THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS

Hebrews 6:1–2 “1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”

BAPTISMS IN THE SCRIPTURE

1. Baptism unto Moses in the and in the

2. Baptism of

3. Baptism for the

4. Baptism of

5. Baptism of the

6. Baptism in the of Jesus Christ

A. BAPTISM IS FOR THE OF SINS

1. Jesus declared that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).

2. This command was carried out at Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Simon Peter, the man with the keys to the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18-19), declared: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).

B. BAPTISM IS FOR THE AWAY OF SINS

1. Ananias commanded Paul, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

2. “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:11).

C. BAPTISM IS OF THE WATER

1. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

2. “According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

D. BAPTISM IS A AND OF THE CONSCIENCE

1. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21).

2. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).

E. BAPTISM IS A

1. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

2. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12).

F. BAPTISM IS ON THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST

1. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

2. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14).

3. “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (II Timo- thy 2:19).

4. “That worthy name by the which ye are called” (James 2:7).

The preceding passages refer to the work that takes place in our lives when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

WHAT NAME SHOULD BE CALLED OVER US IN BAPTISM?

1. Jesus told His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47).

2. The fulfillment of Jesus’ command in Luke 24:47 is found in Acts 2:38: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

3. Three thousand souls received the Word and were baptized (Acts 2:41). How? As Peter had just told them—in the name of Jesus Christ.

4. Philip baptized the new converts at Samaria in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:12-16).

5. Peter commanded Cornelius and his household and friends who had just received the Holy Ghost to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:44- 48).

6. Paul instructed twelve men from Ephesus, who had already been baptized by John the Baptist, to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-7).

New Testament believers were always baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. There is not one place or any indication that anyone was ever baptized in the New Testament with the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost called over them. The early church taught that (1) Jesus was both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36), (2) that there is salvation in none other than Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), and (3) that Jesus has all power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18). “Jesus,” a name of such power and glory, must be called over us at baptism.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON WATER BAPTISM

• “At first, baptisms took place in the name of the Lord Jesus, later in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”2

• “Christian baptism as we meet it in Paul, in the book of Acts, is in the name of Jesus.”3

• “To be baptized in or into the name of Jesus means turning away from other names.”4

• “Do the baptismal formulas and creeds set forth a doctrine of the Trinity? Those we have thus far described do not.”5

HOW IMPORTANT IS WATER BAPTISM?

From the scriptural definition of baptism, anyone who refuses the cleansing of the blood of Jesus that occurs at baptism in the name of Jesus Christ does not receive remission of sins or salvation from sin. The Scripture clearly declares, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16), and “Baptism doth also now save us” (I Peter 3:21). Baptism is a vital and important part of God’s plan of salvation in the New Testament church.