ABOUT BAPTISM
Sakkie Parsons
Vetaal van Afrikaans: “Oor die Doop”
Someone asked me my view on Baptism.
Before I say anything about baptism, just this:
I don't believe anyone will go to hell if they are not baptized.
You will be lost if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
JOHN 3:16-18
16“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, (Jesus) so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him. 18Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].
Although it is personally unconceivable to me that someone who accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour, would not want to be baptized.
I believe that the following apply to such people among others:
1KOR 3:11-15
11for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work. 14If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.
I also do not want to affect anyone with this writing. I'm just explaining how I understand baptism.
Here then, to the best of my ability, is an explanation of baptism as I understand it.
I want to start by saying that there is no doubt in my mind that someone who has converted to the Christian faith should be baptized and that you may only be baptized if you have repented of your sinful life and you can only repent if you believe and understand that the life you lived without Jesus was wrong and that you must make a turnaround and that is something a child cannot do, let alone a baby.
ACTS 2:38-39
38And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39“For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.”MARK 16:15-16
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.
ACTS 8:34-37
34The eunuch replied to Philip, “Please tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about someone else?”
35Then Philip spoke and beginning with this Scripture he preached Jesus to him [explaining that He is the promised Messiah and the source of salvation].
36As they continued along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch exclaimed, “Look! Water! What forbids me from being baptized?”
37[Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
Just pay attention again to what you have just read.
ACTS 8:37
37[Philip said to him, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
Also take note what happened where there was a case where it was possible, that children could also be baptized:
ACTS 8:9-13
9Now there was a man named Simon, who previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great.
10They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!”
11They were paying attention to him because for a long time he had mystified and dazzled them with his magic.
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women.
13Even Simon believed [Philip’s message of salvation]; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he watched the attesting signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed.
Just take note to the following in what you have just read in verse 8:
Young and Old believed in Simon.
ACTS 8:10
10They all paid [a great deal of] attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God!”
However, only the men and women were baptized after they were converted under the guidance of Philip's preaching.
ACTS 8:12
12But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, both men and women.
Then I also believe that one must be baptized by immersion.
Notice that Jesus came out of the water after His baptism:
MATTHEW 3:16.
16 After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus),
The same thing happened, after Phillip baptized the official:
ACTS 8:38-39
38 And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [suddenly] took Philip [and carried him] away [to a different place]; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but he went on his way rejoicing.
You see, baptism is in fact a burial.
ROM 6:3-5
3Or are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in newness of life [abandoning our old ways].
5For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection.COL 2:12
12having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God, [as displayed] when He raised Christ from the dead.
Baptism is not simply something that does not need to be done or something that is left out or ignored:
JOHN 3:22-23
22After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and there He spent time with them and baptized.
23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—
Pay particular attention to the following in what you have just read.
Jesus and His disciples also baptized.
JOHN 3:22
22After these things Jesus and His disciples went into the land of Judea, and there He spent time with them and baptized.
So, do not believe that baptism is not really necessary or important.
God never do anything unnecessary – and Jesus is also God.
JOHN 1:1-5
1In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
2He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God.
3All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.
4In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men.
5The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].
Then again, you can only baptize people by immersion if there is a place with enough water at your disposal.
JOHN 3:23
23Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—
Just one more thing about baptism that I want to highlight:
My entire walk as a Christian consists of following Christ Jesus as faithfully and closely as possible.
Jesus also teach me – and I could have pointed out many examples but I restrict myself to two:
MATTHEW 10:38
38And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me.MARK 8:34
34Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].
Read here how Jesus show me the way in relation to baptism:
MATTHEW 3:13-17
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan [River], to be baptized by him. 14But John tried to prevent Him [vigorously protesting], saying, “It is I who need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him. 16After Jesus was baptized, He came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he (John) saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him (Jesus), 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased and delighted!”
I could have said more, for example about the different ways of immersion – but for me the most important thing is that the person repent and then take the step to be baptized.
I must just mention that I will not baptize people in the same way that some baptize people.
Remember also, that every person Jesus ever called to Him in His walk on earth, He called publicly.
If you decide to be baptized, you are declaring in public:
"Jesus invited me to follow Him and here I am now following Him."
I hope I have been able to give some light on this very important matter.
Greetings,
Sakkie