Leaves of Gold

A Call To Return To The Teaching Of The Bible

A ministry of Evangelist James A. Nelson, jan23@cox.net

Year IV, No. 11 November 2010

The People Called Baptists. Why are they Different?

Lee R. Tillman, Bogard Press

Lesson 3, Why Do Baptists Baptize by Immersion?

AIM: To show the Scriptural design, and the meaning of baptism.

The word "baptize" and its various forms are not English terms. They are anglicized or transliterated forms of the Greek word baptizo and its various forms. In other words, the word was spelled out in the English, not translated. The English form of the term originated with the King James Version of the Bible, in which the translators almost entirely excluded the translation of the word. In those places in which the word is translated, the doctrine of immersion is preserved through the meaning given.

For example, Luke's account of the man who went to Hell uses a variation of baptizo (Luke 16:24). It is correctly translated "dip." Although the passage has nothing to do with the ordinance of baptism, it provides a correct translation of the word. The sufferer wanted Lazarus to immerse the tip of his finger in water. Applying the same term to a believer, he would have to be totally immersed.

Another example is John's description of Christ's vesture when He comes with His heavenly army (Rev. 19:13). The word "dipped" translates a variation of the Greek word for baptism. The vesture will appear to have been dyed in blood or immersed in blood. Again, the passage does not refer to the church ordinance of baptism, but it provides a basic meaning of the term.

Language scholars acknowledge the various meanings of the word baptiso are "to immerse, to submerge, to plunge under, to dip, to dye, etc." A classical use of the word referred to the sinking of a ship. Each indicates total immersion. Scholars realize the Greek language is the most perfect and expressive language known to man. If God intended to have some other method for His ordinance, to express it He had quite a selection among the various words of the Greek language. The fact He deliberately chose baptizo emphasizes His choice of total immersion for the pictorial ordinance.

Because of the Picture of Baptism.

"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" (Rom. 6:3-5).

Two words in the passage emphasize the doctrine of total immersion, buried and planted. Both words demand a complete covering of the individual. It is so evident argument is unnecessary to the discerning and useless to the ignorant.

Does immersion picture the death of Christ? Yes, it does.  And, it is the only method which does.

Does immersion picture the burial of Christ? Yes, it does. The candidate is plunged under the water. Immersion is the only method which pictures such a watery grave.

Does immersion picture the resurrection of Christ? Yes, it does. The candidate comes forth from the watery grave to walk in newness of life. That pictures a resurrection. Immersion is the only method which pictures a resurrection. "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" (Col. 2:12).

Immersion pictures all three major points of the Gospel. No other method will.

The New Testament account of Israel's Red Sea crossing illustrates this truth. "And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (I Cor. 10:2). With walls of water on either side and the cloud overhead they were completely submerged in the cloud and the sea.

John's baptism indicates immersion was his practice. "And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins" (Matt. 3:6). Why did John bother to take his candidates into the water to baptize them "in Jordan," if he did not immerse them? This passage strongly suggests immersion.

When John baptized the Lord, the description of that baptism indicates an immersion took place. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: AND LO, THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED UNTO HIM, AND HE SAW THE Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him" (Matt. 3:16). The reference to the fact Jesus "went up straightway out of the water" is a strong indication of immersion.

The Bible's description of a place John was baptizing indicates he practiced total immersion. "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized" (John 3:23), "Because there was much water there" is the reason God's Word gives for John's baptizing in that place. The only reason he needed "much water" was his practice of immersion. No other method demands such a location.

The example of Philip's baptizing the eunuch also indicates the practice of immersion. "They came unto a certain water," and the eunuch wanted to be baptized (Acts 8:36). The "certain water" was a river, a pool, a lake, or some body of water large enough to immerse someone, because both of them went into the water. "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 8:38).

Moreover, each Bible example indicates baptism is a total immersion in water.

Because Immersion Is the Only Method with Heaven's Authority.

Only immersion has example, authority, command, sanction, endorsement, meaning, purpose, and value in New Testament teachings. All other methods are completely worthless. They do not qualify for the meaning of the word the New Testament uses consistently to refer to baptism; therefore they cannot receive serious consideration as being scriptural. They do not picture the Gospel of Christ; therefore they have no testimony for Christ. They have no precedent in Bible example; therefore they are not a true baptism at all. Immersion in water is essential to baptism. Without it there can be no baptism at all.

"One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph. 4:5). That one baptism is immersion in water. No other form was used for years. Every scholar of every denomination knows immersion was the only practice for years after the completion of the New Testament.

God approved of John's baptism, and it was an immersion. God authorized John to perform the work of baptism (John 1:33), The Lord acknowledged John had Heaven's authority for his baptism (Matt. 21:23-27). The fact the Lord walked a considerable distance to have John's baptism proves this. The Father's approval of His Son directly after His baptism proclaims this fact, too (Matt. 3:17). John was the only man to whom Jesus could go for scriptural baptism. Since God" approved of John's method of immersion, Baptist. today administer that same mode by the same authority. (These lessons will continue)

Editor: James A. Nelson, jan23@cox.net

Sponsor: David R. Pickett, dr_pickett@hotmail.com

Webb Master: Martin Gutzmer, mrgutzer@gmail.com