Baptism is one of the most significant and controversial practices in Christian churches. Not only are there various styles of baptism, but there are also different understandings of baptism and what it accomplishes for those who experience it. As with all doctrinal issues, it's important to understand what the Bible teaches. What does the Bible teach about baptism?
Catholic Baptism vs. Non-Catholic Baptism
Before exploring the doctrine of baptism, it's important to identify a crucial difference between Roman Catholicism and most Protestant churches. (For the purposes of this article, Christian churches outside of Roman Catholicism are classified as "Protestant," even though they may not stem from the Protestant Reformation).
The Roman Catholic Church (as well as Orthodox and Anglican churches) holds that the church, as an institution, carries the same apostolic authority of revelation and application held by Peter and the other disciples of Jesus. According to this view, the Catholic Church has expanded and, in some ways, redefined baptism, and maintains that it has the right to do so.
By contrast, most Protestants (particularly those in the evangelical and/or fundamentalist camps) believe in Sola Scriptura ("the Scriptures alone.") This article will on what the Bible teaches about baptism as opposed to what councils, popes, bishops, etc. have to say on the matter.
What is the Meaning and Purpose of Baptism?
In the Great Commission, Jesus commands his disciples to "teach all nations" about himself and to "baptize [converts] in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19-20) The disciples did as Jesus commanded, and soon the Christian community in Jerusalem had grown to over 3,000 converts and began to spread throughout the Greco-Roman world.
The book of Acts records how the church expanded, and clearly shows that people were baptized after repentance (a term that refers to a person's spiritual "turning point" when they convert to Christ). That baptism was tied to repentance is clearly seen in the ministry of John the Baptist. The apostle Paul characterized John's baptism as a "baptism of repentance." (Acts 19:4)
John's baptism was succeeded by the baptism that Jesus had commanded his disciples to carry out. The new baptism was not a repudiation of the old. After all, Jesus had been baptized by John. Rather, the new baptism was a completion of the old (Acts 18:24-26), for it now symbolized not only the repentance of the person, but also the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:1-11)
Why are People Baptized?
If baptism symbolizes both the repentance of the sinner and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, who then should be baptized? The apostle Peter answered that, when he preached: "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
According to the teachings of Peter and Paul and the practice of the early church in Acts, those who repented of their sins and accepted Jesus as their Savior were the ones who should be baptized.
Some churches have taken the position that baptism itself atones for sins as it unites people with Christ. This is not consistent with the Bible's teachings on salvation. In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote: "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." (Romans 10:9)
According to the Bible, baptism (in and of itself) does not save any person. Baptism is a symbol of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection as well as a symbol of the repentance of the one being baptized. It is an act of obedience on the part of the individual, who has accepted Christ and an ordinance for the church to carry out.
Whether a person needs to be baptized (as part of their overall salvation experience) remains a point of contention between many Christians. This is the view, for example, of the Church of Christ.
This brief article can't fully explore that debate, but consider the thief on the cross - the one who asked Jesus to "remember" him. That thief, while hanging on the cross, had no opportunity to be baptized (nor did he request it), and yet Jesus welcomed him into Paradise. (Luke 23:43)
How Should People Be Baptized?
The mode of baptism is also a contentious issue, with many churches sprinkling and others practicing full immersion. The Catholic Church, which views baptism as a sacrament necessary to receive the grace of God, practices sprinkling. From its point of view, the mode of sprinkling is appropriate, since teh vast majority of those baptized by the Catholic Church are infants.
Many Protestant churches practice sprinkling as well, including those who differ with the Catholic Church on the nature of baptism. Many consider the mode of baptism inconsequential, allowing the person being baptized to choose.
Baptists are, of course, passionate on both the meaning and mode of baptism, hence the name "Baptist." They believe that a person is to be baptized only after confession of Christ and repentance from sin, and that such a person is to be fully immersed -- a manner in keeping with the Greek origins of the word and the mode of the first century church.
The doctrine of baptism is a fundamental theme in both the early church and in Christianity at large today. The reader is encouraged to prayerfully further his or her study in the Bible. It is worth such a careful and thorough examination.
