With all of the religions that we have out in this world right now, many believe that you do have to be Baptized to make it to Heaven and many believe that you do not. I want to go through Scripture with you and let you know what the Bible says about Baptism. Whatever religion you are, please take time to read this and think about what the Bible is saying as a whole.
I may touch base on other issues as we discuss Baptism but this is OK. God wants us to know and learn his Word and He demands that we seek and find Him. So what exactly is Baptism? Baptism is when a heart is touched, as in Acts 2:37, because they have heard the Word of God and realized that they had been living in sin and doing wrong. They asked what they could do and Peter told them to repent, or confess your sins, and acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Another term Jesus uses in The Bible for Baptism is being reborn, born again, or a rebirth. In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” Nicodemus was appalled; thinking there is no way anyone can renter the womb and be born all over again and told Jesus so. Jesus explains to him that unless you are born of water and the Spirit that no one can go to His new kingdom. It is a washing of your soul by symbol of washing your person and a renewal of your heart that is so strong that you want to change for the better and follow Him. It’s a chance to start over and be willing to hear and learn as a child.
In Matthew 18: 2-5, Jesus says to the people,” Truly I tell you unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven”. He also says further that whoever humbles himself like the little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven and whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. What He is saying here is that children are innocent and they are already of Heaven. Children are willing. We must become like children. In Mark 10; 13 – 16 where it says, “People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. …He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Baptism is meant for those who can hear, understand His Word, accept Christ, be washed of your sin, and change. Changing your ways from the old to being new is what is meant in Galatians 3:27 as it states, “For all of you who were Baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” There are some religions that will baptize infants because back some 1000 or so years there were plagues that were killing people and children. The parents would come to these people that were so-called councils and complain about their children not being in Heaven when they died. That being said, councils changed what was written in Scripture to pacify the parents. New rules were adopted that included infant baptism and then taking it a step further and choosing a certain time for teenagers to except Christ by way of things such as confirmation. 2 Timothy 4:3 states it perfectly about the phrase “tickle their ears” after their own whims basically. That means pacifying and changing His way to suit mankind.
As well as these changes, Augustine also called for babies to be Baptized because of this so-called original sin. But if you go back to Ezekiel 18, it strictly says that we do not inherit our fathers sins. That means that we do not inherit any kind of sin at all. We sin from our own doings. Also, if you read in Hebrews you will see that the Old Testament ways were changed because Jesus came and He created a New Covenant and we live by the New Testament. It also says in Hebrews that the Old Testament ways will lead to the New Testament ways. We learn from the Old and we live by the New when we find Jesus Christ. We are all on the same path but some are further down the road than others and that is expected. We need His Word and each other to learn.
There are some that claim that the Bible included infants in baptism because of the verse of Acts 16:33 where the jailer’s household was all Baptized. Many fail to go to the previous verse of 32 where it clearly states, “ They spoke the word of The Lord to him and to all the others in his house.” It does not mention anything about children being in the house but it does mention that they spoke the word so these people being spoken to had to have heard to believe and be baptized. Another verse like this was also in Acts 16. In the verses of 14-15, a woman named Lydia had her heart opened to the Lord as she was listening to His Word and she and her household were baptized. Never mentions children. People assume there were children Baptized but no mention.
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go and make disciples of all nations, Baptizing them in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything…”. He instructed to BAPTIZE and TEACH. Mark 16:16 states that those who are Baptized will be saved. It also states that those who are not Baptized will be condemned. 1 Peter 3:21 says, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Jesus himself was Baptized by John. We are told in the Bible that we are supposed to live like Christ because He is our example. In John 1: 33, John said, “And I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to Baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the One who will Baptized with the Holy Spirit.’” The Baptism of Jesus was not a sprinkling either. He went down into the water and he came out. In my archaeological Bible there are pictures and examples where the Baptismal areas in a city were literally where they went down into a concrete tub and were immersed and they came up. It is the washing of the body as an example of the washing of our souls and a renewal into Jesus Christ.
There is proof that we are to follow His example. In Colossians 2:12 it says that we are buried with Him in Baptism, in which we are also raised with Him by way of our faith and love in the working of God who raised him from the dead. It is some thing that we physically do as a command that our Lord had for us to do. Baptism is meant for all of God’s people. He says so in one Corinthians 12:13 when he says that we are all baptized in one spirit so that we can form one body and we know as the Bible says that God is our head. We are all a part of him.
In Ephesians 2:8–9 it says that we are saved by grace through the faith that we have but we are not saved by our own doing we are saved because Jesus Christ has come to save us. It is Jesus who saves us not we who save ourselves. That being said, we do our part to except once we hear and understand His Word. There are some that take this verse from everything else that is written in His Word. Some stop at this verse and think to themselves that we do not have to be Baptized we just have to be saved by Jesus through His grace. But keep in mind, the verse that I mentioned above where Jesus Himself said to go and Baptize. He gave an instruction and we must follow it. We are his workers here on earth and it is up to us to go out and do what He says by sharing His gospel and prayerfully leading others to Christ. He Himself said to go out and Baptize. His instructions not man’s. Not mine!
If you read in Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12 and Acts 8:36-38, you will find examples of those who heard and were Baptized. Think about this for a minute – When they heard His Word, they were instructed to repent and be Baptized (and at one time even 3000 were Baptized). Were they ever told when they asked, ‘what can we do?’ that they didn’t have to do anything because grace saved them? No they were told to be Baptized. Jesus instructed us on how He wanted His plans to go and it is not up to us to change them.
Also I would really like for everyone to think about the concept of Baptism when you are an infant. If Jesus says that we are to be Baptized for the forgiveness of sins, then look at how sinful we are as human beings. I want to give an example of exactly what I mean. Say for example someone was baptized as an infant, they go through life stealing, committing adultery, doing drugs, and all kinds of sinful things that God said was wrong. He goes to church but continues sinning. He never changes His ways. One day that person is accidentally killed and those that knew him, or her, say, ‘Heaven has gained another angel.’ What do you think God is thinking? You see, the one true Baptism that Jesus was speaking about in Ephesians 4:4-6 is being mocked because the sin from this person’s life was not repented nor forgiven.
Some may be thinking right now that I am judging and only God knows what is going to happen to that person and in a way you are right, but as a true believer, I know what He says in John 7:24 and Galatians 6:1 about judging righteously. We do make judgement calls and it is our place to do what we can to help others onto that pathway to Him. This is a totally different topic I previously covered but do think about your lives and ask yourself if you truly believe in Him and want His forgiveness. In Acts 2:38 God says, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” We hear that phrase about us not being promised tomorrow and it is true. Have you really accepted Christ, repented of the wrongs you’ve done, and been Baptized to wash the past off and start fresh with Jesus as your guide and Savior?