…(full immersion) into Christ is ESSENTIAL for SALVATION
What Must I do to be Saved?
It will be evident from the Bible quotations in this series that man is mortal – a perishing creature, as the result of sin. That,
“by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men.” Romans 4:12
Sin took effect in the nature of our first parents, and that nature having been transmitted to us, we are dying creatures, and are therefore “by nature children of wrath.” Ephesians 2:3. Our first parents having been cast out of Eden and from all its blessings, and having become separated from God by sin, they have left us outcasts from paradise and aliens from the glorious promises of God which we have been reading about. Hence the Apostle Paul says,
Wherefore remember, that ye being in times past Gentiles in the flesh…that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:11, 12)
Our need of the great salvation is now apparent, and the question arises, To whom shall we go to obtain it?
In the Bible we read of the first Adam and the second Adam. In the first there is death; in the second there is eternal life. Our birth of the flesh gives us relation to the first only; but God in His goodness has opened up a way by which we may change our relationship from Adam the first to Adam the second, and thereby become now heirs of eternal life, and in the future possessors of that eternal life with all its glorious consequences. This way is by baptism alone as will be shown from the following Scriptures:
Baptism is one of the Conditions of Salvation
“And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15,16
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptised every one of you for the remission of sins.” Acts 2:38
“Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised, seeing they have received the Holy Spirit as well as we. And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 10:47,48
Jesus answered, Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
All Believers of the Gospel were Baptised
“Then they that gladly received his (Peter’s) words were baptised.” Acts 2:41
“And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed and were baptised.” Acts 28:8
And when they believe Philip…they were baptised, both men and women.” Acts 8:12
“Philip baptised the eunuch.” Acts 8:38
“Lydia was baptised and her household.” Acts 16:15
“The keeper of the prison was baptised, he and all his straightway.” Acts 16:33
“When they (twelve men at Ephesus) heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5
Baptism is for the Remission of Sins
“Be baptised for the remission of your sins.” Acts 2:38
“Be baptised and wash away thy sins.” Acts 22:16
“Baptism doth also now save us – by the answer of a good conscience.” 1 Peter 3:21
“Purged from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9
“The washing of water by the word.” Ephesians 5:26
Baptism into Christ Requires Water
“See here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptised?” Acts 3:36
“Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptised?” Acts 10:47
“John was baptising in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there.” John 3:23
Baptism in Water is a type of being Buried or Immersed”
“We are buried with him by baptism into death…planted together in the likeness of his death.” Romans 6:3-5
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him.” Colossians 2:12
“Born of (Greek out of) water.” John 3:5
In other cases where the word baptism is used, it is with the idea of complete covering over with the thing or element it is related to, eg,
Baptised with the Holy Spirit…it filled all the house where they were sitting. (Acts 1:5, 2:2)
Israel baptised in the cloud and in the sea. (1 Corinthians 10:2)
Christ’s baptism of suffering: it overwhelmed him. (Luke 12:50)
What good will water do me?
It is a question of conforming to the ordinances and appointments of God. He has appointed and commanded baptism. It is part of His will, and we know what Jesus has said:
“He that doeth the will of my Father, the same is my brother and sister and mother.”
Much has been written on the meaning of the word baptise while really there is no room for dispute. Many churches have changed the Scriptural practice of “baptism” to the practice of “sprinkling”. Since there has been so much play upon the word we will produce the evidence of scholars:
Emphatic Diaglott “Baptise, bapto, baptiso. Bapto occurs 3 times (Luke 16:24, John 13:26, Revelation 19:13), and is always translated dip in the common version. Baptiso occurs 79 times; of these 77 times it is not translated at all, but transferred; and twice (Mark 7:4, Luke 11:38) it is translated wash, without regard to the manner in which it was done. All lexicographers translate it by the word immerse, dip orplunge, not once by sprinkle or pour. No translator hs ever ventured to render these words by sprinkle or pour in any version. In the Septuagint version we have pour, dip and sprinkle, occurring in Leviticus 14: 15, 16 – ‘He shall pour the oil, he shall dip his finger in it, and he shall sprinkle the oil.’ Here we have cheo, to pour; raino, to sprinkle, and bapto, to dip.
……“Baptisma, baptismos. These words are never translated sprinkling or pouring in any version. Baptisma occurs 22 times and baptismos 4 times.”
Dr Adam Clarke (commentary) on Colossians 2:12 – “Buried with him by baptism, alluding to the immersion practiced in the case of adults, wherein the person appeared to be buried under the water, as Christ was buried in the heart of the earth. His rising again the third day, and their emerging from the water was an emblem of the resurrection of the body, and in them of a total change of life.”
Now you will see that it is not possible for us to enter the only name given whereby we can be saved in any way except for baptism. Baptism only will introduce a believer into the one name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Christ, having overcome sin and gained the victory over death and the grave, became the manifestation of the Father by the Spirit, and therefore the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is therefore the name of the Lord which is a strong tower, into which the righteous may enter and be safe (Proverbs 18:10).
Topic 4 of this series describes the promises made to Abraham as the gospel. The promises all centered in Christ. They were confined to Abraham’s seed, which Paul says is Christ and all who form part of His body. We are not the seed by nature. How may we become such? Note the answer:
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ….And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” Galations 3:26, 27, 28.
If you are led by the Spirit, you will then have the one faith, without which it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 6:6). That one faith “cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17) and then will you be a child of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:14-17
Then will your heart be filled with the love of God and your whole being be thrilled with the hope that will at last bloom into the glory of immortality, and in the words of the Apostle John you will exclaim,
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.” 1 John 3:1