There is One Baptism
Essential To Salvation
Complete Immersion The Only True Way
Sprinkling Unscriptural • Belief A Prerequisite
"The unity of the Spirit ... one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, ONE BAPTISM, one God and Father of all" -- Eph. 4:3-6
I. The Importance of Earnest and Reverent Obedience:
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (1 Samuel 15:22).
"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you." (Jeremiah 7:23).
"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? "(Luke 6:46).
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)."
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4).
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
II. What Baptism Symbolizes And Accomplishes:
1. A cleansing, a washing away -- remission -- forgiveness of sins
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Acts 22:16).
"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." (Acts 2:38).
"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." (1 Cor. 6:11).
"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," (Ephesians 5:26).
2. A burial and rebirth -- a death to the old Adam -- a resurrection to newness of life.
"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 up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: "(Romans 6:3-5).
"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." (Col. 2:12).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3).
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5).
3. A Union with Christ, a partaking of his righteousness and the effects of his sacrifice; a naturalization into the citizenship of the commonwealth of Israel and an heirship of the promises made to the Fathers.
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26-29).
"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Cor. 12:12-13).
4. A release from the bondage and slavery of Sin; a transfer of masters from the service of Sin unto death to the service of Righteousness unto life.
"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 up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Romans 6:3,4,7).
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:11).
"But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you." (Romans 6:17).
"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (Romans 6:18).
III. Total Immersion In Water Necessary:
1. To fulfull the symbol of burial and resurrection or rebirth (see passages under II, 2 above)
2. As demonstrated by the descriptions and instances of baptism recorded in Scripture.
"And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea." (Acts 8:39-40).
"And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:6).
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: "(Matthew 3:16).
"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." (John 3:23).
3. The actual meaning of the Greek word (baptizo) used in the New Testament:
(a) Usage of general Greek literature over 2,000 year period.
(b) Septuagint translation of 2 Kings 5:14 (baptizo)
(c) In writing of so-calld "Church Fathers."
(d) Words used for baptism by early writers in Latin.
(e) Words used in early translations of Scriptures in Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Ethiopic, etc.
IV. Knowledge and Belief of The Gospel An Essential Prerequisite:
1. General references to the necessity of belief
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6).
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16-17).
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4).
"That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: "(2 Thessalonians 2:12-13).
2. Baptism specifically and inseparably associated with belief
"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).
"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: "(1 Peter 3:21).
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16).
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." (Acts 18:8).
"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? "(Acts 16:30).
"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth 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." (Acts 8:36-37).
"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." (Acts 8:12).
V. Baptism Obligatory -- Not Optional:
1. Because of its significance and the emphasis that the Scriptures lay upon what it accomplishes, making salvation contingent upon its observance
"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: "(Romans 6:5).
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:27-29).
"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: "(1 Peter 3:21).
"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; "(Titus 3:5).
"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:5, 7).
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16).
2. It is expressly commanded
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:48).
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)."
"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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." (Acts 2:37-38).
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "(Matthew 28:19).
3. Its necessity proven by invariable example of the New Testament (see the many passages already adduced).
4. The "One Baptism" an element of the sevenfold "Unity of the Spirit"
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:3-6).
