Elementary Principles of Christ | Water Baptism

In this post, I want to continue talking about what the Bible calls the - Elementary Principles of Christ. This post is a continuation of an earlier post, so I urge you to read the earlier post before you read this one. (Read | Repentance from dead Works)

I believe it is important for every Christian to get a hold of these elementary truths of Christ (Hebrews 6:1-2): 

• Repentance from dead works and of faith towards God
• Doctrines of Baptisms
• Laying on of hands
• The Resurrection of the Dead
• Eternal Judgement

In this post we will talk about the Doctrines of Baptisms. Notice that it says Baptisms, meaning there are many types of Baptisms. We will concentrate on the doctrine of Water Baptism in this post. 

The Bible says: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) Does that mean we need to be baptized to be saved? That is not what the scripture is saying. The proper way to read the scripture is: He who believes and acts on what he believes will be saved. The Bible teaches us that saving faith always produces works. The scripture says: Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect. (James 2:22) You see a man is justified by works and not by faith only. (James 2:24) For as the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26) 

Water Baptism is really an action that completes your faith. When a Man gets a Revelation of Christ and believes in his death and resurrection, it is very natural for him to ask: What must I do to be saved? That is when you say: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and act on what you believe by being baptized. (Acts 1:38). 

Baptism is when you declare: I believe that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried and rose again. I believe I shared his death, burial and resurrection. I believe I died with Christ, was buried and rose again with him Spiritually. (Romans 6:4-5) 

Another important truth about Water Baptism is that you need to believe first and only then be baptized. There are numerous examples in Bible and we will go through some of them so that this truth is understood.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19) In this verse we clearly see Jesus command us to make disciples first and then baptize them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

That is why Child Baptism is not right according to the Bible. A child at that young age is not able to understand the things of God and therefore he cannot believe. Baptism is an act that follows personal faith in Christ. Therefore, parents are instructed to train up their children in the Lord so that when they grow up and are accountable, they realize their need for a Savior and take a personal decision to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be baptized. (Proverbs 22:6)

Let us look at some more examples in the Bible. 

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38)

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. (Acts 2:41) In the above scriptures we see Peter instruct those who have believed to be baptized. In v. 41 it reads: those who gladly received the Word were baptized. It very clear here that Baptism was action that followed faith in Christ. 

Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. (Acts 9:18) Here we see How Paul after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ was baptized. 

“Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (Acts 10:47:48). Here again we see Peter instruct Cornelius and his family to be water baptized after they believed. Another important truth that arises out of this Scripture is that Cornelius received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit before Water Baptism. We see here that a Man is not saved by Water Baptism. He is saved when he believes in the death and resurrection of Christ. Water Baptism is just a completion of that faith. My own personal testimony is that I was Water Baptized, 2 years after I got saved. That does not mean I was not saved those 2 years. God worked mightily in my Life. I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and my life saw a complete transformation. Water Baptism was always on my mind but there was no one in town to baptize me those years. But anyway one day, God organized it for me and I finally completed my faith. I declared publicly that I died with Christ and rose again with Him. 

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12) Here we see how both men and women were baptized after they believed the preaching of Christ.

All these examples are only so that you see clearly that people were water baptized only after they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Other scriptures that confirm this truth are: (Acts 8:38-37) (Acts 10:47-48) (Acts 16:31-34) (Acts 18:8) (Acts 19:5)

I know this post hurts some of your religious beliefs. But like Jesus said: Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that." (Mark 7:13) The time has come for the Church to grow up and examine the scriptures like the Bereans to see if what they have been taught is correct. (Acts 17:11) Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)