[Biblemat] A) THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Wednesday
morning to each and every one.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

THE PURPOSE OF WATER BAPTISM

     In Matthew's account of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:
18-20), Jesus gave four commands to His apostles: (1) "Go",
(2) "make disciples", (3) "baptizing them", and (4) "teaching
them."  It is evident that He refers here to water baptism, for
it was to be administered by His apostles.  Men can baptize
in water, but only Jesus can baptize with the Holy Spirit (Jno.
1:32-34).  Furthermore, Jesus clearly indicated that this bapt-
ism is for "all the nations."  But what is the purpose of water
baptism?  In this short article, we will focus our attention on
this matter.

     In Mark's account of the Great Commission, Jesus answe-
red this question, when He said, "He who believes and is bapt-
ized will be saved" (Mk.16:16).  There is no need for "guess-
work" about the purpose of baptism, for it is clearly stated by
Jesus Himself.  We need not argue with Jesus about this, for
such shows not only a lack of faith, but borders on blasphem-
y.  Baptism (along with faith) is a condition of salvation, and
it is essential to salvation, having been commanded by Jesus
(Heb. 5:8,9).  We shall see this truth repeatedly reinforced
throughout the New Testament.

     In the book of Acts, when the apostles begain to carry out
the Great Commission, Peter also stated the purpose of bapt-
ism: "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ 
for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38).
It is very interesting to note that this is also the very same
purpose for which Jesus shed His precious blood (Matt. 26:
28).  This means that there is clearly a connection between
baptism and the blood of Jesus!  Indeed, it is at the point of
baptism that we appropriate the benefits of Christ's death (cf.
Rom. 6:3).  Thus, if you can understand why Jesus shed His
blood, then you can understand the purpose of baptism.  It is
folly to argue with the apostle Peter, an inspired man.  Baptis-
m is essential to salvation.

     After Saul of Tarsus saw the risen Lord, he went to Damas-
cus to find out what Jesus wanted him to do (Acts 22:6-10).
Ananias told him to "Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).  Once again, the 
purpose of baptism is clearly stated, and it is
folly to argue with Scripture.  Baptism is essential to salvation

     When Paul (formerly Saul of Tarsus) wrote to the Christia-
ns at Rome, he reminded them that they had "died to sin" 
(Rom. 6:1,2), and that they had "buried" that old man of sin in
the watery grave of baptism (vss. 3-6).  Then, when they arose from baptism, 
they were to "walk in newness of life"
(vs. 4).  Notice carefully the order: (1) Death to sin (vs. 2), (2)
Burial of the old man of sin (vss. 3,4), and (3) Rise to new-
ness of life (vs. 4).  There is no "newness of life" until AFTER
baptism!  Once again, it is folly to argue with an inspired apos-
tle of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Baptism is essential to salvat-
ion.

     Paul also wrote to the saints in the churches of Galatia,
and said, "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" (Gal. 3;26,27).  Notice first, that they were call-
ed "sons of God," which is another way of saying that they
were brothers and sisters in the family, house, or church of
God (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15).  The church of God is that which God
promises to save (Eph. 5:23).  Next, notice that they were sons "through 
faith in Christ Jesus."  This means that faith in
Christ was the condition of becoming sons of God.  But how
is faith manifested?  Listen: "For (i.e. because) as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."  Genui-
ne, saving faith is shown through our obedience to the Will of
God (cf. Jas. 2:14-26).  To summarize, Paul said we must have "faith," then 
be "baptized into Christ," and then we beco-
me "sons of God."  Once again, why would any believer argue
with an inspired apostle?  Baptism is essential to salvation.

     On yet another occasion, Paul wrote the Ephesians, and
said: "There is...one baptism" (Eph. 4:5).  While there are 
many baptisms recorded in the Scriptures, only "one bapt-
ism" is common to all believers.  Let Paul tell us which one:
"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" (Eph. 5:25,
26).  Notice that "the church" (i.e. , the saved) is "sanctified
and cleansed" from sin "with the washing of water by the 
Word."  Clearly, they were cleansed from sin as a result of
being baptized in water.  Why argue with this?  Baptism is
essential to salvation.

     Once again, Paul wrote to the Colossians about their clean-
sing from sin.  He said: "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."
Note that our "circumcision" is not the literal removal of the
male foreskin, but the removal of sin--an "operation" perform-
ed by Jesus Christ Himself!  Now, when does this "surgery"
take place?  "Buried with Him in baptism, in which you were
also raised with Him through faith in the working (operation
KJV) of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:11,12).  I
hate to sound like a broken record, by why argue with Paul?
Baptism is essential to salvation.

     The Hebrew writer said we have "our hearts sprinkled from an evil 
conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water" (Heb. 10:22).  The "sprinkling" to which he refers is 
the "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus" (1 Pet. 1:1,2; cf. Heb.
9:19-22).  This "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus" is directly
tied to having "our bodies washed in pure water," or baptism.
Compare this to Rom. 6:3, where we are said to  be baptized
into the death of Jesus.  Indeed, baptism is essential to salv-
ation.

     Finally, the apostle Peter indicated that the salvation of 
Noah's family in the ark was a "figure" or "type" of our salvat-
ion today.  It is clearly stated that those in the ark were "sav-
ed through water" (1 Pet. 3:20).  Now we all understand that
GOD saved them, but He did it "through water," as the water
carried the ark high above all of the destruction below.  Then,
Peter says, "the like figure" (KJV) or "antitype" (NKJV) which
now saves us is baptism:  "the like figure whereunto even
baptism doth also now save us" (1 Pet. 3:21).  This statement
is clear, and is in harmony with all the other statements we've
noted on the purpose of baptism.  Why argue with Peter?
Baptism is essential to salvation.

     Many people neither believe, teach, nor practice baptism
as it is revealed in the New Testament.  But let me ask you:
Why would a person deny all of these Bible passages, and
then, in effect, call Jesus, Peter, Ananias, and Paul all liars?
Inquiring minds want to know?  ---- Lanny Smith, via Gospel
Power, Vol. 14, No. 41, Oct. 14, 2007.   </HTML>
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