Several times in earlier studies we have mentioned the vital importance
of baptism; it is the first step of obedience to the Gospel message. Heb.
6:2 speaks of baptism as one of the most basic doctrines. We have left its
consideration until this late stage because true baptism can only occur
after a correct grasp of the basic truths which comprise the Gospel. We have
now completed our study of these. If you wish to become truly associated
with the great hope which the Bible offers through Jesus Christ, then
baptism is an absolute necessity.
“Salvation is of the Jews” (Jn. 4:22)
in the sense that the promises concerning salvation were made only to
Abraham and his seed. We can only have those promises made to us if we
become in the seed, by being baptised into Christ (Gal. 3:22-29). Then, all
that is true of the Lord Jesus becomes true of us. Thus Zecharias quoted
prophecies about the seed of Abraham and David as applying to all believers
(Lk. 1:69,73,74). Without baptism, we are outside covenant relationship with
God. This is why Peter urged: “repent and be baptised” in order to receive
forgiveness. Only as many as have been baptised into Christ are in Him and
therefore have the promises of salvation made to Abraham made to them (Gal.
3:27). If we share in Christ’s death and resurrection through baptism, then
- and only then - “we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…we
shall also live with Him” (Rom. 6:5,8).
Jesus therefore clearly commanded
his followers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel (which is
contained in the promises to Abraham - Gal. 3:8) to every creature. He who
believes and is baptised will be saved” (Mk. 16:15,16). Reflection upon this
word “and” reveals that belief of the Gospel alone cannot save us; baptism
is not just an optional extra in the Christian life, it is a vital
prerequisite for salvation. This is not to say that the act of baptism alone
will save us; it must be followed by a lifetime of continued opennes to
God’s working in us. Jesus emphasised this: “Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of
God” (Jn. 3:5). When the barrier of unforgiven sin is removed by grace, when
we are ‘covered’ with Christ’s righteousness, then we enjoy a personal
covenant relationship with God.
This is an on-going process: “Being born
again...through the word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23). Thus it is through our
continued response to the spirit word that we become born of the spirit (see
Study 2.2).
We are “baptised into Christ” (Gal. 3:27), into his name and
that of the Father (Acts 19:5; 8:16; Mt. 28:19). We can’t be “in Christ”
without being baptized. Unless we are “washed”, we have “no part” in Christ
(Jn. 13:8). But note that we are baptised into Christ - not into a church or
any human organisation. By baptism into him we become a people called by
Christ’s name, just as Israel were likewise described as having God’s name
(2 Chron. 7:14). Frequently God warns that the fact Israel carried His name
gave them a grave responsibility to act appropriately, as His witnesses to
the world. The same is true for us who are baptised into Christ’s name.
Without baptism we are not “in Christ”, and therefore not covered by his
saving work (Acts 4:12). Peter weaves a powerful parable around this fact:
he likens the ark in the time of Noah to Christ, showing that as the ark
saved Noah and his family from the judgment that came upon sinners, so
baptism into Christ will save believers from eternal death (1 Pet. 3:20,21).
Noah entering into the ark is likened to our entering into Christ through
baptism. All those outside the ark were destroyed by the flood; standing
near the ark or being a friend of Noah was quite irrelevant. The only way of
salvation is, and was, to be inside the Christ/ark. It is evident that the
second coming, which the flood typified (Lk. 17:26,27), is nearly upon us.
Entry into the Christ/ark by baptism is therefore of the utmost urgency.
Human words really do fail to convey this sense of urgency; the Biblical
type of entry into the ark in Noah’s time is more powerful.
The early
Christians obeyed Christ’s command to travel preaching the Gospel and
baptising; the book of Acts is the record of this. A proof of the vital
importance of baptism is to be found in the way that this record emphasises
how immediately people were baptised after understanding and accepting the
Gospel (e.g. Acts 8:12,36-39; 9:18; 10:47; 16:15). This emphasis is
understandable once it is appreciated that without baptism our learning of
the Gospel is in vain; baptism is a vitally necessary stage to pass through
on the road to salvation. In some cases the inspired record seems to
highlight how, despite many human reasons to delay baptism, and many
difficulties in performing the act, it is so important that people made
every effort to overcome all these, with God’s help.
The prison keeper at
Philippi was suddenly plunged into the crisis of his life by a massive
earthquake which completely broke up his high security prison. The prisoners
had ample opportunity to escape - something which would have cost him his
life. His faith in the Gospel then became real, so much so that “the same
hour of the night he was baptised...immediately” (Acts 16:33). If anyone had
an excuse to delay baptism it was him. The threat of execution for neglect
of duty hung over his head, yet he saw clearly what was the most important
act to be performed in his entire life and eternal destiny. Thus he overcame
the immediate problems of his surrounding world (i.e. the earthquake), the
pressures of his daily employment and the intense nervous trauma he found
himself in - to be baptised. Many a hesitant candidate for baptism can take
true inspiration from that man. That he could make such an act of faith is
proof enough that he already had a detailed knowledge of the Gospel, seeing
that such real faith only comes from hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17 cf.
Acts 17:11).
In Acts 16:14,15 we read how Lydia heeded “the things spoken
by Paul. And when she ... (was) baptised…”. It is assumed that anyone who
hears and believes the Gospel will be baptised - the baptism is seen as an
inevitable part of response to the preaching of the Gospel. Good works are
not enough - we must be baptised as well. Cornelius was “a devout manand one
who feared God…who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God
always”, but this wasn’t enough; he had to be shown what he must do which he
hadn’t done - to believe the Gospel of Christ and be baptised (Acts 10:2,6).
Acts 8:26-40 records how an Ethiopian official was studying his Bible whilst
riding in a chariot through the desert. He met Philip, who extensively
explained the Gospel to him, including the requirement for baptism. Humanly
speaking, it must have seemed impossible to obey the command to be baptised
in that waterless desert. Yet God would not give a command which He knows
some people cannot obey. “As they went down the road, they came to some
water”, i.e. an oasis, where baptism was possible (Acts 8:36). This incident
answers the baseless suggestion that baptism by immersion was only intended
to be performed in areas where there was ample, easily accessible water. God
will always provide a realistic way in which to obey His commandments.
The apostle Paul received a dramatic vision from Christ which so pricked his
conscience that as soon as possible he “arose and was baptised” (Acts 9:18).
Again, it must have been tempting for him to delay his baptism, thinking of
his prominent social position and high-flying career mapped out for him in
Judaism. But this rising star of the Jewish world made the correct and
immediate decision to be baptised and openly renounce his former way of
life. He later reflected concerning his choice to be baptised: “What things
were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ...I have suffered the
loss of all things (i.e. the things he once saw as “gain” to him), and count
them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ...forgetting those things which are
behind (the “things” of his former Jewish life), and reaching forward to
those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize ...”
(Phil. 3:7,8,13,14).
This is the language of an athlete straining forward
to break the finishing tape. Such concentration of mental and physical
endeavour should characterise our lives after baptism. It must be understood
that baptism is the beginning of a race towards the Kingdom of God; it is
not just a token of having changed churches and beliefs, nor is it a passive
entrance into a relaxed life of easy-going adherence to a few vaguely stated
Christian principles. Baptism associates us in an on-going sense with the
crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus (Rom. 6:3-5) - occasions full of
ultimate dynamism in every way.
As a tired, yet spiritually triumphant
old man, Paul could reminisce: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly
vision” (Acts 26:19). As was true for Paul, so it is for all who have been
properly baptised: baptism is a decision which one will never regret.
Repentance is something never repented of, Paul pithily points out (2 Cor.
7:10). All our lives we will be aware that we made the correct choice. Of
few human decisions can we ever be so certain. The question has to be
seriously answered: ‘Why should I not be baptised?’