The One baptism #2

Recently a Baptist preacher sent me an email regarding one of the YouTube videos we promote. In response to the video, Why I Left the Baptist Church, “Pastor Mike” wrote, “The word ‘for’ in for the remission of sins means because of, baptism is a testimony of your salvation, not the way for it to come to pass. ” What “Pastor Mike” has written is consistent with ever Baptist preacher I have corresponded with over the years. In fact, there is not a single “Baptist” preacher that would disagree with what “Pastor Mike” has written.

I bring this up in our discussion because there are some, who, over the years have been misguided regarding what the Baptist church practices concerning the doctrine of baptism. In fact, this might be a good time for us to address the four necessary items of a proper, biblical baptism. A baptism is biblical when it has the proper...

· Mode: a burial, an immersion (Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12).

· Authority: in the name of Christ (Acts 19:5; Mat. 28:19).

· Purpose: in order to receive the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

· Subject: a penitent believer (Acts 2:38; 8:37; Mark 16:16)

When one element was lacking, “re-baptism” was commanded (cf. Acts 19:1-5). In this context the proper authority was lacking. These men, well after John’s baptism had ceased, had been baptized into John’s baptism and “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).

There are many today, like those in Acts 19, thinking their baptism correct, who are still aliens, foreigners and strangers to the commonwealth of Christ. One must get into Christ (Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:3), in order to posses the spiritual blessings of Christ, including redemption and forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7).

Rick