Baptism Basics
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Christian Resource Center - New Hampshire
The English word "baptism" comes from the Greek word "baptisma" and the English term "to baptize" comes from the
Greek word "baptizo". It is obvious that the English word has basically been copied from the Greek rather than translated.
The Greek word "baptizo" has 3 different meanings:
1. to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge.
2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, to bathe.
3. to overwhelm.
Jesus Christ commanded his disciples (followers) to participate in what is referred to as "The Great Commission".
Eleven of Jesus' disciples went away to a mountain in Galilee...
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you; and surely, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
To baptize someone in the Christian sense means to physically and totally submerge the person underwater in the name of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Let me make this very clear...Baptism does NOT save you...it is a public profession of faith performed in obedience to the command given by Jesus Christ. As a simple example to prove this, the penitent thief that died on the cross next to Jesus was saved by faith alone and obviously never had a chance to be baptized, yet he went to paradise with Jesus that day.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
NOTE: This scriptural passage also proves that you do not need to do "works" in order to be saved because the thief obviously had no chance to do any type of works either.
Baptism symbolizes a Christian's death from the ties of this world, their burial, and finally their resurrection into Christ.
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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:3-6)
Baptism is for those who believe the gospel whole heartedly and is not something to be forced on someone or to be done to babies or someone without a true understanding of Christ.
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?" Then 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." (Acts 8:36-37)
Sprinkling or pouring water on a person is NOT a proper baptism. If you have only been baptized by a sprinkling or pouring of water, you should seek out a proper Christian church and request a full submersion baptism. Baptism is its own rite and should be performed on anyone who requests it and properly believes. Baptism should not be tied to the process of joining a Church.
God Bless You!
The Greek word "baptizo" has 3 different meanings:
1. to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge.
2. to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, to bathe.
3. to overwhelm.
Jesus Christ commanded his disciples (followers) to participate in what is referred to as "The Great Commission".
Eleven of Jesus' disciples went away to a mountain in Galilee...
Then Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I have commanded you; and surely, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
To baptize someone in the Christian sense means to physically and totally submerge the person underwater in the name of the Father (God), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Let me make this very clear...Baptism does NOT save you...it is a public profession of faith performed in obedience to the command given by Jesus Christ. As a simple example to prove this, the penitent thief that died on the cross next to Jesus was saved by faith alone and obviously never had a chance to be baptized, yet he went to paradise with Jesus that day.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43)
NOTE: This scriptural passage also proves that you do not need to do "works" in order to be saved because the thief obviously had no chance to do any type of works either.
Baptism symbolizes a Christian's death from the ties of this world, their burial, and finally their resurrection into Christ.
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. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Romans 6:3-6)
Baptism is for those who believe the gospel whole heartedly and is not something to be forced on someone or to be done to babies or someone without a true understanding of Christ.
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?" Then 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." (Acts 8:36-37)
Sprinkling or pouring water on a person is NOT a proper baptism. If you have only been baptized by a sprinkling or pouring of water, you should seek out a proper Christian church and request a full submersion baptism. Baptism is its own rite and should be performed on anyone who requests it and properly believes. Baptism should not be tied to the process of joining a Church.
God Bless You!