Contradiction or Confirmation (8)

“NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO BAPTISM” ~ ACTS

The purpose today is to examine the various occurrences of baptism in the scriptures and to study their setting. We will find that all references to baptism are associated exclusively with Jesus Christ. We have already expounded on various incidents of baptism in the Book of Acts, and have seen that baptism was always administered using the words ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’. We now want to look at other occurrences of the subject of baptism, and also the teachings of the Epistle Writers about baptism. The conclusion that will be reached at the end of this section is that baptism is a direct association with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and is an expression of our acceptance and faith in that work. All references to baptism (inclusive or exclusive of Matthew 28:19) deal strictly with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the one who died, was buried, and rose the third day in order that we could be saved.

There are of course a variety of references to baptism throughout the New Testament. The only occurrence of words actually spoken at a baptism in this dispensation of the church is found in the Book of Acts. When we pass from the historical account of the church (Acts) into the letters written to established churches, we can conclude other aspects of the doctrine of baptism, as taught and believed by the Apostles. The references to baptism as found in the teachings of Paul and Peter are not accounts of literal baptisms, but references to the place and role of baptism in the believers life. All of the Epistles were written to men and women who were already born again. They had already repented, been baptized in Jesus Name, and had received the Holy Ghost. 

The doctrines that we can determine from the passages that we are going to look at are important. Hebrews 6:1-2 allows us to know that baptism is one of the foundational doctrines of the church, the body of Christ. If our foundation is not correct, then we build the house in vain. We either build upon a solid rock, or upon sinking sand. If baptism is a foundation and a principle of our walk with God, it cannot be ignored. There is no point in searching for the deeper things of God if we lack understanding of the fundamental teachings of the church. Many have chose to ignore the topic of baptism. This is unfortunate because the scriptures teach a clear and sound doctrine concerning baptism. 

We begin our look at New Testament baptism by examining two incidents in the book of Acts where there was a baptism, but the actual words spoken at the baptism are not recorded. Of course, we have no reason to believe that the words spoken at these baptisms were different in any way than any other Book-of-Acts baptisms. Still they must be examined to understand the meaning of baptism to the Apostolic Church.

“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what both hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest". And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God". And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him”, Acts 8:36-38. Philip just left revival in Samaria where he had himself baptized many converts in Jesus name. Paul had come from Jerusalem to see the work that Philip was doing, and found that there was a great move of God taking place. Many miracles were done, as God bore witness to the obedience of the Samaritans to the gospel. However, until Peter came, none of the Samaritans had received the Holy Ghost, they were only baptized in Jesus Name. Peter laid his hands on them and the Samaritans received the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

God then spoke to Philip and instructed him to leave the revival and go to the desert. Obediently he went and while standing, a chariot passed by that was carrying the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Ethiopian Eunuch was reading through the book of Isaiah; prophetic passages concerning the death of Jesus Christ. Philip joined himself to the chariot and began to inquire of the Eunuch whether or not he understood the passage he was studying. The Eunuch replied that he could not understand unless someone explained it to him. The passage from Isaiah 53 speaks of a lamb being led to the slaughter. Philip then proceeded to explain the passage to the eunuch, and to preach unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35). Philip showed that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. He must also have explained that salvation was found in no other than this same Jesus. Either because of previous knowledge, or through the preaching of Philip, the eunuch became aware of the need for baptism. 

When the eunuch asked what hindered him from being baptized, what was the reply of Philip? He stated that if the eunuch believed with all of his heart, he could be baptized. What was the eunuch to believe with all of his heart? He was to believe what Philip had just finished explaining to him. He was to believe in Jesus. Knowing the Commission of Jesus, that “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”, Philip wanted to ensure that this eunuch did in fact believe. Through Isaiah 53 we know that Jesus was to die for the iniquity of us all. The eunuch had to believe that Jesus died for him. The eunuch had to believe the gospel. The eunuch answered that he believed that Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God. On the basis of the eunuch’s confession of faith in Jesus Christ, Philip baptized him on that day.

There have been many that have attempted to add to the word of God, and make it necessary to believe in more than Jesus Christ. Charles Stanley, who was formerly the head of the Southern Baptists, said the following. “If you do not believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, then you are guilty of the first commandment, and you are guilty of idolatry, and you are lost”. (Dr. Charles Stanley, Radio Broadcast on WRBS, Baltimore, MD, USA, March 1987.)

 According to this man’s understanding, the Ethiopian Eunuch is not even saved. The eunuch wasn’t asked about anyone but Jesus Christ. The scriptures nowhere tell us that belief in, or confession of a trinity is essential to salvation. We are only told, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”, Acts 16:31. The eunuch’s baptism hinged solely on his understanding and belief in Jesus Christ, as being the Son of God.

“And he {the jailer} called for a light and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. ... And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his straightway”, Acts 16:29-33.

Some have taken the words that Paul spoke to this jailer to be the only requirement for salvation. Many people preach a message of salvation that only includes the words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”. Was this all that was required of the jailer? In light of the other times where Peter preached about salvation and the requirements of Jesus in the Commission, there was more required than a simple confession. Believing is dependent on baptism, for without baptism, our believing cannot save us, and we are not answering a good consciences toward God (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21). The salvation of the jailer and his house did not stop with believing. The scriptures continue to show us that after the jailer washed the wounds on the backs of Paul and Silas, he and his family were all baptized. If Paul had not baptized the jailer, then he would not have been fulfilling the commandments of Jesus. The jailer would have been neither a disciple, nor saved.

One must equally consider that Paul was severely wounded from the beating he had received earlier that day. If baptism played only a minor role, or was just a ceremony to publicly testify of a prior inward action, then it most certainly could have been delayed. Yet Paul braved the pain and discomfort that it meant for his already wounded back, and went into the water to baptize this family. It was obviously a high priority for Paul ~ not an insignificant and meaningless action.

There is no statement of the actual words spoken at the baptism of the jailer. We do, however, have record of another time when Paul did baptize some of his converts at Ephesus. The disciples of John were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. It would be both illogical and improbable that Paul would have used any other form to baptize in Philippi. Indeed, there is only One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism (Ephesians 4:5).

In previous blog entries, we have seen that baptisms in the book of Acts were performed, without exception, using the words, ‘in the name of Jesus’ or a similar wording. In the two examples of baptism already mentioned above, there is a requirement on the part of the listener to exercise faith and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation, as recorded in the Book of Acts, puts Jesus Christ at the pivotal point. Baptism in the Book of Acts also hinges upon the name of Jesus Christ.