IS BAPTISM PART OF THE GOSPEL?
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from the Afrikaans Version: Is die doop deel van die Evangelie?
Translator: Lynda Botha
Someone sent me an e-mail, from which I understand that there are people who argue that baptism isn’t really important and that it cannot be considered as part of the Gospel.
I share with you how I understand and live this:
For me, baptism is a very important part of the Gospel, and here I will explain to you my view on this matter:
Jesus said:
MAT 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
MAT 28:20: “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
I am one of those who accept the Word of God the way I read it. I always tell people that it might be because I'm not smart enough like so many other people who read things between the lines.
Now then, to get back to the part which I quoted to you:
I always reply by saying when you read what’s written in the Bible and especially what Jesus said, you have to read with your full concentration because it is God's Word.
You are then personally interacting with God.
JOHN 1:1: “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
If Jesus said something in a certain order, it indicates to me the exact order in which He wants me to look at it. In other words, this is the order of importance for me He wants me to look at.
Read the following Scripture again:
MAT 28:19: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
MAT28:20: “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Now look at how the disciples, who were trained by Jesus for three years, interpreted this instruction:
ACTS 2:37: “Peter's words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
ACTS 2:38: “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
When people asked Peter and the other disciples what they should do and Peter answered them in the way he did, none of the other disciples disagreed or contradicted him.
For me, another interesting fact which is connected to baptism is that every person Jesus ever called to Him was done so in public, unless I somewhere overlooked a case. For me it therefore confirms the correct way of baptism, which should be done in public by responding to Jesus' call when baptized.
Now, I am not saying that people, who have done this differently, will end up in hell. Of course not, for I worship a loving God, but the best way I can explain how I interpret God's actions as far as this and other matters of faith are concerned, is to quote my hero Paul like I have done so many times in the past:
1 CORINTHIANS 3:11-15
11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have – Jesus Christ.”
12 “Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials – gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay or straw.”
13 “But on judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.”
14 “If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.”
15 “But if the work is burned up the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”
The closer I live according to the Word, the bigger my reward, because the more I please my God.
It seems to me that baptism is such a vital part of the Gospel, that even after your repentance you can still be baptized incorrectly, which must then be rectified.
ACTS 19:3-5
3 "Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.”
4 “Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
5 “As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Remember, Paul did not baptize them to lead them to repentance. They’ve already repented before Paul even met them
ACTS 19:4: “Paul said, "John's baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” (John baptized the baptism of repentance.)
According to the guidance Paul had, the baptism was so important that he re-baptized them and, the way I see it, the Lord came and sanctified what Paul had done.
ACTS 19: 5-6
5 “As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
6 “Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied.” (Or they used different languages to preach the Word of God)
To conclude and summarize how I view this subject:
Nobody that accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour will go to hell simply because they are not baptized.
But:
I think that baptism is a very, very important part of the Gospel – In fact, So important that Jesus gave the following command to each and every one who preach His Gospel to the people:
MAT 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Greetings,
Sakkie