1. The Truth about Baptism
Baptism is one of those biblical topics that has been misunderstood for so long by most of Christendom
that it has morphed into something it is not. As a result, it has almost lost its true meaning and purpose.
The Modern Meaning
Reading behind many of the evangelical writers, and hearing more than a few sermons on baptism, I
was confronted with an important ordinance that was not a necessity, but was following in obedience to
the Scriptures. Yet, it had no bearing on salvation, and was merely a public profession of faith that was
an outward symbolism of an inward work of God.
What the Bible says
In searching the Scriptures to back up the modern evangelical claim, I was confronted with a huge
problem; which was the conspicuous absence of even one passage that described, or even implied what
I was being taught concerning baptism. It simply is not there. There is no misinterpretation, or
misunderstanding of the Scriptures here. The modern explanation of Christian baptism is entirely extra-
biblical.
What then does the Bible say of this ordinance of the church? It has much to say about it, and it is both
intriguing and enlightening.
A Command
As a believer, we are commanded to be baptized. Jesus commands baptism when He commissioned His
disciples to go, and teach the nations. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus stated, “Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto
the end of the world. Amen.”
In John, chapter 3, Jesus states this, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and
of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” After much study of the Bible, the Greek
language, and many commentators of Scripture, it is undeniable that Jesus was speaking of water
baptism in this passage.
A Requirement for salvation
As stated previously, Jesus said that unless one was born of the water and Spirit, they cannot enter the
Kingdom of God. In Mark 16:16 we read, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he
that believeth not shall be damned.”
Baptism is where it’s at!
In Romans 6:3-6 we read, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
In this one passage alone, we find the complete rebuttal of the modern evangelical doctrine of baptism.
Here we can see that baptism is when, and where we are identified with, and placed into Christ. In
Galatians 3:26-27 we read, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” We are clothed with Christ in baptism.
It is in baptism that we are empowered to be resurrected with Christ. In Colossians 2:12 we are told that
we are, “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the
operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
This passage, Romans 3:3-6 coupled with John 3:5 shows that it is a necessity to being reborn.
Baptism is to Wash Away Sins
In Acts 22:16 Ananias said to Paul, “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash

2. away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Many want to make huge grammatical leaps to make
some of these Scriptures mean something other than what they say, but it simply will not work. When
we change one, we find ourselves having to change many. Before we know it, we have a completely
unbiblical doctrine being preached from the pulpit.
Saved by Baptism
We find in 1 Peter 3:21 this statement, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us
(not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ…”
Before anyone goes crazy, the Bible says that we are saved by grace, by hope, by Jesus’ life, and here it
says by baptism. In other words, the “saved by grace alone through faith alone” teaching is also an
unbiblical teaching that is somewhat easy to undermine with a little study.
Do not forget what Jesus said in Mark 16:16. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. It is
already quite obvious that baptism plays a prominent role in the Christian experience. It is also very
obvious that baptism is not one’s profession of faith, nor is it simply symbolic, but rather, it is
necessary.
Baptism is for the Remission of Sins
Multitudes have been misled concerning baptism. Jesus said, “…repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
In the book of Acts, chapter 2 we read, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost.” Here Peter stated that baptism was for the remission of sins. It is also worth noting that Peter
also said to be baptized in Jesus Name; which is also the name in which remission of sins was to be
preached.
It should also be noted that in all of Scripture, no one was ever baptized in any other name than that of
Jesus. No recorded baptism in Scripture was in any other name. Since baptism is for the remission of
sins, and remission of sins is to be proclaimed in Jesus name, there is no biblical reason, or precedent
for any other way.
Just like you cannot separate Christ from doctrine, you cannot separate faith from one's baptism into
Christ. Some say that our faith unites us to Christ, then comes baptism as an outward profession of the
inward unity with Christ. Again, this is incorrect. The apostle Paul told the Galatians that the Spirit
constantly lusts against the flesh and vice versa. How can it be, then, that we are united with Christ by
faith alone in the absence of baptism, when it is in fact in and through baptism that our sins are
forgiven? If it is in baptism that we rise up to walk in newness of life, how is it that we can be united
with Christ prior to washing away the old man of sin?
If it is possible for us to be united with Christ prior to baptism, there is no need for the biblical
ordinance for the removal of sins.
Where is baptism called a symbol or an expression? Nowhere. You cannot separate baptism from faith.
Paul's statements on faith in Romans were in contrast to justification by the Law, not obedience in
general, which Jesus himself did not separate from faith. The writer of Hebrews said of Jesus, “And
being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”, making
obedience necessary for salvation.