Our word "baptize" is
translated from the original Greek word "baptizo", which means to immerse. "Baptizo" does not mean sprinkle or pour. If
our Lord had wanted people to be sprinkled, he would have inspired the New
Testament writers to use the Greek word "rhantizo". If our Lord wanted people to
be poured He would have inspired New Testament writers to use the Greek
word "katacheo". But he didn't, so
"baptizo" was used, which can only mean
to immerse.
Let's look in the Bible to see how people were
baptized. In John 3:23 we read,
"Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim,
because there was must water there." Why was John baptizing near
Salim? "Because there was much water
there." Scriptural baptism, which is immersion, according to the
Bible requires much water.
In Mark
1:5 we read, "Then all the land of
Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to Him, and were all baptized by
him in the Jordan River." Why was John baptizing in the Jordan
River? Could it be "because there was much
water there" in a river?
In Mark
1:9-10, we continue to read, "And it
came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and
was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up out of the
water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like
a dove." When Jesus was baptized, he was baptized in the Jordan
River. Why? Again, because there is much water in a river which is
required for scriptural baptism, which is immersion. Also notice that
after Jesus was baptized, he came "up out of
the water." So scriptural baptism not only requires much water, but
it also requires "coming up out of the water." This cannot be said of
sprinkling or pouring.
Next we turn to
Acts 8:36-39. The evangelist, Philip, had been
teaching the gospel or good news of Christ to an Ethiopian eunuch while
they were riding along in a chariot. Then in verses 36-39 we read:
"Now as they went down the road, they came to some
water. And the eunuch said, See here is water, what hinders me from being
baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch
went down into the water, and he baptized him. And when they came up out
of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the
eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing." Here we
see that the baptism that God has authorized in the Bible requires the
"coming to some water", "going down into the
water," and after a person is immersed it requires
"coming up out of the water." How much clearer
could the Bible be on the mode of baptism? Also notice that after the
eunuch was baptized, "he went on his way
rejoicing." Why? Because he was now saved and all of his sins had
been taken away. This is certainly something to rejoice
about.
Romans 6:4 says,
"Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into
death." Here we see that baptism is a burial, which is what is done
when one is immersed. Sprinkling is not a burial; it is only sprinkling.
Neither is pouring a burial. Both are unlawful substitutions made by
man which will cause many people to be lost.
Colossians 2:12 says that we are
"buried with him in baptism, in which you also were
raised with Him." Here again God requires the one being baptized,
to be buried and raised when he is baptized. When we bury a dead person in
the cemetery, we do not lay him out on the grass and sprinkle a little
dirt on him. No, that would be absurd, and it is just as absurd in trying
to substitute sprinkling for baptism. Sprinkling for baptism is foreign to
the scriptures. God did not authorize it. There is not one instance
anywhere in the Bible where anyone was sprinkled for baptism.
But
we then ask the question, where then did sprinkling or pouring come from?
The first recorded case in all of early church history was that of
Novatian in 251 AD, who lay sick on his bed and water was poured on him.
Who made this first exception, man or God? Man did without the
authorization of God. God has not approved of it. Sprinkling is just as
vain as if it had never been done. This man made exception over the
centuries became the man made accepted practice until at the Council of
Ravenna in 1311 AD, man legalized sprinkling for baptism, but without
Godís authority. Since sprinkling is without Godís authority, if you were
sprinkled or poured, then you have not been scripturally baptized, and you
still have every sin that you have ever committed and are still lost.
Questions Lesson
19
Baptism Is
Immersion
(click on the button
of the answer of your choice)
1) The Greek word "baptizo" means to
Sprinkle. Pour. Immerse.
2)
The Greek word "baptizo" also means to sprinkle. 3) (John 3:23) Why was John baptizing in Aenon near Salim? It was handy. Because there was much water there. It was close to where the people
were.
4)
Scriptural baptism which is immersion requires much water. 5) (Mark 1:5) Where was John baptizing these people in Mark 1:5? From a hand held pitcher of water being poured on their
heads. In the River Jordan. In Jerusalem with water being sprinkled on their
heads.
6)
Immersion requires enough water to bury an individual such as a
river. 7) (Mark 1:7-10) When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River He never got down into the water. He stood on the shore and water was poured on his
head. He came up out of the water after His
baptism.
8)
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River because there is much water
in a
river.
9) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized the Ethopian eunuch Water from a canteen was poured on the eunuch's
head. They could not find any water in which to baptize. They came to some
water.
10)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require coming to water. 11) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized the eunuch They both went down into the water and came up out of the
water. They stood on the shore and Philip poured water on the
eunuch. They stayed in the chariot and Philip sprinkled water on the
eunuch from a
canteen.
12)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require going down into and
coming up
out of the water. 13) (Acts 8:36-39) When did the eunuch rejoice? Before he was baptized. He never rejoiced. After he was
baptized.
14)
The eunuch went on his way rejoicing because he was saved and
free from
sin. 15)
(Romans 6:4) When we are baptized we are Sprinkled. Buried. Poured.