Scriptural Baptism
By H.E. Phillips

   It is of utmost importance that any religious action be exactly as God directs, otherwise it is an empty and vain act. Baptism is one thing upon which the religious world has been divided for as long as religious denominations have existed. There is absolutely no justification for men being disturbed over this subject because it is plainly taught in the New Testament. A brief study may help us to see the simplicity and completeness of the subject in the word of God.

   There are three important questions about baptism that must be answered before we know whether or not it is scriptural. For a thing to be scriptural it must be taught in the scriptures. There questions are:  What is the action? Who should be baptized? Why should one be baptized?

   The Action. Not everything called baptism is scriptural. We are not interested here in telling of all the unscriptural practices, but only what is taught in the word of God. The word “buried” is a definite action. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death...” (Rom. 6:4). “Buried with him in baptism... (Col. 2:12). This is a scriptural action. It is also true that any substitute action is unscriptural (untaught in the New Testament).

  The word “Baptize” comes from a Greek term which has a definite action. It means to dip or plunge, and when water is the element, as the great commission indicates, the subject is “dipped” or “buried” in the water. Besides this, the circumstances surrounding all cases of baptism in the New Testament show that the action was a burial. In Acts 8:38 Philip and the eunuch “went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Both going into the water to baptize one man would be foolish unless the action was a burial. “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water” (Matt. 3:16). There would have been no point in Jesus coming “up out of the water” unless he “went down into the water” to be baptized. It is all clear if we understand the action to be a burial. This is the only action that is scriptural.

   The Who. It makes a difference WHO is baptized. If he is not a sinner, he does not need salvation, and therefore does not need to be baptized. The subject for baptism is therefore a sinner. He must also be a believer in Jesus Christ as the Son of God (Acts 8:36;Gal.3:26,27;Heb. 11:6). In the great commission recorded by Mark, the Lord said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...” (Mark 16:15). If one does not believe, he cannot be scripturally baptized. This eliminates infants and untaught people. Infants are not lost and do not need to be saved. Sin is what separates us from God (Isa. 59:1,2), and infants have not sinned. “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom. 6:17).  This obedience must be “from the heart” -- by faith. The next verse shows the results of this obedience by faith  --  “made free from sin.” The scriptural subject of baptism is a believer who has repented of his sins, and has confessed Christ (Acts 8:3 7; Rom. 10:9,10) -- no one else.

   The Why. It also makes a difference WHY one is baptized. The act has a definite purpose. When Peter and the apostles had preached the first gospel sermon, the hearers cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” The word says they were “pricked in their heart” which shows that the preaching had convinced them or made them believers. Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...” (Acts 2:3 8).  Romans 6:18 says, “being made free from sin...” This is following the obedience from the heart that “form of doctrine.” That is baptism. The purpose in being made free from sin is to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:18; 2 Cor. 5:17). We must be in Christ to be a new creature, and we arise to walk in the new life when we are scripturally baptized into “Christ (Gal. 3:26,27).

    We must have the right ACTION, PERSON, and PURPOSE to be scripturally baptized. We must be scripturally baptized to be saved. We must be saved if we hope to escape the everlasting punishment of the Lord. It is important!

- Preacher of the Word, March 3, 1996

 

Speak The Truth!
By H.E. Phillips

  It seems to be the growing demand of this age to silence any statements that go contrary to our traditional thinking and practice. Many will plead for the silent treatment on the plan of salvation because it will “offend” some of our neighbors. Others will “suggest” that no good purpose can be served by causing strife among brethren by being too pointed in our teaching. That is the way apostasy developed in all periods of past history. We must speak the truth at all cost. Remember, sin and error are not keeping silent. We shall contend for our cause at all cost. We shall speak the word in season and out of season. Who will stand on the Lord’s side?  

- Preacher of the Word, February 11, 1996