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Biblical Baptism

by Henry Bechthold  
1/26/2011 / Bible Studies

Our words, baptism and baptize, come from the Greek words "baptisma" and "baptizo". Baptizo (baptize) means to be "overwhelmed, fully wet or washed". Baptisma (baptism) means immersion or submersion; that is, to be plunged into liquid and to sink below the surface. It is interesting and significant that every reference to the baptism of people in the New Testament uses these Greek terms, baptizo and baptisma. Therefore, every New Testament baptism involved people being immersed, submerged or dipped below the surface of the water.

It is common knowledge that many Christian denominations today simply "sprinkle" people with water, but they still refer to it as baptism. However, this does not constitute baptism in the true New Testament sense of the word. There is, of course, a Greek word for sprinkling, and that word is "rhantizo". Rhantizo is used several times in the New Testament. However, rhantizo (sprinkling) is never used when referring to New Testament baptism. From a biblical standpoint, denominations who practice sprinkling are not actually baptizing people.

There are numerous New Testament scriptures that use the Greek word "baptisma", meaning to be immersed or submerged in liquid. Matthew 3:7 speaks of John the Baptist's baptisma (baptism). Luke 7:29 refers to the tax collectors having been baptized with the baptisma (baptism) of John. In Matthew 21:25, Jesus asked the Pharisees if the baptisma (baptism) of John was from heaven or from men. All of these passages using the word, baptisma, when referring to the baptism used by John the Baptist, make it clear that he baptized people by submerging them in water. This is also attested to in John 3:23, where it states that John was baptizing in Aenon because there was "much water" there. Much water is not required for sprinkling, but it is necessary for baptism by immersion. Also, when Phillip baptized an Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36-39, we're told that they both went "down into the water", and that they "came up" out of the water, which is another obvious depiction of being baptized in enough water for submersion. Acts 18:25 states that the eloquent and mighty, scriptural teacher, Apollos, knew only the baptisma (baptism) of John. And, in Acts 19:1-7, the Apostle Paul found twelve disciples in Ephesus who had been baptized with John's baptisma (baptism). Finally, the "frosting on the baptism cake" is found in Ephesians 4:5. This text states that there is one Lord, one faith and "one baptism", and the Greek word is baptisma, meaning submersion in water. It is certainly significant that this scripture states that there is just "one" baptism, not two. There is baptism by submersion/immersion, and that's it. There is no second option of sprinkling endorsed in the Bible. The fact that so many are practicing baptism by sprinkling, without any scriptural authority whatsoever, is yet another revelation of the unfaithful, disobedient, compromising condition of the contemporary Christian Church.

Galatians 3:27 states that those who have been baptized (baptizo) into Christ have "put on" Christ. What Christian wouldn't want to "put on" Christ, and be covered with and by Him, even as you are covered with and by the water in baptism by immersion? However, the Bible lists two prerequisites for baptism; those prerequisites are "faith in Jesus Christ" (Acts 16:31), and "repentance" (Acts 2:38), which basically means to make the decision to turn away from sin and to serve Jesus.

The fact that repentance and faith in Christ are required for baptism exposes another unbiblical practice adopted by many denominations; that practice is the baptizing of infants, although infants cannot repent and profess faith in Christ. This, then, results in those who have been baptized as infants, feeling no need to be baptized when they are old enough to repent and believe; consequently, they miss out on the deep and meaningful experience and blessing of true biblical baptism by immersion, as presented in the book of Romans.

In Romans 6:3-6, the Apostle Paul compares baptism to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Just as Jesus died and went down into the grave when He was buried, and then rose up from the grave at His resurrection; even so, when we are baptized by being submerged in the water, we go down into our "watery grave", so to speak, which represents our dying to sin, self and the world; then, even as Jesus rose up from the grave in His glorified new body, we also rise up out of the water in the newness of life received from Jesus Christ. It is our public statement to the world that we've chosen to crucify our old carnal nature and bury it, and that a new "resurrected life in Christ" has begun. It is truly a beautiful, meaningful, powerful and blessed experience that has been completely lost by those who are sprinkled instead of receiving biblical baptism by immersion. It is noteworthy that Paul chose to use the Greek word, baptisma, in Romans 6:4, thus indicating that his death and resurrection symbolism applies specifically to baptism by immersion/submersion.

If you have only been sprinkled, I strongly suggest that you seriously consider being baptized by immersion in accordance with the Bible. And, for more details about biblical baptism, read my article titled, "Baptism", at my website address listed below.

I am an evangelical, non-denominational, Christian pastor. You can research other interesting and provocative topics at my website: http://www.godormen.com.

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