Principles of Baptism

1) “I [John the baptist] indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11-12.

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20.

“...when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” 1 Peter 3:20-22.

There is nothing in the water itself that can really wash away our sins. Only the forgiveness of God through the spilt blood of Jesus Christ can do that. So then baptism with water is a symbol indicating that all our repentant sins have indeed been washed away from us and forgiven by God through the blood, merits and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

But even though water baptism is a symbol of our sins being washed away, yet it is also doctrine of truth that the Lord God Jesus Christ Himself has commanded all of His people to follow and obey. This then means that if any one has an opportunity to become baptized, but yet persistently chooses not to do so, then they cannot then be saved because they have rejected their Lord’s command, as well as His authority over them!

The Greek word to baptize or be baptized is “baptizo” and it translates and means “to make whelmed or fully wet” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, word #907). This word is derived from the word “bapto”, which translates and means “to whelm or cover wholly with a fluid, to dip” (Strong’s, word #911). So then the word Baptize itself means to make a person fully wet by dipping or covering them wholly or completely with a fluid, and we know that this fluid is water.

Since there is only one real Lord Jesus Christ, and only one real faith, then there is only one real way to baptize, and that is by fully dipping or completely immersing a person under water. So this means that if someone was only partially dipped in water; or only sprinkled with water; or only had water placed on them; then they were not correctly baptized according to the one and only true doctrine of Baptism, and thus their baptism is invalid and unacceptable to the Lord regarding their salvation!

What kind of water is to be used for baptism? John baptized in the fresh waters of “the river of Jordan” (Mark 1:5, 9). But the children of Israel “were all baptized unto Moses...in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2). So it really doesn’t matter whether it is fresh or salt water, because all that is required for a proper baptism to take place is wherever enough water is found to allow a person to be fully dipped and immersed.

Baptism is similar to a covenant or a contract that you are making with the God being named during your baptism. You are promising God that you will be obedient and faithful to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3), and He is promising you to be your God and “to help [you] in [every] time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). So then by being baptized only in the name of Jesus signifies that you are now directly connected only with Christ and He only with you. This sole connection gives only the Lord God Jesus your permission to directly work in your behalf against Lucifer, and allows only Christ the ability to utilize any and all divine power and heavenly resources at His command necessary to help you in this warfare.

Since Jesus is just one out of the 3 Gods composing the Godhead, then being baptized only in the name of Jesus means that you are not directly connected with either God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. This further means that They do not have your permission to directly work in your life, and thus you risk not having Their divine power to help you combat Lucifer! And in fact, this particular unfortunate situation did occur with some believers listed in the Scriptures.

“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” Acts 8:14-16.

These verses tell us that because those in Samaria were baptized only in the name of the Lord God Jesus Christ, then they did not yet have God the Holy Spirit’s power working in their lives! So I hope you can now see why it is not wise to only be baptized in the name of Jesus only, and I hope you can also see why Jesus commanded to become baptized in the name of all three Gods in the Godhead. It is so that you would then be directly connected with all 3 Gods and They all with you, and thus all 3 Gods, instead of just one, would have your permission to directly work in your behalf against Lucifer and all his evil agents!

These verses plainly tell us that after being baptized in the name of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, you are not being baptized into any denomination, or into any church group, or even into any creed. But you are being baptized into Jesus Christ and therefore become part of His body, and then by becoming part of the body of Christ you immediately become part of His true church on earth.

“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.” Acts 8:36-38.

These verses show us that before someone can be baptized, they must first be taught the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and then they must also believe with all their heart and intelligently consent to follow these truths. And then after being baptized they are still to continue to be taught and to continue to be learning more of the truths that Christ gave us in His word ever afterwards. This then furthers reveals to us that you do not need to know all of the truths contained in God’s word before you can be baptized. But you just have to know enough of the main pillars of the faith in Christ before you can be baptized, and then you continue to learn more afterwards.

“And they spake unto him [the jailer] the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.” Acts 16:32-34.

These verses show us that all those who were in the households of Lydia, Crispus and the jailer were baptized because they heard and believed on the Lord and the truth as it was in Jesus. Now households are made up of a variety of age groups, including men, women and children. This then means that it was not just adults who were baptized, but even youth and children as well.

But just how young can someone be baptized? We learned that someone cannot be baptized without first being taught the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and then personally believing with all their heart and intelligently consenting to follow Jesus and these truths. This means that there is a certain threshold or level of mental maturity that needs to occur before they can become a candidate for baptism. And as soon as this level of mental maturity has been reached, and they can personally consent to do all of these necessary things for themselves, then at that time they can be baptized irregardless of what age this threshold of mental maturity occurs at! Now obviously infants and young children can not be baptized because their mental abilities are incapable of meeting this threshold or minimum level of maturity, and there are even some adults that would fail to meet this same minimum level.

“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19:1-6.

These disciples were not followers of Jesus Christ, but were followers of John. This means that the only truths they knew were those limited to John, and thus they were unaware of the significantly greater truths connected with and through Jesus Christ. So these verses are telling us that when someone hears and accepts significantly greater truths than what they previously knew which led them to become baptized, then they need to be re-baptized upon these greater truths.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving....Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses”. Colossians 2:6-7, 12-13.

“Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” Luke 3:12-14.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin....Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you...But God be thanked, that 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....so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:1-7, 11-14, 17-18.

To these verses plainly show us that after you are baptized, then you are to no longer to live in your old man experience of sinning, but you are now to continuously crucify self in order to live the new life of Christ in obedience to God. So then you would no longer yield yourself to serve Lucifer and continue to be the servants of unrighteousness and sin, but instead you would yield yourself to God and continue to be the servants of righteousness and holiness.

“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.” Acts 9:17-20.

These verses show us that after baptism, you are to unite yourself with fellow disciples or brothers and sisters in Christ, and then you are to spread the gospel of Christ to all around you. And dear ones, after your baptism, it is extremely important for you to fellowship with others of like faith!

“Let us draw near [one another] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25.

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-14.

So after baptism, and after we have united together as one with other members of Christ’s body, the Holy Spirit will give you one or more gifts or talents. These gifts and talents are not given to you to selfishly use for your own benefit, but are given to you to use in benefitting, edifying and building up your fellow brothers and sisters with whom you are united with. This means that you are not to just come to church meetings and see how much your fellow brothers and sisters can use their gifts and talents to benefit you alone, but you are to come and see how much you can use your talents and gifts to benefit others, and by doing so you yourself will indeed be benefitted, edified and built up.

This then plainly reveals to us that no one who has been baptized into Christ is to remain inactive in their church group. This is because the Holy Spirit has given you specific gifts and talents for you to use in filling the specific important position of trust in the church for which these gifts and talents were given you, and only you can use your gifts for this very purpose! So as this is true, then you have been specifically chosen by the Holy Spirit to actively use your various gifts and talents in helping to benefit, edify and build up one another in this most holy faith, and thereby contribute your part towards forming your fellow brothers and sisters into one united, harmonious, strong, happy and loving church group.