There are three modes (or methods) of water baptism used in Christian churches today: immersion (in which the person is completely submerged), affusion (that is, pouring), and aspersion (sprinkling). Evangelical Christians are divided on the question of which mode or modes are proper forms of baptism. Some Christians (typically those who believe that only believers should be baptized) think that immersion is the only valid mode, while other Christians (usually those who recognize the validity of infant baptism) consider all three modes to be acceptable. Christian Research Journal
We know the Greek word for baptism is “baptizo” and it means to submerge or immerse. But not all Christian churches practice full immersion baptisms and others believe full immersion into water is required. For example, Eastern Orthodox and many protestant churches emphasize the full immersion down into the water represents death to sin and coming up out of the water signifies the revival of a new life in Christ. It is believed that Jesus was fully immersed into the Jordan River by John the Baptist.
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” Matthew 3:16-17
Many Christian Churches only baptize people when they attain the age of reason (varies) and able to make a conscious decision to follow Christ. Even the early Catholic Church baptized by full immersion up until 1311. Today, Anglicans, Lutherans and Catholics commonly baptize infants and likewise, adults who convert to their religion by the pouring or sprinkling of “holy” water. Interestingly, nowhere in the New Testament will you find infant baptism. Although we find in Mark 10:13 “People brought their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them“, but I think it would be a stretch to say Jesus was baptizing them.
Is Baptism necessary for Salvation?
There are many churches of the mindset that Baptism is necessary for Salvation. The Catholic Church makes it the 1st of the their sacraments. Many Protestant churches also require you to be baptized to be part of their congregation. They point to the scripture verses:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Mark 16:16 NIV*
*NOTE: The Bible verses of Mark 16:9-20 are not found in the earliest Greek manuscripts of the Bible and some of the vocabulary is much different compared to the rest of Mark).
It’s interesting to hear the manner of how Catholic and Protestant churches describe salvation. Catholics will say a person is saved because they converted to Catholicism. In fact, many of them refer to Catholicism as the Catholic “faith”. Catholics might have faith in their church but it is not a faith, it is a religion. Protestants on the other hand, have a tendency to boast about how many people were “born again” and saved by baptism. One of my favorite churches is in Jacksonville and has 30,000 members. It is not uncommon for the pastor to boast on the number of baptisms they perform every year. He is very gifted at communicating God’s word but I am not convinced on the weight he gives to the role of water baptism regarding our salvation.
Does God really care if you are baptized?
I have come to know a lot of people who have been baptized in different environments of water including pond, swimming pool, lake, river, ocean, and “holy” water. All by “affusion” or full immersion and some have been baptized more than once and in both applications. Baptism by water might be required to belong to a religious community but is it a required ticket to get you into heaven?
Humble me, says no!
Just as some Christians believe baptism is required for salvation, the Jews believed that if they were circumcised, that was their ticket to heaven. Being circumcised was the act required to show they were the members of being in the elite club of God’s “chosen” people. I have no doubt they are God’s chosen people as they were entrusted with the prophets, the Mosaic Law, and Jesus was a descendant of the tribe of Judah born into a Jewish household. But I am curious how they came to believe that circumcision would be a “free pass” to heaven. Did they believe that after passing from this world, God would have a bouncer at the gate of heaven to check their loins?
Circumcision was not even created by the Jews. Young Egyptian boys were being circumcised many years before Mosaic Law and even before Abraham’s time. Circumcised Jewish men are no more guaranteed salvation than Egyptian men who were circumcised thousands of years before them.
Is studying Romans 2: 25-29, the apostle Paul speaks to the irrelevance of circumcision. Paul’s argument was that an uncircumcised Gentile who honored God in his heart was more apt to be saved, then a Jew who had been circumcised, followed the Mosaic Law, but did not honor God in his heart. In other words, the Law and circumcision had no bearing on an individual’s salvation.
In my humble opinion, if circumcision does not save the Jew then how does baptism save the Christian? What good does it do for a person to be baptized if they do not honor God in their heart?
Circumcision and baptism do about the same thing that a label on a can does. If the outer label doesn’t match with what is on the inside, something is wrong! If there are carrots inside the can, you can put a label that says “Peas” but it doesn’t change what is inside the can. – Pastor David Guzik
I would add wedding bands to Pastor Guzik’s quote. Just like circumcision, wedding rings date back to ancient Egypt, a pagan culture that worshiped no less than 1,500 gods. Wedding rings have no bearing if people do not honor their vows in their hearts. My wife and I do not wear wedding bands. We place our trust in each other, not meaningless symbols. We do not need the world’s approval, God knows our hearts and we are completely content with His recognition.
Works = Earning
Grace = Receiving
Religious laws, ceremonies, and traditions might win mankind’s endorsement, but they have no bearing on God’s grace. There is a big difference between the works of humans and grace from God. Work implies earning and therefore earning implies debt. Is there anything man can do to place God in our debt? I think not. God’s not looking for physical acts or religious rituals, He wants our hearts. He wants hearts filled with faith in the work His Son did on the cross. Our faith requires us to receive the grace Jesus paid for us. Our salvation is based on receiving!
What is it that we are actually receiving?
And while staying, with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” – Acts 1: 4-5
It is not the water baptism of John that saves us. It is the Promise of the Father—our receiving of the Holy Spirit—that saves us: receiving His grace, His light into our hearts. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is our baptism! It is not a one-time occurrence. Once we are indwelled with His Holy Spirit, we are given “our daily bread,” the wisdom to act on the knowledge entrusted to us in agreement with God’s will.
If you are not a believer, please take the first step by turning towards God and being filled with His light. The Biblical definition of repentance is “changing one’s mind.” That means turning away from one thing to another. Turn away from the darkness and sin of this world and towards the light of God.
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