Christian Baptism

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6: 1-11 NKJV)

This is one of the pivotal passages of scripture concerning Christian baptism.

There is a lot of confusion and disagreement over this topic. Lots of blood has been shed in "Christian" wars over this issue.

What is "baptism"? How is it performed? Why is it done? For what end or reason? Who may be baptized? Who may administer baptism? What happens to a person when he is baptized?

All these are important questions and every bible student should search all that the bible has to say on this topic and pray for understanding so that he might know and be assured of the answers to the above questions.

The word "baptize" or "baptism" are unique words. How they were coined is interesting. They are words that were created by the translators of the King James Version to represent the Greek word "baptizo" (or one of its forms). The translators did not translate the Greek word at all, but left it untranslated, simply altering slightly the way the word is spoken or written. So then, what does the Greek word "baptizo" mean?

According to Strong (and every other reliable Greek authority) says it means:

1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe
3) to overwhelm

If "baptizo" means to "dip" or to "immerse," then why do many Christians not dip or immerse, but rather "sprinkle" or "pour," or simply apply some small amount of water to the body?

In the above passage, Paul refers to baptism as a "burial," both really and symbolically, but there is no burial in sprinkling or pouring water.

"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." (Collosians 2: 12 KJV)

The word "baptizo" may also mean "to place within or into." Thus, what is dipped or immersed is place within something else. But, in "baptism" there is not only an "immersion" but also an "emersion"!

There are several steps involved in being "baptized" or "buried in baptism." First, one must die! We do not "bury" living beings! Second, after one has "died," he is then "buried" in the ground. Third, he "emerges" from grave in resurrection. In salvation these things are experienced.

The first thing that occurs in the Christian experience of salvation, or of being "born again" (John 3: 1-5) or "regenerated" (Titus 3: 5), is he "dies to sin." Thus, being "dead" he is a proper person to be baptized. He does not "die to sin" in the act of being buried, for that would be silly. But, being already dead, he is a proper person to be buried in the "liquid or watery grave" of baptism.

How does one "die to sin"? Or, how is one "crucified with Christ"?

A person has "died to sin" practically when he has been given a heart and mind that detests and abhors sin. It is part of the experience of "repentance." There is a "turning away" from sin.

How is a person "risen" or "resurrected" with Christ? When a person "emerges" from the grave of sin, typified in the watery grave of baptism, he enters a new life.

Christ, in his death, burial, and resurrection, represented every believer.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2: 4-7 KJV)

When Christ died, every believer died with him. Likewise, when he was buried, every believer was buried with him. And, when he was raised from the grave, every believer was raised with him.

In the opening passage baptism is called a "likeness" or "resemblance." It is therefore a symbolic rite. It, like the Lord's Supper, is meant to "show forth the Lord's death," but baptism also shows forth his resurrection. (I Corinthians 11: 26)

Only those who have believed in Christ and repented of sins may be legitimately baptized.

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. " (Acts 8: 35-38 KJV)

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16: 15, 16 KJV)

"But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7: 30 KJV)

True believers and repenters of sin desire to follow the Lord in water baptism. It is one way in which they show their allegiance to Christ and openly confess their faith to the world.