Be Baptized, continued

Be baptized, continued

• Galatians 3:27


• Colossians 2:9-12 – The parallels between circumcision and baptism. Be careful not to stretch these parallels too far!


• I Peter 3:21


• What is the proper method for baptism?
  
  
  
  • Strong: “to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet).”
  
  
  • Zodhiates: “Immerse, submerge for a religious purpose, to overwhelm, saturate”
  
  
  • Mounce: “The verb baptize literally means ‘to put or go under water.’”
  
  
  • Vine describes the word’s use outside of the Bible: It “was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another.”
  
  
  • John 3:23
  
  
  • Mark 1:9-10
  
  
  • Acts 8:38
  
  
  
  


• Since we don’t read about pouring or sprinkling in the New Testament, how did they get started?
  
  
  
  • 251 – First recorded case of pouring was on Novation. He was too sick to be immersed, so they put pillows around him on a couch and drenched him in water. This was called “clinic baptism.” It was decided that if the sick person got healthier they should be immersed.
  
  
  • 257 – Baptism by sprinkling for adults was first used as an exception for those on sick beds, but it caused great dispute.
  
  
  • 753 – Sprinkling for those on sick beds officially accepted.
  
  
  • 1311 – Baptism by sprinkling accepted as the universal standard instead of immersion for all, not just the sick. (Council of Ravenna)
  
  
  • Source: https://www.bible.ca/cath-new-doctrines.htm
  
  
  
  


• Is the water special or holy?
  
  
  
  • No. The act of baptism saves us, not because of any power found in the water itself, but because God said to be baptized. It is an act of obedience.
  
  
  
  


• Isn’t baptism an outward sign of an inward grace (an outward show of the fact that one’s sins have already been forgiven)?
  
  
  
  • No.
    
    
    
    • That is nowhere taught, exemplified, or implied in the Bible.
    
    
    • It contradicts the passages about baptism.
    
    
    • It does not fit the Greek.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Why did Paul say, “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (I Corinthians 1:17)?
  
  
  
  • Keep this in its context.
  
  
  • Harmonize this with other clear passages.
  
  
  • Recognize their “not … but” method of emphasis.
    
    
    
    • I John 3:18
    
    
    • John 6:27
    
    
    • I Peter 3:3-4