The Purpose Of Baptism
 

No one would say God has put subjects in His word without a purpose. If one would do an unbiased study of God's word, they can readily see baptism plays a vital part in God's scheme of redemption. But there is much confusion and controversy about the purpose and design of baptism. Some place very little importance on baptism, while others consider it extremely important. While we do not have the space nor the desire to detail all the various positions, we would simply like to present a study of what the Bible says baptism can and cannot do in our salvation.

First, let me say, we do not believe nor teach baptismal regeneration." Baptism does not change the heart. This is a work of faith. Peter said God, "made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith," (Acts 15:9). Baptism cannot do what God designed for faith to do. Nor can baptism change one's life. This is done by repentance. "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ "He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went," (Matt. 21:28-29). This passage points out very clearly repentance is not a change in life, but rather a change in life is wrought because of repentance. Nor does baptism remove temptation from one's life. After baptism, a person is still tempted in the same way. This springs from one's own lust (Jas. 1:14), and when overcome has no one to blame but himself.

While it is true a child of God should not err, baptism does not keep one from doing wrong. After preaching to others, Peter was still condemned for his actions (Gal. 2:11-14). And although Paul became a stalwart preacher, he buffeted his body lest he should be rejected and lose eternal life (1 Cor. 9:27). We should also realize baptism cannot give life to the living. Paul says we are, "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead," (Col. 2:12). You do not bury a live person, but a person who is dead! It therefore stands to reason the only acceptable subject for baptism is one who is dead in sin, that they might be raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4).

These are things baptism cannot do, but let's look at just what baptism does for us, and what is accomplished in the act. By doing so, we will be able to ascertain the purpose of baptism as God has ordained it.

In Gal. 3:29-27, Paul states, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The inescapable conclusion from this passage is one enters "into Christ" by baptism, and in that obedient act we also "put on Christ." There is no other way provided for entering into Christ, not for putting on Christ. We therefore, must conclude every unbaptized person is out of Christ, and has not put on Christ.

Paul asked, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," (Rom 6:3-4). The scriptures teach one is cleansed by the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Jn. 1:7), but too many are completely unaware of how one contacts the cleansing fountain. The only effectiveness is found in the blood that was shed in Christ's death for us. And the only way we can come into contact with His blood is by being baptized into His death. It must, therefore be concluded, every unbaptized person has not contacted the cleansing blood that was shed in the death of Christ.

Paul wrote to the saints at Corinth, "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. {13} For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit," (1 Cor 12:12-13). He further states in Eph. 1:22-23, "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Notice, Paul allowed no exception to the stated fact: that all, regardless of nationality, race, or station in life, entered the body of Christ through baptism. Thus, every unbaptized person is out of the body of Christ and has not been a partaker of the Spirit.

	When the Jews heard the apostles on the day of Pentecost, and asked, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter told them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," (Acts 2:37-38). Many theologians have questioned the meaning of Peter's words, but those people on the day of Pentecost didn't. Further on we read, "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them," (Acts 2:41). The result of Peter's words was shown in what those people did. Therefore, we must conclude every unbaptized person has not obtained remission of sins.

After Saul of Tarsus has waited three days and nights for someone to tell him what he should do (Acts 22:10), he was approached by Ananias, whom the Lord had sent to instruct him. Ananias said, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord," (Acts 22:16). Paul was told to wash away his sins in his obedience in baptism. He understood, and later told the results of this (Rom. 6:3-6). If Saul's sins had been washed away before baptism, he didn't know it, for he obeyed. If his sins had already been washed away, Ananias didn't know it, for he commanded it. And if Paul's sins had already been washed away, the Lord didn't know it either, because He sent Ananias to tell Paul what he should do. Thus our conclusion must be, unbaptized people have not had their sins washed away.

Jesus said in Mark 16:16, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved..." But how often have false teachers dodged and hedged to evade the plain force of the word of the Son of God? Who has the authority to offer salvation on other terms? Who has the audacity to claim salvation by any means not promised by Christ? Several years after Jesus spoke these words, Peter wrote, "...eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism...." (1 Pet 3:20-21). Can we reach any other conclusion than every unbaptized person has not been saved from sin?

Peter also asserts the baptism is "not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God." The Greek word here translated as answer always meant "an inquiry." Thus in the act of baptism one is, with a good conscience, asking for the approval of God.

Paul showed that "newness of life" is the result of having been baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-5). He also said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new," (2 Cor 5:17). But Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:3 and 1 Cor. 12:13 show one is out of Christ until baptized. Therefore, newness of life begins only as a result of having been baptized into Christ.

One must obey Christ in baptism to be made free from sin. Paul wrote, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness," (Rom 6:17-18). This was a result of their having obeyed "that form" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Rom. 6:3-4). It was necessary for them to die to past sins (by faith and repentance toward God) and then be buried and raised from baptism. Until they had done that, they had not obeyed "that form of doctrine," nor had they become free from sin. So we must conclude every unbaptized person has not obeyed "that form of doctrine" delivered, and has not been made free from sin.