Leaves of Gold

",,,earnestly contend for the faith..."

Year four, number 6                                           JUNE                                                                  2010

 

CHAPTER TWELVE  Scriptural Baptism  THE GREAT COMMISSION.

I. There are five different accounts of "THE GREAT COMMISSION," but no conflicts:

1. "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, 10, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen," Matt. 28:19, 20.

2. "And he (Jesus) 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.

3. "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remis­sion of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are wit­nesses of these things," Luke 24:46-48.

4. "Then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you," John 20:21.

5. "And he (Jesus) said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Fa­ther hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judeah, and in Samaria, and unto the utter­most part of the earth," Acts 1:7, 8

Two words sum up all of man's destiny: First, "Go."

This was given to the church and is found in "THE GREAT COMMISSION," as stated above. Second, "Come." This is God's "GREAT INVITATION" as given by the church to the world, "Come to Christ for salvation" is the church's invitation.

II. THE TWO ORDINANCES AUTHORIZED IN THE COMMISSION.

Three passages of Scripture set forth the fact that there are two ordinances embraced in the "GREAT COMMISSION."

1. "Go ... teach all nations, baptizing them: Teach­ing them to observe all things (the Lord's Supper in­cluded) whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. 28:19, 20. In this we have both baptism and the Lord's Supper.

2. "And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Fa­ther hath appointed unto me; That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel," Luke 22:29, 30. In this passage we find the Lord's Supper very plainly set forth to be observed by the church.

3. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they contin­ued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers," Acts 2:41, 42. Here we again find both baptism and the Lord's Supper, "in breaking of bread," no doubt, has refer­ence to the Lord's Supper.

In these days of liberalism we need to guard, with exceeding care, these two sacred ordinances, or memo­rials of the Lord's death, burial and resurrection. Each of them set forth two great truths or facts; both are declarative:

1. Baptism declares the faith of the believer in the burial and resurrection of Christ; and his faith in his own bodily resurrection at the second coming of Christ. Baptism points back to the burial and resur­rection of Christ and forward to our burial and res­urrection at the second coming of Christ.

2. The Lord's Supper declares the faith of the be­liever in the death of Christ, and also in His second coming. It, like baptism, points both ways: backward to the death of Christ on Calvary and forward to His second coming.

In this chapter we shall study the doctrine of bap­tism and devote another chapter to the Lord's Supper.

III. SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM.

A Scriptural baptism require the following five elements:

1. A Scriptural Subject. A Scriptural subject is a believer in Christ as a personal Saviour, Acts 2:41'; 3:37, 33; 10:44,. 45; 16:30, 31; Matt. 23:19, 20. No one is eligible for baptism until he has fully trusted Jesus for salvation. The Scriptural order is: Salvation first, and then, baptism and church membership.

2. Scriptural Authority. The authority for baptism rests in God, the Father; Jesus Christ, the Son; and the Holy Spirit, Matt. 28:19, 20. It is:

(1) God. (2) Christ. (3) The Holy Spirit. (4) The church to which the commission was given by Jesus Christ, the active Agent in giving the church her as­signment for work to be done while Jesus was in heav­en to prepare a place for her, Matt. 28:19, 20 and John 14:1-3. Jesus had authority to baptize while He was in the world, which He did through His church, John 4:1, 2. God sent John the Baptist to baptize, which he did during his ministry. When Jesus left the world HI' commissioned or commanded His church to admin­ister baptism to all who believed in Him during His absence from the world until He comes to earth again, Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15, 16. The church to which Jesus gave this commission was a Baptist Church, therefore, Baptist Churches are the only legally com­missioned organization on earth today who can' Scrip­turally administer a Scriptural baptism. John's baptism was given to all the members of the first church, including Jesus Christ, its Head and Founder, Matt. 3:13-17; Mark J:9; Acts \ 1:22. Christ called John a Baptist, and we know that he was a missionary for God sent him, John 1:6. Christ commissioned the same group of people who received baptism at the hands of John, therefore, it must have been a Missionary Bap­tist Church to whom the authority to administer bap­tism was given.

3. A Scriptural Design or Motive. By "design or motive" we mean that which prompts, urges, or causes one to be baptized. The motive or design of baptism is not that one may be saved, but it is that he is prompted by a love for God and a desire to do what God has commanded His children to qo, because they are saved. Peter explains that it is the answer of a good conscience toward God, I Peter 3:21.

4. A Scriptural Administrator. A Scriptural ad­ministrator is one who is legally authorized by a church of Jesus Christ to administer, on her behalf, the or­dinance for her. Since the commission was given to a Baptist church, and she alone has the authority to authorize anyone to officiate for her, legally and Scrip­turally, no one except an ordained minister of a Bap­tist church can administer the ordinance for her, Acts 1:22.

5. A Scriptural Place. A Scriptural place is a place with a sufficient amount of water for a complete im­mersion, John 3:29; Matt. 3:6; Mark 1:9; Acts 8:38, 39; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12. There are no "modes" of bap­tism-there is only one way to baptize and that is by immersion. Immersion is THE mode-the ONLY mode, or form in which baptism can be administered.

The above, five elements, are essential to a Scrip­tural baptism and without either one any so-called baptism is not in perfect harmony with the teachings of the Word of God. In addition to the above elements, we add the following facts about baptism:

1. Baptism is Declarative. It declares the new birth. In Matt. 28:20, we read: "Go ye ... and teach (make disciples)," and then after the disciples are made, "baptizing them," etc. When one comes to the church asking for baptism he declares that he has been born again, for in John 3:3-5 we learn that one is unfit for the kingdom of heaven until he has been born again. In Acts 2:41 we learn that those bap­tized on the day of Pentecost received the Word joy­fully before receiving baptism. To receive the Word joyfully is to say that those who received it are saved.


                The Ethiopian eunuch declared he was a believer in Christ before he was baptized, Acts 8:37, 38. In Mark 16:15, 16, it is declared that belief in Christ precedes baptism. John the Baptist demanded a declaration of repentance and faith in Christ before he would baptize those who came to him for baptism, Matt. 3:5-9. At Samaria none were baptized until they declared them­selves to be believers in Christ, Acts 8:12. In Acts 18:8 we read that Crispus heard, believed and was baptized and his house. In Acts 9:17, 18 we read that Paul received his sight and then was baptized. In Acts 10:44-48 we read where Cornelius and his house heard the Word of the Lord and received the Holy Spirit before baptism. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit, John 14: 17. Cornelius and his household did receive Him, therefore, we know they were saved and declared it so before baptism. Lydia heard the Word and the Lord opened her heal't, after which she was baptized, Acts 16:14, 15. The Philippian jailor heard and believed-was saved before baptism, Acts 16:30-34.

                The Ethiopian eunuch declared he was a believer in Christ before he was baptized, Acts 8:37, 38. In Mark 16:15, 16, it is declared that belief in Christ precedes baptism. John the Baptist demanded a declaration of repentance and faith in Christ before he would baptize those who came to him for baptism, Matt. 3:5-9. At Samaria none were baptized until they declared them­selves to be believers in Christ, Acts 8:12. In Acts 18:8 we read that Crispus heard, believed and was baptized and his house. In Acts 9:17, 18 we read that Paul received his sight and then was baptized. In Acts 10:44-48 we read where Cornelius and his house heard the Word of the Lord and received the Holy Spirit before baptism. The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit, John 14:17. Cornelius and his household did receive Him, therefore, we know they were saved and declared it so before baptism. Lydia heard the Word and the Lord opened her heart, after which she was baptized, Acts 16:14, 15. The Philippian jailor heard and believed-was saved before baptism, Acts 16:30-34.

2. Baptism Repudiates Unitarianism. It is admin­istered in the "name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," Matt. 28:20. Every person receiv­ing Scriptural baptism declares that he believes in a divine Trinity, he in substance declares, "I am a Trini­tarian, and not a Unitarian."

3. Baptism Declares the Fatherhood of God in Christ. There is no such thing as the Fatherhood of God out of Christ, but in Christ all have one Father,

God, Rom. 8:16.                                                                      . "

4. Baptism Declares the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

All who receive baptism recognizes Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God, and the Beloved of the Father, Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11.

5. Baptism Declares the Administration of the Holy Spirit. The twelve disciples at Ephesus had not re­ceived, neither had they heard that the Holy Spirit had been given when they were first immersed by someone who did not know the real purpose and mo­tive of baptism. When they heard the truth they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus-thus recog­nizing the administration of the Holy Spirit, Acts 19:1-5. Here is a case where some were re-baptized, or rather Scripturally baptized after having been first unscripturally baptized. This is a fine example for us today.

6. Baptism Declares the Death of Christ. To be baptized with reference to a doctrine means to accept that doctrine, Rom. 6:4, 5.

7. Baptism Declares the Resurrection of Christ.

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection," Rom. 6:5. When the believer goes down under the water of baptism he declares he believes in the burial of Christ; when he comes up out of the water he declares he believes in the resurrection of Christ.

8. Baptism Declares the Believer's Faith in the Second Coming of Christ. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, ... and, 10, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (age or dispensation). Amen," Matt. 28:20. As the believer comes up out of the water of baptism he declares, "I believe the Lord is coming again and my body will be raised from the grave as it is now being raised from this water."

9. Baptism Declares a Good Conscience Toward God, I Peter 3:21. Mark the words ("Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh"; "not the forgiveness of sins"; "not in order to be saved"; "but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Hence we see that the believer is baptized to declare his faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You can't Scripturally baptize an un­believer. This is impossible. You may dip him in water and call it baptism, but it is not baptism. Child of God, if you were dipped before you were saved you have not been baptized. You were not a fit, suitable subject for baptism; you have just been wet and not baptized. There is a joy to a believer in obeying the command of the Lord in baptism.

Baptism is an ordinance administered by the church to a prospective member of the church; it stands on the outside of the church. It belongs to the church, was given to them by the Lord, but it must be ad­ministered to those desiring to become members of the church before they are made members: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized"; then after they were baptized, "and the same day there were added unto them (the church) about three thou­sand~ouls," Acts 2:41. Three steps: (1) Saved, "Gladly received his word." (2) "Were baptized." (3) "The same day added to the church."

10. Baptism is a Declarative Act, Fulfilling all Righteousness. It fulfills all righteousness, Matt. 3:15, but it does not save the soul. It declares that the one being baptized has repented of his sins and believed in Jesus Christ; that he has been born again and is a fit subject for heaven; that he has turned his back upon the world and desires to live for God; that he has a good conscience, and that he is accepting baptism in answer to that good conscience. As he is lowered into the watery grave he declares that he believes Jesus was buried for him, and as he comes up out of the water he declares that he believes Jesus rose again for his justification, Rom. 4:25.

IV. ALIEN IMMERSION.

What is Alien Immersion? Alien immersion is im­mersion administered by any church, or group of peo­ple other than the true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptist churches are true churches 01' Jesus Christ, therefore, any immersion administered by any other so-called church or religious group of people is alien immersion or alien baptism and should not be accepted by Baptist churches as Scriptural baptism. To put it in simple words: Baptists do not let out washing, neither do they take in washing. Baptists allow no other group to do their baptizing for them, neither do they do baptizing for any other group. But, instead, Baptists do their own baptizing and accept the baptism of no others.

 

 

 

 

This is a ministry of Evangelist James A. Nelson, Salina, Kansas EE. UU.,  jan23@cox.net   and is sponsored by David Pickett, drpickett@hotmail.com.  Our Web Master is Martin Gutzmer,  mrgutzmer@gmail.com