Baptism
Introduction. After reading everything the Holy Spirit has revealed in the gospel about baptism, it is difficult to understand why there is any controversy. If we listened to the many answers given today when asked “what must I do to be saved?”, one would think the Bible has so little to say that disciples must struggle with that answer. Yet when one searches the Scriptures, they can see very quickly that from the very beginning of the gospel, God gave a special role to baptism to bring salvation and remission of sins.
God sent John to baptize to prepare Israel for their Messiah and reveal Jesus to Israel (Jn. 1:24-33; Lk. 3:3-6). This should give clear indication of the importance baptism would be given in the gospel. John’s entire message revolved around baptism. “John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Mk 1:4-5). It was such a vital part of his message that the Holy Spirit gave him the name “John the Baptist”. Not only was baptism universal, but its purpose of bringing remission of sins was made equally clear.
In the earliest days of Jesus’ ministry, He preached the gospel of the kingdom. He had every opportunity to refute the importance of John’s baptism. Yet not only was Jesus baptized “to fulfill all righteousness”, but He too “made and baptized more disciples than John.” Jesus later made acceptance or rejection of John’s baptism the difference between justifying God by being baptized or rejecting God’s will if they refused.
This could have easily come to an end after Jesus returned to heaven and the gospel was to be taken into all the world and every nation. Yet not once but twice Jesus commanded it. He wanted baptism to continue as an integral part of the message, linking baptism to salvation in the Gospel of Mark and being made a disciple in Matthew’s gospel.
Introduction. After reading everything the Holy Spirit has revealed in the gospel about baptism, it is difficult to understand why there is any controversy. If we listened to the many answers given today when asked “what must I do to be saved?”, one would think the Bible has so little to say that disciples must struggle with that answer. Yet when one searches the Scriptures, they can see very quickly that from the very beginning of the gospel, God gave a special role to baptism to bring salvation and remission of sins.
God sent John to baptize to prepare Israel for their Messiah and reveal Jesus to Israel (Jn. 1:24-33; Lk. 3:3-6). This should give clear indication of the importance baptism would be given in the gospel. John’s entire message revolved around baptism. “John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” (Mk 1:4-5). It was such a vital part of his message that the Holy Spirit gave him the name “John the Baptist”. Not only was baptism universal, but its purpose of bringing remission of sins was made equally clear.
In the earliest days of Jesus’ ministry, He preached the gospel of the kingdom. He had every opportunity to refute the importance of John’s baptism. Yet not only was Jesus baptized “to fulfill all righteousness”, but He too “made and baptized more disciples than John.” Jesus later made acceptance or rejection of John’s baptism the difference between justifying God by being baptized or rejecting God’s will if they refused.
- And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. (Lk. 7:29-30)
This could have easily come to an end after Jesus returned to heaven and the gospel was to be taken into all the world and every nation. Yet not once but twice Jesus commanded it. He wanted baptism to continue as an integral part of the message, linking baptism to salvation in the Gospel of Mark and being made a disciple in Matthew’s gospel.
- "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk. 16:15-16)
- “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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,” (Mt. 28:18-20)