THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM

by Keith Sharp

"Every Christian should be baptized, not in order to save him but because he is saved" (Joe T. Odle, Church Member's Handbook [for use in Baptist churches], Broadman Press, p. 17).

Our religious neighbors almost universally deny that water baptism is essential to salvation. If they are right, members of the church of Christ are guilty of Pharisaism, adding a requirement to salvation God has not made (Mark 7:1-8). If they are wrong, then millions of people who think they are saved are in fact lost, having failed to obey from the heart (with the understanding) a command essential to salvation (Romans 6:17-18). Since this question involves the eternal destiny of the soul, no question of more paramount importance could ever engage our attention (Matthew 16:26-27). Thus, we urgently inquire, What is the purpose of water baptism?

"Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'"

There is one new birth, of water and the Spirit. The Spirit of God leads us by the gospel to be born again (Romans 8:14; 1 Peter 1:22-23). The only element of the gospel with which water is connected is baptism (Acts 8:36-39; 10:47-48). When the Holy Spirit leads us by the gospel to be baptized in water, we are born anew. Unless we do this, we cannot enter the kingdom of God.

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

The Lord divided people into two categories, the saved and the lost. Those who do not believe will be lost. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. Christ made baptism as much a condition of salvation as He did belief. There are only two categories, not three. Jesus knew nothing of unbaptized, saved people. To be saved one must have enough faith in Jesus Christ to obey Him in baptism.

"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

The apostle Peter assigned to baptism the same purpose as repentance. If repentance is unto the remission of sins, so is baptism. Baptism "in the name of Jesus Christ" is "for the remission of sins." This is the same phrase, both in the English and in the original Greek, found in Matthew 26:28, where Jesus declared He would shed His blood "for the remission of sins." The Son of man shed His blood in order that our sins might be taken away, and we are to be baptized in order that our sins might be taken away.

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Ananias commanded Saul to be baptized and promised him his sins would be washed away as the result.

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Baptism brings the sinner into Christ, where he receives "every spiritual blessing" (Ephesians 1:3) including salvation (2 Timothy 2:10). It also brings the sinner into the death of Christ, where he receives the benefits of His blood, justification from sin (Romans 5:9-10). The significance of baptism is that by going through a likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, thereby demonstrating our faith in Him, we receive the benefits of His death in our behalf. Baptism stands between the sinner and being in Christ (verse 3), being in the death of Christ (verse 4), the new life in Christ (verse 5), being united with Christ (verse 5), being united with the Lord's crucifixion (verse 6), and freedom from sin (verse 7).

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

We become sons of God by faith when we are baptized into Christ. Baptism stands between the sinner and becoming a son of God, getting into Christ, and putting on Christ.

"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

Baptism is a "washing of water," in fact, it is the only "washing of water" taught by the word. Christ cleanses the church, thus it is by grace (Ephesians 2:8-10), but He does this when we are baptized. The power to cleanse is in the word (John 15:3), but it is exercised in baptism. Any baptism not taught by the word is ineffective.

"In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead, And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses."

Christ performs an operation without hands upon our hearts when we through faith are buried with Him in baptism. He removes the sins of the flesh from the heart, forgiving us all our trespasses, and we are made alive with Him. Baptism stands between the sinner and having his sins removed, being raised with Christ, being made alive with Him, and being forgiven.

"..not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.."

We do not earn righteousness, but we are saved by the mercy of God. This is accomplished when we are born anew through being washed (in water - John 3:5) and being made anew by the Holy Spirit.

"let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

When our bodies are washed in water, the blood of Christ is applied to our consciences, cleansing them from sin.

"There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.."

Baptism saves us. It does not do this through removing dirt from the body but through allowing the conscience to be good toward God. This is not through any power in the water but by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The creeds of men assert: There is not one passage in the Bible that teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation (Odle, p. 16). They contend, "Baptism doth also NOT save us." But the Scriptures teach, "Baptism doth also NOW save us" (1 Peter 3:21, KJV). Will you accept the creeds of men or the word of God?

The purpose of water baptism is to save the alien sinner from his sins. Dear friend, you cannot be taught wrong and be baptized right (Romans 6:17-18). You must be baptized for the right purpose, the remission of sins. Any other baptism is spiritually worthless. "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

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