What is Baptism

What is Baptism? It is a work so therefore it cannot be needed for salvation. No we are not saved by baptism we are saved by Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift of grace and not of works. If we are saved it has nothing to do with whether or not we are baptized or not. Baptismal regeneration is a false doctrine created by man and not out of God’s word. So in this essay I hope to make it clear to the reader what baptism is and what it is for.

If we read Romans 6:1-5 we see here that baptism is symbolic of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection. Understand this; a burial does not include sprinkling earth over a dead body. No in order to bury someone you must completely cover them like in a tomb or a grave. So sprinkling water on someone does not a baptism make. We bury our old self. When we get saved we are new man, our old sinful self dies and we become new. Romans 6-10. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ.

Since we are baptized after we get saved there is no need for baptizing babies in fact the whole idea is so counter to biblical teaching it is ridiculous. The examples given in the bible is people who get baptized after they got saved: not to get saved and not before they get saved. If we read “Acts 8:35-36”. We read the account of Philip and the Traveling Eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip preached Jesus not baptism. The Eunuch got saved and became a believer first. You see The Eunuch was a born again believer or a Christian before he got baptized.

The account of John the Baptist can be found in John 1:6-11, Matthew 3:1-6. John baptized after they repented and confessed their sins. When we get saved do we not repent and confess ourselves to be sinners. Therefore I draw the conclusion that John’s baptism was under the same reasons we baptize today after salvation.

John picked the spot for his baptisms because it was deep enough in that spot. As it is written in John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. Deep enough to submerge a person. That is why John picked that spot if he only needed to pour or sprinkle water on their heads he could have gone anywhere.

At the great commission Jesus gave the authority to baptize to the apostles. So I believe that baptism should be done onder the authority of chruch leaders. Read Matthew 28:18-20 and see who is given authority to baptize.

The reason the pastor baptizes any one is to add them to the church. You see baptism doesn’t save you nor do you receive the Holy Spirit. you get that when you get saved. The scriptures agree with this in Acts 2:41. They are not getting saved when they are baptized. Acts 10:47-48 they were already saved when they got baptized.

Some will teach you that baptism saves you but if you read this verse closely you find out what it really says, 1 Peter 3:21. A figure it is not Jesus but a figure. It is a picture of something not washing away our sins. It is a figure, of the resurrection. We are saved by the resurrection of Jesus. Baptism is a figure of his death burial and resurrection.