The Joy of a Baptism Service
Sunday, 1:30 pm after our morning service had finished we ventured to the Secret Harbour Beach for another blessed baptism service.
What a joy to see family and friends gather to witness the baptism of their loved ones as they follow in the footsteps of their Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ. We had the blessing of see our granddaughter as part of this service and pray God’s blessing be on her as she and the other participants walk in the newness of life that Christ has given to each of them.
Baptism is an act that Jesus commands His followers to participate in.
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Bible also teaches us that baptism represents the pledge of a good conscience before God (1 Peter 3:21). In other words, baptism is something that Christians outwardly do in order to show what God has inwardly done. Jesus Christ gives new life to all who place their faith in Him. And in this process, there is a death to the former self, and a new resurrected life that follows. This is what Jesus referred to as being ‘born again’ (John 3:3), and what the Apostle Paul describes when he writes that believers in Christ are ‘new creatures, the old has gone and the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When a person is submerged underwater as they’re baptized, it represents the death and burial of their old life. When they are brought up out of the water, it represents the new resurrected life that God has given to them (Romans 6:4). In other words, water baptism is a physical depiction of the spiritual work that God does within a person’s heart when they place their faith in Him. Let me also add that the only requirements for you to be baptized is that you believe in Jesus Christ, and that you understand what baptism represents.
(Acts 8:36-37 NKJV) 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?” {37} 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.”
IS BAPTISM NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?
The teaching that water baptism is necessary for salvation is known as the doctrine of “Baptismal Regeneration.” In examining the following references, our hope is to give clear and concise reasons why Calvary Chapel does not agree with this teaching.
1) The thief on the cross was given the promise of eternal life without being baptized as a Christian (Luke 23:40-43). This indicates that water baptism isn’t a necessary precedent in order to go to Heaven.
2) In Acts 9, Saul of Tarsus is converted on the road to Damascus three days before he was ever water baptized. The fact that he was saved before he was baptized is evidenced by his reference to Jesus as his Lord (v.5), God’s testimony to Ananias that Saul had been praying to Him (v.11), and Ananias’ calling Saul his “brother” (v.17). All of this points to the fact that Saul was converted and saved before he was water baptized.
3) In Acts 10, those of the house of Cornelius are saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit before they are ever baptized in water (10:44-48). This would have been impossible if water baptism were required for salvation.
4) In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Paul declares the gospel “by which also you are saved” (Jesus’ substitutionary death, burial, & resurrection). But take note that he does not mention water baptism in connection with the gospel of salvation.
5) Both Jesus and Paul demonstrated less of an emphasis on water baptism than on the proclamation of the gospel in their public ministries (John 4:2, 1 Corinthians 1:14). They prioritized the preaching of the gospel over baptizing because it’s the gospel that saves, not the act of baptism.
6) The book of 1 John was specifically written to provide assurance for Christians of their salvation (5:13). Yet it never mentions water baptism, much less its necessity or pre-requisite for salvation. If baptism were necessary for salvation, don’t you think that John would have taught this or at the very least mentioned it in passing? How else could John have assured believers in their salvation unless baptism weren’t required?
7) But the most fundamental reason why the act of water baptism must be unnecessary for salvation is that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and not through any single work of man (Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5). This is such an ingrained principle found throughout the New Testament that I find it amazing that many overlook this who uphold baptismal regeneration. We believe that baptism is a good work, but a work nonetheless. And that it diminishes God’s grace by teaching that grace and something equals salvation. From the earliest days, man has sought to add to God’s grace in order to be made righteous. This is essentially what baptismal regeneration does, even if those who teach and believe it have the very best of intentions.
On the other hand, there are really only three passages that seem to support baptismal regeneration at first read. Each of them can be easily explained when we take a closer look at the original grammar and context of these passages.
1) Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” At first read, this seems to be saying that baptism and belief go hand and hand in being saved. But notice that the negative truth of damnation is conditional upon unbelief only. The only way to be damned is to not believe—the only way to be saved is to believe. Baptism is the natural act of following through with the salvation that God has already given you. Furthermore, according to the leading Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates, ‘The word “believe” is an aorist participle referring to one who has believed at some point in time in the past. But “is baptized” is in the passive voice. This form refers to an act of outward obedience, in this case, baptism. The correct translation should be stated, “he who believed and who was baptized shall be saved.” But this does not necessitate baptism for salvation.
2) Acts 2:38, ‘Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of the Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Again, the command to repent is the focus of this verse. The verb translated “be baptized” is in the indirect passive imperative which means that it does not have the same force as the direct command of “repent.” A more literal translation would read, “repent and be baptized because of the forgiveness of sin” (that you’ve already received).
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM?
This is an excellent question and I’m surprised that it doesn’t get asked more often.
According to the book of Romans, here’s the exact purpose for water baptism:
(Romans 6:3-5 ICB) Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared his death in our baptism. {4} So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. {5} Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did.
Baptism is a symbolic act by which we share in the death and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus died and was buried for the sake of our sins. The process of being submerged in the water represents the death and burial of our old life. But Jesus was also raised from the dead in order to give us eternal life. As we’re raised out of the water, it represents our newfound life in Christ. By being baptized we’re essentially saying that we identify with what Jesus went through for us.
In a way, baptism is a funeral and a birthday celebration rolled into one. As we go down into the water, we recognize the death of the old us, and as we come up, we celebrate the birth of the new us. God gave us this rite as a physical reminder of the spiritual decision that we’ve made. Baptism is also a way for us to practically put our faith into action and demonstrate to the world that we’ve died to our old selves and desires, and have received a new resurrection life in Christ. It keeps us accountable and mindful that the world is watching us and expects to see some sort of change in our lives.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
We pray that we will continue to see people gathering on the shore of Secret Harbour Beach and declaring their love and commitment to Jesus Christ until He comes again…..The Lord bless you and keep you!