Question 15:  What is Bible baptism?  by Bob Crosthwaite

Answer:  There are differing views about the subject that heads this article.  About how it is to be done and about it's place in one's salvation.  There would be no disagreement at all if we would look at the definition of the word and at what God's word has to say about it, and accept them both.

    First of all, how it is to be done.  Let us look at the definition of the word in both Thayer's Greek-English lexicon, and W.E. Vine's expository dictionary of New Testament words.  Thayer's: immersion, submersion pages 94 and 95.  W.E. Vine [Baptisma] the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence.  {Note} there are different Greek words used for sprinkling [Rhantizo], and for pouring [Ballo], pages 195 and 69, W.E. Vine.

    More important is how  the Bible says it is to be done.  God's word says that it is a burial (Rom. 6:3, 4; Col. 2:11,12).  Now you do not bury someone by pouring or sprinkling a little dirt on them, do you? 

    That brings us to the second point of disagreement on the subject of baptism as a part of the great commission (Matt. 28:19).  So let us see where God placed baptisms relationship to a person's salvation.  He placed it between the sinner and salvation (Mark 16:16; I Peter 3:20,21).  Between the sinner and forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Between being out of Christ and in Christ (Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:27). Between the sinner and reception of the benefits of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-6).  Between the non-member and the member of His body (I Cor. 12:13). 

    Now it's not the water (baptism) that saves a person, but the blood of Christ.  Baptism is when that blood saves.  This can best be illustrated by the following three examples from the word of God.   

    #1.  In Hebrews 9:14, the blood of Christ is said to 'purge our conscience", but when does it do this?  (I Peter 3:20,21). 

    #2.  In Revelation 1:5, the blood of the savior is said to 'wash us from our sins'.  When does it do this?  (Acts 22:16). 

    #3.  In Matthew 26:28, Jesus said that His blood was 'for the remission of sins', but at what point are one's sins remitted [forgiven]?  (Acts 2:38).

    [Note] The prerequisites to baptism are; Hearing (Romans 10:13,14).  Believing (Hebrews 11:6).    Repenting (Acts 3:19).  Confessing (Acts 8:36,37).