Bible
Study - Are You Really Sure Of Your Eternal Salvation?
Lesson 19
Baptism Is Immersion
Our word "baptize"
is translated from the original Greek word "baptizo",
which means to immerse. All Bible dictionaries translate the
word "baptizo"
as immerse, dip or plunge. "Baptizo"
does not mean sprinkle or pour. If our Lord had wanted people to
be sprinkled, he would have inspired the New Testament writers to
use the Greek word "rhantizo".
If our Lord wanted people to be poured He would have inspired New
Testament writers to use the Greek word "katacheo".
But he didn’t, so "baptizo"
was used, which can only mean to immerse.
Let’s look in the Bible to see
how people were baptized. In John 3:23 we read,
"Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because
there was much water there." Why was John baptizing
near Salim? "Because there was much water there." Scriptural
baptism, which is immersion, according to the Bible requires much
water.
In Mark 1:5 we read,
"Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went
out to Him, and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River."
Why was John baptizing in the Jordan River? Could it be "because
there was much water there" in a river?
In Mark 1:9-10, we continue to
read, "And it came to pass in those days
that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John
in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up out of the water,
He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like
a dove." When Jesus was baptized, he was baptized in
the Jordan River. Why? Again, because there is much water in a river
which is required for scriptural baptism, which is immersion. Also
notice that after Jesus was baptized, he came "up out of the
water." So scriptural baptism not only requires much water,
but it also requires "coming up out of the water." This
cannot be said of sprinkling or pouring.
Next we turn to Acts 8:36-39. The
evangelist, Philip, had been teaching the gospel or good news of
Christ to an Ethiopian eunuch while they were riding along in a
chariot. Then in verses 36-39 we read: "Now
as they went down the road, they came to some water. And
the eunuch said, See here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?
And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And
he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip
and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the
Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more: and
he went on his way rejoicing." Here we see that
the baptism that God has authorized in the Bible requires the "coming
to some water", "going down into the water," and
after a person is immersed it requires "coming up out of the
water." How much clearer could the Bible be on the mode of
baptism? Also notice that after the eunuch was baptized, "he
went on his way rejoicing." Why? Because he was now saved
and all of his sins had been taken away. This is certainly something
to rejoice about.
Romans 6:4 says,
"Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death."
Here we see that baptism is a burial, which is what is done
when one is immersed. Sprinkling is not a burial; it is only sprinkling.
Neither is pouring a burial. Both are unlawful substitutions
made by man which will cause many people to be lost.
Colossians 2:12 says that
we are "buried with him in baptism,
in which you also were raised with Him." Here
again God requires the one being baptized, to be buried and
raised when he is baptized. When we bury a dead person in
the cemetery, we do not lay him out on the grass and sprinkle a
little dirt on him. No, that would be absurd, and it is just as
absurd in trying to substitute sprinkling for baptism. Sprinkling
for baptism is foreign to the scriptures. God did not authorize
it. There is not one instance anywhere in the Bible where anyone
was sprinkled for baptism.
But we then ask the question, where
then did sprinkling or pouring come from? The first recorded case
in all of early church history was that of Novatian in 251 AD, who
lay sick on his bed and water was poured on him. Who made this first
exception, man or God? Man did without the authorization of God.
God has not approved of it. Sprinkling is just as vain as if it
had never been done. This man made exception over the centuries
became the man made accepted practice until at the Council of Ravenna
in 1311 AD, man legalized sprinkling for baptism, but without God’s
authority. There is no baptism in the absence of immersion.
Since sprinkling is without God’s authority, if you were sprinkled
or poured, then you have not been scripturally baptized, and you
still have every sin that you have ever committed and are still
lost.
Questions
Lesson 19
Baptism Is Immersion
(click on the button of the answer
of your choice)
1) The Greek word "baptizo" means to
Sprinkle.
Pour.
Immerse.
2)
The Greek word "baptizo" also means to sprinkle.
3) (John 3:23) Why was John baptizing
in Aenon near Salim?
It was handy.
Because there was much water there.
It was close to where the people were.
4)
Scriptural baptism which is immersion requires much water.
5) (Mark 1:5) Where was John baptizing these people in Mark
1:5?
From a hand held pitcher of water being poured on their heads.
In the River Jordan.
In Jerusalem with water being sprinkled on their heads.
6)
Immersion requires enough water to bury an individual such as a
river.
7) (Mark 1:7-10) When Jesus was baptized
in the Jordan River
He never got down into the water.
He stood on the shore and water was poured on his head.
He came up out of the water after His baptism.
8)
Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River because there is much water
in a river.
9) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized the Ethopian eunuch
Water from a canteen was poured on the eunuch's head.
They could not find any water in which to baptize.
They came to some water.
10)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require coming to water.
11) (Acts 8:36-39) When Philip baptized
the eunuch
They both went down into the water and came up out of the water.
They stood on the shore and Philip poured water on the eunuch.
They stayed in the chariot and Philip sprinkled water on the eunuch
from a canteen.
12)
The baptism of the eunuch did not require going down into and coming
up out of the water.
13) (Acts 8:36-39) When did the eunuch rejoice?
Before he was baptized.
He never rejoiced.
After he was baptized.
14)
The eunuch went on his way rejoicing because he was saved and free
from sin.