The churches of Christ Greet You (Romans 16:16)
The word "baptism" with its various inflections occurs 126 times in the
New Testament. Hence, one has to say a good deal about baptism or
neglect a large portion of the Bible. So far as we know, all
denominations except the Christian Scientists and the Quakers practice
some rite that they call baptism.
Most people, therefore, have submitted to some ordinance that was
called baptism. When these people learn about the New Testament church,
they often want to come into the church on their denominational
baptism. But if something is wrong with denominational baptism, and we
think there is, these people plainly need to be told about it.
Therefore, we shall attempt to plainly tell each of you (rather you be
Catholic, Mormon, Baptist, Lutheran, Community, etc.) seven things
wrong with denominational baptism.
1. It has the wrong authority (Matt. 28:18; Col. 3:17).
Denominational councils and creeds authorize denominational baptism.
Jesus never authorized it, nor did he ever command anyone to be
baptized into any denomination.
2. It usually has the wrong subject (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark
16:15-16; Acts 8:37; Acts 2:38). The Bible teaches that the taught
penitent believer who confesses his faith is the only proper subject of
scriptural baptism. But denominations often sprinkle infants who cannot
meet the above requirements. Denominations also baptize people who
think they are already saved rather than persons who desire to be saved
(1 Pet. 3:21).
3. It has the wrong confession (Acts 8:37 ). Persons in the New
Testament confessed their faith in Christ as the only confessional
requisite for baptism. But lost souls desiring to undergo
denominational baptism will be asked to confess agreement with the
sectarian creed. One denomination that we know requires a confession
consisting of twenty propositions. More common is the unscriptural
confession wherein one states that he “believes that God for Christ's
sake has pardoned his sins.” Many who now question their denominational
baptism have not the faintest remembrance of what they confessed.
4. It usually has the wrong action (Acts 8:37; Rom. 6:3-4; Col.
2:12). Scriptural baptism entails "much water" (John 3:23 ), and a
coming unto, a "going down into," and a "coming up out of the water."
In scriptural baptism, one is immersed or "buried" (Rom. 6:3-4) in the
water. Neither sprinkling nor pouring meets these scriptural
requirements. Hence, if you submitted to sprinkling or pouring, your
baptism was wrong.
5. It has the wrong purpose {Acts 2:38: Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16;
1 Pet. 3:21). These passages teach baptism to be "for the remission of
sins," to be "saved," to have one's sins "washed away." Denominations
usually
assert they are baptizing one into that particular denomination rather
than into Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:3-4). So even though one
has
been immersed, if he was not immersed for the scriptural purpose, that
person's baptism was wrong.
Most sectarians teach that one is baptized to SHOW that he HAS BEEN
saved rather than in order to be saved. Were you so baptized? Did
you think or confess that you were saved before you were
baptized? If so, your baptism was wrong. Immersion in water
is "for the remission of sins" and into the body of Christ (1 Cor.
12:13).
6. It has the wrong order (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17: Mk. 16:16; Acts
2:38; Acts 8:37). These verses establish the sequence of events in
conversion to be hearing, faith, repentance, confession,
immersion, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Sectarians confuse this order. They state the sequence like this: Gift
of the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith, salvation, and then baptism.
7. It has the wrong allegiance. Sectarian baptism binds one to
wear a human name, obey and endorse a human creed, belong to a human
organization, and to support a human program; while scriptural baptism
binds one to wear a divine name, obey a divine message, belong to a
divine body, and to engage in a divinely authorized program.
Denominational baptism attracts people to a denominational body rather
than to Christ and His Kingdom (Matt. 16:18-19)
REMEMBER: (1) One cannot be taught wrong and baptized right (Rom.
10:17; 6:17). (2) One cannot be baptized wrong and worship right
(Rom. 6:3-4; Acts 2:42). (3) One cannot worship wrong and
live right (John 4:23-24). (4) One cannot live wrong and die
right (Matt. 25:31-41). (5) Therefore, one cannot be baptized
wrong and die right.
What about you, my friend? Have you submitted to scriptural baptism?
Do not make the error of interpreting what you did years ago in the
light
of what you now know the Bible to teach. Many have made this mistake.
One
must understand what he is doing at the time he is doing it to obey the
Gospel scripturally from the heart. The Bible says, "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. Being then
made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness" (Rom.
6:17-18).
Please SEARCH THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES and see whether these things are so
(Acts 17:11).