguson, The church of Christ: a biblical ecclesiology for today (1996) 2 Wiersbe s expository outlines on the New Testament (1997). 3 Exploring Jewish literature of the Second Temple Period (2002).
IMMERSION Immersion was not only the practice of the apostolic church, but also of the early church. This is indicated in the writings of the following: 1 Tertullian (2 nd century) Hippolytus of Rome (3 rd century) Ambrose (4th century) Theodore of Antioch and Peter Chrysologus (4 th 5 th century) Jerome and Leo the Great (5 th century) Lanfranc (11 th century) Bernard Of Clairvaux (12 th century) 1 See http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=670 for details
IMMERSION After the conversion of Constantine resulted in the legalization of the church, large buildings for public worship began to appear. Baptismal fonts were constructed in separate enclosures alongside these churches. 1 Cote lists the locations of 65 baptistries in Italy alone, giving the approximate dates of construction (from the 4 th through the 14 th centuries) Regardless of other differences, all 65 were constructed for baptism by immersion. 1 In the late 6 th century (591 AD) we see from Gregory, bishop of Rome that although infant baptism was also being practiced, it was still by immersion and not sprinkling. 2 1 http://ministrymagazine.org/archive/1981/march/baptism-in-the-early-church 2 See http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=671 for details
IMMERSION Until the beginning of the 13 th century immersion was the mode of baptism of all Western Christendom, except in cases of sickness, and it was a common practice long afterwards in many parts of the papal dominions; it was the general usage in England until after the Reformation, and it was frequently observed down to the middle of the 17 th century. There is a record of the immersion of Arthur and Margaret, the brother and sister of Henry VIII, and there is no doubt that immersion was the mode of baptism that prevailed all over his kingdom in Henry s day. 1 William Tyndale (c. 1494 1536) said, Baptism was a plunging into the water. 2 1 The Baptist Encyclopedia, 1881 William Cathcart, editor 2 Tyndale, Works, III, p. 179
IMMERSION Immersion was the universal rule of baptism in the reign of Henry VIII. There are two elaborate rituals of the Church of England at this period. The one is: A Declaration of the Seremonies to the Sacrament of Baptysm, AD 1537; and the other is the Saulsbury Liturgy, 1541. The last is regarded, by some, as the most sacred Liturgy belonging to the Church of England. Both of these liturgies enforce immersion. Erasmus, writing from England in 1532, gives the English practice. He says: We dip children all over in cold water, in a stone font. Every English monarch of the sixteenth century was immersed. Henry VIII and his elder brother Arthur, Elizabeth in 1533 and Edward VI in 1537 were all immersed. 1 1 A History of the Baptists Chapter XV The Baptists in the Reformation period in England
BELIEVERS BAPTISM See NOTE 1 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit... Jesus instructed us to baptize disciples, not babies (Mt 28:19)
BELIEVERS BAPTISM Jesus mentions belief as a precondition for baptism: Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. So the Biblical precedent is to baptize believers or disciples. As babies do not yet have the capacity to believe or even understand the concept of salvation, we do not baptize infants. Of the seven sacraments practiced by the Papal church, Protestants only retained the two which were Biblical - the Lord s Supper and Baptism. As the Lord Supper may not be given to unbelievers (1 Cor 11:28), neither should Baptism.
Remember how earlier when the Ethiopian eunuch asked if there was anything that prevented him from being baptized? There were 2 criteria needed (1) water, (2) belief. See NOTE 1 Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized? If you believe with all your heart, you may.
See NOTE 1 You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Even with John s baptism of repentance (which is not the same as Christian baptism) repentance came first and then baptism. John would not baptize those who did not demonstrate repentance already (Matt 3:7-8)
BELIEVERS BAPTISM The NT teaches believers baptism with repentance as a prerequisite, which infants are incapable of doing: On the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:38 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized When Paul was in Corinth we read the following: Acts 18:8... many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. The disciples of John the Baptist that Paul encountered at Ephesus, already believed (Acts 19:2) and then were baptized (Acts 19:5).
See NOTE 1 In Samaria when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)
BAPTISMAL REGENERATION Baptismal Regeneration is the idea that water baptism is essential for salvation. It is one of the earliest heresies to enter the church as early as the 2 nd century. Where did the idea come from? The belief in baptismal regeneration was partly due to a misunderstanding of Jesus words in John 3:5. Born of water was mistakenly seen by some as a reference to baptism.
I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother s womb to be born! See NOTE 1
BORN OF WATER John 3:5-6 no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. But Jesus is making a reference to the water of the womb 1 or natural birth. He was answering Nicodemus question can he enter the second time into his mother s womb, and be born? Looking in context, Jesus is simply contrasting natural birth with spiritual birth. 1 The amniotic fluid (which is mainly water) cushions and protects the baby in the womb.
The context and specifically a comparison between verse 5 and 6 show that natural birth and spiritual birth are being contrasted. Spiritual birth is being born again. NATURAL BIRTH SPIRITUAL BIRTH VERSE 5 VERSE 6 no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water (1) and the Spirit. (2) Born of water Born of the Spirit Flesh (1) gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit (2) gives birth to spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh The Spirit gives birth to spirit
SAVING BAPTISM The idea of baptismal regeneration also arose due to people confusing water baptism with baptism into the body of Christ (which is necessary for salvation). 1) Baptism into the body of Christ 2) Baptism in water Baptizer Holy Spirit A believer Candidate A repentant sinner A believer Element Body of Christ Water Necessary for salvation? YES NO but should be done in obedience
ONE SAVING BAPTISM Baptism in water may take place without regeneration (as in the case of Simon the Sorcerer). Regeneration make take place without the baptism in water (for the thief on the cross was not baptized at all, and Cornelius was baptized after both regeneration and the baptism in the Holy Spirit). See NOTE 1
WILL BAPTISM SAVE ME? Water baptism doesn t save you. Baptism in water does not wash our sins away. It is an outward confession of faith from those who are already saved. It expresses what has already happened inside when we believed the gospel, repented and were then baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. If there is water baptism without repentance, there is no forgiveness of sin. There is simply a transformation from a dry sinner to a wet sinner. Baptism is a fruit - not a root
DO I HAVE TO GET RE-BAPTISED? John s baptism was not the same as Christian baptism. This is evident from the case of the Ephesians in Acts 19 who Paul instructed to be re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus because they had only received John s baptism. Acts 19:3-5 So Paul asked, Then what baptism did you receive? John s baptism, they replied. Paul said, John s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
DO I HAVE TO GET RE-BAPTISED? Thus there is a Scriptural precedent for re-baptism, if the previous baptism was not fully in line with the Scriptural requirements (which is believer s baptism - into the name of Jesus - by full immersion) If you were baptized as an infant, that doesn t constitute Biblical believer s baptism, which should be your own decision based on repentance not a parent s decision on your behalf, or a religious ritual to protect a baby from hell. In such a case, if you are a believer you should get baptized by your own choice and understanding that it is a public declaration of your faith in Jesus.
DO I HAVE TO GET RE-BAPTISED? If you were baptized by sprinkling, the type is meaningless with regards to being buried and raised with Christ, or being clothed with Christ you should get baptized by full immersion. If however, you were baptized (by full immersion and at the age of understanding) in another Bible-believing church and you subsequently join our church there is no Scriptural reason why you should get re-baptized, unless you were not saved when you were baptized.
HOW SOON CAN I BE BAPTISED? In the 4 th and 5 th centuries Christians often delayed their baptisms until late in life. This was because of the prevalent idea that mortal sins committed after baptism were sins against the Holy Spirit and hence unforgivable. But the Bible teaches that you can be baptized immediately after salvation: Acts 9: 17-18 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized...
HOW SOON CAN I BE BAPTISED? In the nine examples of Christian baptism recorded in the book of Acts: We notice that there was no question of a long probationary period, during which the convert was to prove himself. Baptism followed immediately after the candidate made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Many of the converts in the early church were raw Gentile heathens who worshipped all manner of idols but, once they had expressed faith in Christ, they were enjoined to follow the Lord through the waters of baptism. 1 1 Warren Paynter: 1 st Principles 03 - The doctrine of baptisms http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=75
AUTHOR: Gavin Paynter For more ministry downloads visit: http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx For more ministry downloads by Gavin Paynter visit: http://agfbenoni.co.za/ministryarchives.aspx?speaker=gavin%20paynter
For the other ministry in the Baptism series: Baptism - Part 1 - Believers baptism vs Infant baptism (Christening) http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=670 Baptism - Part 2 - Immersion or sprinkling http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=671 Baptism - Part 3 Baptismal regeneration http://www.agfbenoni.co.za/ministry-archives.aspx?mid=674
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION NOTE 1: Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of http://distantshoresmedia.org/resources/illustrations/sweetpublishing Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations are taken from the NIV: THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations taken from the NASB: New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (http://www.lockman.org)