Baptism of faith or child baptism? To discern wheat and chaff!

1. It is a commandment of Jesus Christ to those who were willing to become his disciples

Matthew28/19,20-  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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Amen.

2 To fulfill the righteousness of God

Matthew 3/15- But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

3.It is the will of God

Luke 7/30- But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

4.Symbolizes Death, Burial and Resurrection

Romans 6/3,4- Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5.To walk in the newness of life

Romans 6/4- Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

6 To receive God’s pleasing

Matthew 3/16, 17-   When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and ^[b]He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. ¹⁷ And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

7.Answer for a good conscience

1 Peter 3/21- There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus Christ/ People – Luke 3/21
2. 3000 people after Peter’s message- Acts 2/41
3. Simon – Acts 8/13
4. Eunuch – Acts 8/38
5. Cornelius and household- Acts 10/48
6. Men and women- acts 8/12
7. Lydia and her family- Acts 16/15
8. Jailer and his household- Acts 16/33
9. Paul – Acts 9/18

Baptism is to join to Christ not to any denominations.Galatians 3/27- For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Mark 16/16- He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Ex. Those students who studies and writes the exam will pass. So are they first expected to learn or write the exam? Is it okay to write the exam and learn anytime after that? No. In the same way a person who wants to get baptized needs to firstly believe in Lord Jesus as his Saviour, confess and repent of his sins and only then get baptized in water.

Romans 10/9-10- If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 Child baptism is not mentioned in the Bible. When babies were brought to Jesus, He laid His hands on their heads and blessed them (Mark 10:13-16) However, when repentant adults came to Jesus, He baptized them through the disciples (John 4:1,2)

It is clear that only those who were capable of intelligently receiving God’s word and of repentance were baptized. A child is not able to believe in Christ and it is not right for a god parent to believe for the child and baptize the child. Is it enough for a god parent to drink milk for the baby’s growth instead of a baby itself?  Or for an engagement, is it enough for a god parent to take the vow instead of the bride? No, therefore to join to Christ our groom, we as a bride itself have to confess and be baptized.

If a whole family goes for a wedding and ate the meal does that mean a 3 months old child also ate the meal with them? No, because the baby isn’t matured enough to have the meal, in the same way only those who are matured enough to believe in Christ should be baptized.

Acts 16/34- Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.Here it is written that all in the household rejoiced does that mean a baby has also rejoiced with them?

 Acts 8/37- And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”Here the person believed with all his heart.

No, Jesus said let the children come to me. Do not stop them. Mark 10/14.Moreover, Children who were less than 20 years crossed into the land of Canaan along with Caleb & Joshua. 

The word “Baptism” is derived from the Greek word “Bapto” which means “to cover wholly with fluid or to immerse”. This is exactly what it meant to the early apostles- an immersion in water.

Sprinkling some water on a child’s head or someone’s head is certainly not baptism.Baptism is a form of burial and we bury people only by putting them underground completely not just by sprinkling some sand. This also makes it clear that we only bury those who are dead, those who do-not want to sin anymore. There are examples in the Bible:

Jesus Christ is our role model.Matthew 3/16- When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him.Acts 8/36- Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”8/38-So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.John 3/23- Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized

Baptism is not administered as a means to Salvation.  It is an outward expression of the inward change and therefore those who are saved are also baptized.Baptism pictures a believer’s salvation experience when he receives Jesus as Lord.“Going under the water pictures the death & burial of the man with Christ.“Arising from the water pictures the spiritual life & resurrection the believer experiences on the day he received Jesus.” Romans6:1-8

Acts 19/3,4,5- And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

After the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, a commandment came to be baptized in the name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. – Matthew 28

John’s baptism was not like this therefore they had to get baptized again according to the Bible. Same way child baptism isn’t right according to the Bible and so we need to understand the Truth like John’s disciples and get baptized again and it is not at all demonic rather it is Godly.

Today many people are not getting baptized for the fear of man and are lead to destruction. (Revelation 21/8). It is not always possible to get baptized by getting permission from your family, leaders in traditional churches or neighbors. When you obey God’s commandments your family members will itself become your enemies. (Matthew 10/34-38).In the same way like Paul said without conferring to flesh and blood obey the Word of God. (Galatians 1/16)

Let’s see who all did that:

1. People who came to Jerusalem- Acts 2/41
2. Paul – Acts 9/18
3. Eunuch –Acts 8/38