WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Musical-al note # 318
There are many preachers and teachers who offer a great many words to explain their doctrines when asked about becoming a Christian. Most of their words are given in regard to becoming a member of their particular religious group consisting of acceptance of their teaching, name, requirements and customs. Biblical scripture is used to support their doctrine by twisting its plain wording to make it say what they desire, claiming that the original language has other meanings or simply by ignoring or adding their own explanations that fit their teaching. This is especially true in regard to the teaching of baptism. To either ignore baptism or change the meaning of the word in order to substitute and add another teaching violates the basic principle of truth (Revelation 22:18-19}.
Many churches teach that there are different modes or ways of being baptized such as being sprinkled with water or having water poured over the person. How did these other methods or modes of baptism begin if the Scriptures only speak of baptism being a burial? These methods began in the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years after Christ died and His church began. It was assumed to be a substitute for baptism for those who were sick or dying and was called “clinical” baptism. The practice came into general acceptance for years and then carried over into protestant churches as denominationalism flourished. People accepted and believed the doctrines taught because few could read and few copies of Scripture were available. As Bibles became available and people began to read and think for themselves, they learned that only a burial in water constituted proper baptism. However, then as even today, many choose to disregard the Word of God and still accept sprinkling and pouring of water on a person is an acceptable form of baptism because the preacher said so and he wouldn’t lie, would he?
The importance of Baptism is revealed in the New Testament so I urge you to study these words carefully. Consider what the New Testament says that baptism is. It is a ‘burial in water’ (Romans 6:4), it is ‘obeying a form of the teaching’ that Christ died, was buried and has been raised to life again (Romans 6:17-18), it is ‘obeying the Gospel’ of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), it is the ‘answer of a good conscience’ in response to God’s invitation to obey Him (1 Peter 3:21), it is ‘calling on his name’ (Acts 22:16) as ‘our sins are washed away’ (Acts 22:16) and it is the ‘act that saves’ a person (1 Peter 3:21). What shall we say then? If we desire salvation from our sin, we will answer God’s call to die to our sins, be buried in water to signify our obedience to Him and be raised to walk in newness of life.
Now consider the New Testament declarations proclaiming what obeying God’s Word in faith does. It ‘puts one INTO Christ’ (Galatians 3:26-27, Romans 6:3-17), it puts one into His death (Romans 6:3), it puts one ‘into His body, his church’ (1 Corinthians 12-13), it ‘washes away our sins’ (Acts 22:16), it ‘frees us of sins’ (1 Peter 1:22, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 8:1). It ‘gives us new life’ (Colossians2:12), it ‘makes us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), it ‘gives us the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 5:32), it ‘reconciles us to God’ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20), it makes us ‘servants of righteousness’ (Romans 6:17) and makes us ‘children of God’ (Galatians 3:26-27). All these things are to be desired and can be obtained through faith in obedience to God’s Will.
If in your study, you find that you have been baptized in a way other than that which the Bible teaches, for another purpose than the Scriptures teach or for another reason than that which Jesus has revealed, we urge you to contact us or a member of the Church of Christ in your area. We or they will help you obey Christ Jesus to the saving of your soul.
Gordon Musick