Rev. David Holwick
Ledgewood Baptist Church
Baptist Distinctive #3
BAPTIST DISTINCTIVE #3: BELIEVERS' BAPTISM
I. Only those who believe in Jesus should be baptized.
A. The New Testament consistently associates baptism with a personal response,
indicated by:
1) Belief - Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12-13, 16:15, 18:18, 19:4
2) Faith - Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12
3) Repentance - Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3; Acts 2:38, 13:24, 19:4
B. Baptism should be a one-time event. Ephesians 4:5
1) It signifies conversion, not re-dedication.
2) Therefore Baptists do not consider the immersion of someone who was baptized
as an infant to be a "re-baptism," but the first genuine baptism.
C. Water baptism is intimately tied with Spirit baptism.
1) Although they may be separated in time, water baptism is the outward sign of
Spirit baptism, which is part of Christian conversion.
Matthew 3:11,16, 28:19; Acts 1:5, 2:38, 8:16, 10:47, 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13
2) Without baptism by the Spirit, a person is not saved. Rom 8:9
II. Arguments for infant baptism.
A. Baptism corresponds to circumcision. (Presbyterian) Philippians 3:3;
Colossians 2:11-13**
1) Circumcision was a sign of membership in Israel.
2) Circumcision was done to infants.
3) Baptism must be done to infants.
B. Faith for baptism can be provided by someone else. (Lutheran)
1) The paralytic's friends had faith for him. Mark 2:5
C. Baptism was given to entire households. (Roman Catholic)
1) "Households" would naturally include small children. Acts 16:15,31-33; 1 Cor
1:16
III. Arguments against infant baptism.
A. Circumcision is not an exact analogy to Christian baptism.
1) Circumcision was only done to male babies.
2) Membership in Israel did not necessarily mean salvation.
a) Many Jews were not saved, according to both O.T. & N.T.
3) Baptism is done to "babies" only in the sense that new believers are "babes in
Christ." Galatians 6:15
a) Real Christians are not produced by being born, but by being born-again.
b) Genuine circumcision is "of the heart." Romans 2:28-29
B. "Household" baptism was only to those who believed.
1) Acts 16:15 - After Lydia and her household are baptized, she tells Paul, "If
you consider me a BELIEVER, stay at my house."
2) Acts 16:31-33 - After Paul asks them to believe, the whole family is baptized.
Then it states that the whole family was happy because they had come to
BELIEVE.
IV. Baptism is not required for salvation.
A. The repentant thief on the cross was not baptized, but Jesus said he would go
to Paradise (heaven). Luke 23:42
B. The faith of baptism saves, not the act of going down in water. 1 Peter 3:21
C. Mark 16:16 does not teach the necessity of baptism for salvation (though the
Church of Christ says it does).
1) Note that those who "believe and are baptized" are saved, but damnation
results only for those who do not "believe."
2) Faith and faith alone is the deciding factor.
D. Even though baptism is not required for salvation, it is a command of Jesus
and should be practiced. Matthew 28:19
V. The most appropriate way to baptize is by immersion.
A. Many ways are practiced:
1) Salvation Army - no baptism at all. They consider it divisive.
2) Most churches - sprinkling.
a) Methodists - any way you want it, though sprinkling is standard.
3) Mennonites - affusion (pouring on head).
4) Baptists - immersion.
a) A few groups - triple immersion for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
B. Dipping or immersion is the literal meaning of Greek word "baptizo".
1) Other images used for baptism are: being buried (Romans 6:4; Colossians
2:12), and putting on clothes (Galatians 3:27 - Presbyterians say this
supports sprinkling).
2) 1 Peter 3:20-21 uses the imagery of being deluged in Noah's flood. (Many feel
that this kind of ugly, gross imagery is most appropriate for describing the
event of salvation.)
C. Early Christians chose baptism sites with plenty of water. John 3:23
D. While the method of baptism doesn't matter that much, immersion seems to be
the preferable way.
