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Bible Question: What
type of baptismal ceremony is right? Baptizing in the name of Jesus,
sprinkling, dipping, etc?
Bible Answer: Baptism
is an act of obedience that occurs after we become Christian (Acts
2:38). Baptism was an act of identification. John the Baptist's baptism
was a public demonstration that a person was repenting or turning
from sin in preparation for Jesus' coming.
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John
the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of
repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (NASB) Mark 1:4
And
Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him,
that is, in Jesus." (NASB) Acts 19:4 |
Meaning
of Baptism. Baptism is a public statement or demonstration of
heart change. To be baptized in Jesus' name is a public way in which
a person says; "I have become a Christian."
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And
when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. (NASB) Acts 19:5 |
It
publicly says, "I am trusting in Jesus." It symbolizes death
to ourselves and our sin. When we start trusting in God - Jesus -
to forgive our sins, we have died to ourselves. Here is the meaning
of baptism.
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Or
do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been
buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as
Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
so we too might walk in newness of life. (NASB) Romans 6:3-4 |
Baptism
does not save us. It is an act of obedience that follows our trust
in Jesus.
How To Be Baptized. The Greek
word for "baptize" is BAPTIZO. The word means "to dip
in or under," and "to immerse." The word was used to
refer to sinking a ship and "to drown." Some Christians
believe that baptism should be done by sprinkling water rather by
immersion into water, but that does not agree with the weight of the
ancient evidence. In fact, the following New Testament passages tell
us baptism was done by immersion. The first example occurs at Jesus'
baptism.
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And
immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens
opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him . .
. (NASB) Mark 1:10 |
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