Q. DOES BAPTISM MAKE SOMEONE A CHRISTIAN?
We met a young person at Walthamstow station recently who claimed to be 'a christian.' He claimed that at a certain age he had a desire to study his bible deeper and decided he also needed to be baptised. As the conversation developed it was clear the man had no assurance of heaven but hoped his bible study and baptism would be enough to tip the scales of God's justice in his favour. This is a common misconception about God's salvation - that you must be baptised to be saved. Let us look at what baptism really is and whether it is necessary to be in heaven.
Which baptism?
There are seven different baptisms mentioned in the NT. The meaning of the word baptism is the same in each case a greek word baptise meaning 'to immerse' Apart from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is 'spiritual' the others all mean to submerge in physical water. That means you will not find babies being baptised in the bible because the bible knows nothing of infant sprinkling. This is a church tradition with no biblical basis.
"THE BIBLE KNOWS NOTHING OF BABY SPRINKLING"
The Baptism of John (Read John 1:28 / Matthew 3:5)
In the Gospels the first baptism mentioned is that of John and it is the baptism of repentance because it was linked with a message of repentance. The baptism did not save a person, they must repent and confess their sins and then their baptism declared to the public their new allegiance with John the Baptist and the one who he was preparing the way for, Jesus Christ.
The baptism of believers (Read Matt 28:19 / Acts 8:38 / Acts 2:41-42 / Rom 6:3)
Before Jesus Christ went back to Heaven He commissioned His disciples to go and teach (make disciples) of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This is also repeated in Mark 16:15 but notice the distinction. "He that beleiveth and is baptised shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." What Jesus is teaching is that it is a person's belief IN Jesus Christ that saves them and their unbelief that dams them. Salvation is found in the person of Jesus Christ alone and not baptism. Why? Jesus said so. We must consider believers baptism, it's origin, order, obedience and how often.
1) Baptism - It's ORIGIN - Who said we should baptise?
a) The word of God, the bible (see above references)
b) Jesus commanded us to (Matt 28:19)
c) Examples of others being baptised (Acts 8:38)
2) Baptism - It''s ORDER - Who should be baptised?
a) Everyone who is saved (Acts 2:41) They who received the word of God in salvation were baptized
b) When should I be baptised? After you are saved - Read the account of the Eunuch in Acts 8 and you will see he was saved and then baptised after
Like wise the jailer in Acts 16 was saved and then baptised. When he asked how to be saved Paul and Silas did not tell him to get baptised but 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' The thief on the cross was saved and promised Heaven yet he was never baptised.
c) Why should I be baptised if it doesn't make me a christian? The answer is:
3) Baptism - It is OBEDIENCE - It is something we do because God says so and because of it's symbolism.
Romans 6v3 tells us that baptism is symbolic of our new relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. It shows we have identified with Him in His death
Immersed in water - symbolises him going into the grave
Coming out of the water - symbolises him rising from the dead
We have identified with Christ in our salvation not only that he died for our sins but we have died to the world - it no longer reigns over us.
But remember our salvation is not found in water for it is powerless but it rests on the blood of Christ and his death. That is why we must repent and turn form our sin as guilty sinners and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) Baptism - How OFTEN?
Once I am saved, I am always saved and therefore once I am baptised I never need to be baptised again.
Baptism is once only after a person is saved. Sprinkling or baptism into a church is of no value if you have never identified with Christ in His death and have never been saved.
What about the commission where it says 'He that beleiveth and is baptised shall be saved' Agreed this may be difficult if taken in isolation but who does it say will be damned? The person who does not believe NOT the person who has never been baptised. My grandmother who was a Godly woman would have loved to have been baptised but never had the strength or courage but no doubt she is in Heaven. The dying thief of Luke 23:43 had the promise he would be in Heaven (Paradise) with the Lord Jesus yet he would never be baptised.
...a dying person cannot be baptised but can be saved!
If a person was dying and not saved, afraid and wanting to know the way to Heaven what would your message be? Believe and be baptised? It would be impossible because they can't get out of bed! What is not impossible is for them to trust Jesus Christ quietly in their heart and be saved and sure of Heaven.
How wonderful Gods plan of salvation is - not through anything we do but through what Jesus Christ did on the cross.
If you are saved and not baptised then you should consider this next public step of obedience and let the world know that you are a christian.
Jonathan Black
Any questions please email me at
johnnyblack1234@gmail.com
or text me 07718957238
Which baptism?
There are seven different baptisms mentioned in the NT. The meaning of the word baptism is the same in each case a greek word baptise meaning 'to immerse' Apart from the Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is 'spiritual' the others all mean to submerge in physical water. That means you will not find babies being baptised in the bible because the bible knows nothing of infant sprinkling. This is a church tradition with no biblical basis.
"THE BIBLE KNOWS NOTHING OF BABY SPRINKLING"
The Baptism of John (Read John 1:28 / Matthew 3:5)
In the Gospels the first baptism mentioned is that of John and it is the baptism of repentance because it was linked with a message of repentance. The baptism did not save a person, they must repent and confess their sins and then their baptism declared to the public their new allegiance with John the Baptist and the one who he was preparing the way for, Jesus Christ.
The baptism of believers (Read Matt 28:19 / Acts 8:38 / Acts 2:41-42 / Rom 6:3)
Before Jesus Christ went back to Heaven He commissioned His disciples to go and teach (make disciples) of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. This is also repeated in Mark 16:15 but notice the distinction. "He that beleiveth and is baptised shall be saved ; but he that believeth not shall be damned." What Jesus is teaching is that it is a person's belief IN Jesus Christ that saves them and their unbelief that dams them. Salvation is found in the person of Jesus Christ alone and not baptism. Why? Jesus said so. We must consider believers baptism, it's origin, order, obedience and how often.
1) Baptism - It's ORIGIN - Who said we should baptise?
a) The word of God, the bible (see above references)
b) Jesus commanded us to (Matt 28:19)
c) Examples of others being baptised (Acts 8:38)
2) Baptism - It''s ORDER - Who should be baptised?
a) Everyone who is saved (Acts 2:41) They who received the word of God in salvation were baptized
b) When should I be baptised? After you are saved - Read the account of the Eunuch in Acts 8 and you will see he was saved and then baptised after
Like wise the jailer in Acts 16 was saved and then baptised. When he asked how to be saved Paul and Silas did not tell him to get baptised but 'believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.' The thief on the cross was saved and promised Heaven yet he was never baptised.
c) Why should I be baptised if it doesn't make me a christian? The answer is:
3) Baptism - It is OBEDIENCE - It is something we do because God says so and because of it's symbolism.
Romans 6v3 tells us that baptism is symbolic of our new relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ. It shows we have identified with Him in His death
Immersed in water - symbolises him going into the grave
Coming out of the water - symbolises him rising from the dead
We have identified with Christ in our salvation not only that he died for our sins but we have died to the world - it no longer reigns over us.
But remember our salvation is not found in water for it is powerless but it rests on the blood of Christ and his death. That is why we must repent and turn form our sin as guilty sinners and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
4) Baptism - How OFTEN?
Once I am saved, I am always saved and therefore once I am baptised I never need to be baptised again.
Baptism is once only after a person is saved. Sprinkling or baptism into a church is of no value if you have never identified with Christ in His death and have never been saved.
What about the commission where it says 'He that beleiveth and is baptised shall be saved' Agreed this may be difficult if taken in isolation but who does it say will be damned? The person who does not believe NOT the person who has never been baptised. My grandmother who was a Godly woman would have loved to have been baptised but never had the strength or courage but no doubt she is in Heaven. The dying thief of Luke 23:43 had the promise he would be in Heaven (Paradise) with the Lord Jesus yet he would never be baptised.
...a dying person cannot be baptised but can be saved!
If a person was dying and not saved, afraid and wanting to know the way to Heaven what would your message be? Believe and be baptised? It would be impossible because they can't get out of bed! What is not impossible is for them to trust Jesus Christ quietly in their heart and be saved and sure of Heaven.
How wonderful Gods plan of salvation is - not through anything we do but through what Jesus Christ did on the cross.
If you are saved and not baptised then you should consider this next public step of obedience and let the world know that you are a christian.
Jonathan Black
Any questions please email me at
johnnyblack1234@gmail.com
or text me 07718957238