Question 1: Does the possession of a police badge make a person a genuine officer of the law?
Answer: No. Anyone can get their hands on a real badge. Possessing one doesn’t make anyone a real cop.
Question 2: Does a person put the badge on in order to become a real officer?
Answer: No. The badge is issued after the individual has met certain requirements of training, employment, and has taken the oath of office.
Question 3: Is the badge itself the officer’s actual authority?
Answer: No. The badge only is a visible, public symbol or representation of the authority which the officer has been delegated.
Question 4: If someone had given you a police badge when you were an infant or a very small child, would the possession of that badge in a scrapbook somewhere while you were growing up have imparted to you a faith that you would someday become an officer?
Answer:
People are taught different traditions and church teachings about baptism; but there is only one true Biblical baptism, according to God’s Word. The invasive, pivotal question is this: Do you look to the Source of Truth Itself, God’s Word; or do you look to religious traditions and “church teachings” to find the answers to your spiritual questions?
The questions we started with in this study were posed to help you better understand what the Bible teaches about baptism by use of a parallel scenario.
What’s Your Point? OK, obviously I am going somewhere with this idea. The Bible teaches that the act of baptism is kind of like your badge in that it is simply a representation of what by necessity must have already taken place in your heart. The act of baptism itself does not turn anyone into a Heaven-bound, saved, born-again Christian any more than someone merely possessing a badge would make them a real cop without first meeting some basic requirements.
Becoming a born-again believer is the result of a conscious, purposeful decision of mind and the heart to repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ to save you from the everlasting punishment of that sin. [See "On Repentance"] Over and again the Bible teaches that the issues and condition of the heart are what defines a man.
Such determined decision making is something that infants and small children are simply not capable of doing.
Just as only trained, hired, and sworn officers are genuine candidates for being issued a real badge, only those who have first been born again the Bible way are true candidates for Biblical baptism. [See "On Being Born Again"]
The badge is just a visible symbol of the officer’s authority that he possesses by virtue of his previously-completed training, employment, and oath of office. In the same way, baptism is just an outward expression of the believer’s previous repentance, belief, and trust which resulted in his sealed born-again relationship with Jesus Christ.
Genuine biblical baptism is a “picture” of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. The beliver’s old sinful spirit has died, has been buried with Christ, and has been born again, raised as a new creature!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
The words of Jesus:
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -John 3:3
In the Bible you will never find any record of someone being baptized who had not first made the conscious decision to become a Christian, believing upon the name of the Lord through repentance, faith, trust in Christ. These things always precede baptism, never the other way around.
“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” – Acts 19:4-5
It is also very important to note that nowhere in the Bible is it taught that Baptism has any “effect” upon the person in any way. The “effect” must already have taken place in the individual’s heart before the baptism. The act of baptism is non-efficacious.
Should I Have My Children Baptized?
Many parents want their babies baptized in case one dies at a young age [See "On Babies and Children Who Die"]. They do this because they have been wrongly taught that baptism ensures a child’s entry into Heaven by imparting faith into the child. This is a religious tradition that simply is not supported anywhere in the Bible. The verses uses to support this idea are taken completely out of context and are unfortunately leading people into a false sence of salvation.
“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer [allow] little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” -Luke 18:15-17
There! Doesn’t That Say That Children Must Be Baptized?
Does it? Read that passage again and you will see that it has absolutely nothing to do with where children go when they die, nor does it have anything to do with baptism. If a person can’t enter into Heaven unless he is baptized when he is a little child, as many have been taught it means, then there are millions of adults who have absolutely no hope of salvation. It’s too late for them! They didn’t come to Jesus as a little child! Do you really believe that is what Jesus is saying?
What Jesus is teaching in those verses from Luke (and in Matthew 19:14 and Mark 10:14) is that we all must receive the news of the Gospel as a little child would receive it. In other words, with innocent child-like faith.
Little children do not analyze and second guess what adults tell them, nor do they try to rationalize and intellectualize things. This should cause responsible parents to be very careful about what they say to their children! If a you tell them there’s a Santa Clause and an Easter Bunny, your children will innocently believe it. Then when they enter the teen years and realize you’ve been “pulling their leg,” they will have no reason to believe everything you told about Jesus either. I wonder… could that be a reason why the majority of teens leave their churches, never to return (except for Christmas and Easter) after they have been “confirmed?”
The Bible clearly teaches that no works of any kind can accomplish salvation for anyone. Just as a person must first grow up and meet the criteria to become an officer before he can get the badge, the person who is a candidate for scriptural baptism must have already exercised his faith and belief in order to receive the Lord’s saving Grace!
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” -Titus 3:5
This means he must have already personally repented of his sin [See "On Repentance"]. He must have already placed his full faith and trust in Jesus Christ’s shed blood as payment-in-full for all of his sin. Finally, he must have already been born again and forgiven by God.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9
DOESN’T BAPTISM WASH SIN AWAY?
Do not make the mistake of thinking that baptism washes away sin or saves a person or raises them up with Christ after they die, especially if the baptism was performed upon someone who has not first personally repented of his sin and placed his full and complete trust in Jesus Christ! In the following passage of Scripture the Apostle Paul is speaking to born-again believers; to those who have already been saved. He is not speaking to unbelievers.
“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.” -Romans 6:4
To walk in newness of life means to be so completely changed in the heart that it produces an obvious outward change in every area of thought, word, and deed! To misconstrue this passage to mean that anyone who has ever been baptized at any age is somehow “buried with Christ” and now Heavenbound is entirely irresponsible. What a way to give someone a false hope of salvation!
But Acts 22:16 says that Baptism washes away sin, doesn’t it?
No. Look carefully at the verse:
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. – Acts 22:16
Do you see that it is not the baptism, but rather the calling upon the name of the Lord for forgiveness which does the cleansing. If Baptism washed away sin, why did Jesus submit Himself to Baptism? Jesus was completely sinless.
What about baptism being the New Covenant equivalent of the Old Covenant symbol of Circumcision?
Again this is a false parallel. First of all, the outward symbol of the Abrahamic Covenant (circumcison) was not “salvific,” which means it had no saving effect upon the circumcised individual. It also was for males only, on the eighth day after their birth. If baptism were the New Covenant equivalent of circumcision, females would not be able to participate.
But That’s Not What I Have Been Taught!
Is ignorance of the law a valid defense? What would you say about an FTO who trains a new officer to do things that are clearly against the law? Will the rookie’s charges be dropped just because he broke the law out of ignorance or poor training? No. And the FTO will be judged by an even higher standard for knowingly teaching error. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
What does the Bible Say About Those Who Teach Error?
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for [as] doctrines the commandments of men.” -Matthew 15:9
Those who teach any man-made traditions as if they were biblical doctrines are in trouble with God Himself.
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:5
Repentance involves a purposeful change of mind that results in a forsaking of sin and self and a turning to Jesus Christ. [See "On Repentance"] Repentance and salvation are necessary before baptism can take place.The Bible also says:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” – Acts 2:41
You see, one must first gladly receive the word in order to be a candidate for scriptural believer’s baptism. Nobody can be saved “by works,” or by doing some deed such as being baptized.
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” – Acts 8:12
Nowhere in Scripture is there any record of anyone being baptized who did not first willingly and purposefully make the decision to come to Christ in faith and repentance.
So Why Should I Get Baptized?
Believers are commanded by Jesus to be baptized as a public testimony of what has already taken place in our hearts. We make a public identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection as our first act of obedience and submission to our Lord and Saviour.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” -Matthew 28:19
Dribble, Dip, or Dunk?
The Greek verb baptizo, from which we get the word baptize is the same verb used when discribing the dyeing of cloth. It means to whelm under, fully immerse, or plunge underneath. Perhaps the best way to determine the correct method of baptism should be decided by following the Lord’s own example.
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:” -Mark 1:9-10
We can also look at Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch:
“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” -Acts 8:39
Conclusion
1. We are saved by grace through faith, not by any works, ceremonies, or deeds we perform.
2. Faith is not imparted to anyone upon their baptism. A person’s faith must first be engaged in order to become born again and to receive the Lord’s saving grace. Faith always precedes salvation. Salvation always precedes baptism. Always.
3. Clearly, full immersion water baptism is the only method which accurately pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, which is the purpose of baptism.
4. Traditions which contradict the Bible are wrong, and there is no excuse for continuing to follow them if you now know better.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
It is my hope that this brief study will compel you to stop and consider your own personal spiritual condition. You may have been baptized as a very small child before you were even able to comprehend truth and make a decision for yourself. According to God’s Word, that was not baptism the Bible way. If you believe you will go to Heaven when you die, can you biblically defend that belief? Truth is Truth, but traditions are just traditions.
I invite you to contact me if you have any questions or comments.
-Tim.
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