Baptist churches are literally named for this rite they perform that has been their hallmark distinguishing trait separating them from other denominations arising out of the Reformation. Originally regarded as "Anabaptists", that is re-baptizers, Baptists insist that the rite is exclusively by immersion, and exclusively for those who have given their lives to Christ.
The Baptist Faith and Message 2000
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
The New Hampshire Baptist Confession of 1833
We believe that Christian Baptism is the immersion in water of a believer, into the name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost; to show forth, in a solemn and beautiful emblem, our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life; that it is prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation; and to the Lord's Supper,...
What is baptism? Simply, baptism is the initiation ceremony symbolic of conversion to the Christian faith. It is THE rite by which one is recognized to be a believer in Jesus Christ. The notion of baptism signifying conversion is so common in God’s Word that, when one was told to be baptized, he was told, really, to convert to Christianity.
Baptism is the first step of faith of the believer. It is the believer’s way of identifying with his buried and risen Lord. Going through the rite of baptism declares before all the witnesses:
-that the one being baptized has been saved.
-that the candidate is sincere about his commitment to Christ
-that the candidate is submitting to the authority of the baptizing church.
For baptism to be “scriptural,” four things must be in place:
1. The candidate: saved, sincere
-baptism does not save (1Pe 3:21)
2. The mode: by immersion
-etymologically
-historically
-NOT sprinkling, pouring, etc
[NOTE: Every baptism in the NT was in running water (a river)]
-It reenacts death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1ff)
3. The administrator: Not an individual, but a church
-Jesus expressly gave the church the right/responsibility to baptize. (Mt 28:19)
-Not just any group, but churches recognized as being of like faith and order.
Why? 1) Because baptism also identifies you with that church, and symbolizes
your commitment to Christ as expressed by the practices and teachings of that church.
2) Because Jesus commissioned the CHURCH to baptize.
-Not necessarily an ordained minister
Why? 1) Because Jesus commissioned the CHURCH to baptize.
[NOTE: Everyone who administered baptism in the NT was an ordained man.]
4. The objective:
To commemorate
“for the remission of sins” - "For" here is not the word "in order to obtain", but the word "in view of".
Acts 2:38 - for the Jews especially, baptism and identification with Jesus represented a huge step of faith. As circumcision never saved anyone, baptism never saves anyone. But if someone, who knows that baptism == acceptance of, and identification with, Jesus Christ, refuses to be baptized because he does not want to accept Jesus Christ, nor be identified with him, that person is lost.
To identify
Baptism is recognized as a means of identifying one’s self with someone/something.
The question is often asked in Scripture, “Whose baptism do you have?”
To commit/obey
Baptism is for those who are following the Lord in obedience, not for those who are in defiance.
Immersion represents total surrender, totally “presenting your body a living sacrifice.”
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