Matt. 28:19 through Matt. 28:20 (KJV)
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

        Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and win the lost to Him. This is done, in the main, by preaching the gospel. The gospel is "good news" that God through Christ has provided salvation. Paul gives us the definition of the gospel.

1 Cor. 15:1 through 1 Cor. 15:4 (KJV)
¹ Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

        Is baptism important? Since Jesus was baptized and it is His will that all who are saved be baptized, we consider it very important. The Bible says, "Keep the ordinances as I delivered them to you." Baptism is one of the two ordinances of the church. The other is the Lord's Supper and both, I say again, are very important. There are the some who feel that it can be observed, changed or omitted at the caprice of the individual or by the authority of a body which calls itself "the church." Jesus was baptized and He said He did so, "to fulfill all righteousness."

Matt. 3:13 through Matt. 3:17 (KJV)
¹³ Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. ¹⁴ But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? ¹⁵ And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. ¹⁶ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: ¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

        The Jordan river is not as beautiful as some rivers. It is rapid, oftentimes turbid and in some places deep and treacherous. Naaman complained about dipping in it. Yet on the banks of this ancient river took place a scene the like of which had never before been witnessed or ever shall be again in this world. Here, waist deep in the waters stood John the Baptist in his coat of camel's hair. By his side stood the Son of God. On the bank the multitudes who had come to hear John preach.

        Above in the heavens looking down, God, the Father, speaking in a voice that heard by all. The Holy Spirit descending from heaven in the form of a dove and lighting upon the Son of God. Who had been baptized. All three, God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit by their presence testified to the importance of this act of baptism. In the light of this, who shall say that baptism is not important?

        Dr. E. E. Matthews in his book "A Church Revival" says, "So vital is the meaning of baptism and so necessary is baptism in its observance that not only did Jesus Himself set the example in His act of obedience, but heaven was moved as John the Baptist buried Christ in the waters of Jordan. So overwhelming was this divine act that the Third Person of the Trinity emerged from the portals of the heavens above, clothed Himself in the form of a dove, God's emblem of peace and alighted on the dripping garments of the Son of God."

        So far-reaching is the meaning of baptism and it so rejoices the heart of the Father when observed by His children that He could not contain His joy when His only begotten Son had set the example for all of the redeemed to follow, by exclaiming from His throne on high to earth beneath, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.

        Twice the Father said He was well pleased with His beloved Son.

Matt. 3:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matt. 17:5 (KJV)
⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

        Baptism is the first act of obedience after one is saved, and I want to stress the importance of obeying the Lord. To obey means not only doing what God commands, but doing it the way He commands. God told Noah to build the ark. He specified Gopher wood and this specification of Gopher wood was the prohibition of every other wood. When Moses was about to make the tabernacle -- "See saith God, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount."

Heb. 8:5 (KJV)
⁵ Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

        There are 40 chapters in the book of Exodus and 16 1/2 of them have to do only with the building of the tabernacle. God called Moses up in the mount and during his 40 days and nights there, God gave him instructions as to how to build it. Moses did not regard these as trivial.

        If Moses had failed to carry out these instructions, he would have:

1. Been guilty of an act of disobedience. The human race has had to learn in the hard school of experience the tragic consequences of disobedience to God's commands. If we realized the awful consequences of disobedience we would search the Scriptures night and day to learn more fully God's will.

2. The divine truth embodied in the construction of the tabernacle would have been destroyed. There was a divine purpose in everything that was in the pattern, the measurements, the materials, arrangements of the courts, every piece of furniture and every bar, pin and bolt had its divine significance and meaning.

        So with baptism, to fail to be baptized, when saved is to live in a state of disobedience. And to change God's design (for baptism) is to destroy its divine meaning. The New Testament is very clear on this matter. It tells us who is to be baptized, and how to be baptized, and why be baptized. And let me say again -- these specifications are the prohibition of all others.

        "Let a precept be never so difficult and never so distasteful to flesh and blood if it is God's will, my soul says it is good. Let me obey it til I die" -- Cotton Mather

I.   Who Is To Be Baptized?

Matt. 28:19 through Matt. 28:20 (KJV)
¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

        This Scripture teaches us to teach all nations. This means that we are to teach them how to be saved by accepting the Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ, and they are to be taught to "observe" all things which He teaches.

        The following Scriptures show us that those who have believed in Jesus (have been saved), are candidates for baptism.

Acts 2:41 (KJV)
⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12 (KJV)
¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 9:18 (KJV)
¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

        This refers to Saul who later became Paul. It would be good if you would read the ninth chapter of Acts, verses 1-20 and Acts 10:44-48.

        There is no reference to the baptism of babies in the Bible. Man changed God's mode of baptism and surely God is not pleased with that.

Matt. 15:1 through Matt. 15:9 (KJV)
¹ Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, ² Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. ³ But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. ⁵ But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; ⁶ And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. ⁷ Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, ⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. ⁹ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

        How did this matter of infant baptism come about? The doctrine of "baptismal regeneration: arose which declared that one had to be baptized in order to be saved. And, that "doctrine of man" has continued until today. So man reasoned that if one had to be baptized in order to be saved, the sooner the better. So they started the practice. At first the babies were immersed but then man again changed God's mode from immersion to sprinkling and they sprinkled the babies.

        Let me repeat that only those who have been saved -- born again -- are to be baptized. It is impossible, according to the Bible, to baptize a lost person. You can dip him, immerse his body in water but the purpose of baptism, which we'll discuss later, cannot be fulfilled. One must have died to sin (when he was saved) or he cannot show or picture his death to sin and his resurrection to a new life which is what baptism does.

II.   How Is One To Be Baptized?

Eph. 4:5 (KJV)
⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

        This one baptism is the burial or immersion of the body of a believer in water. I've read after Bible scholars, from different denominations and they all state that the Greek word for baptize always means to immerse the entire body in water. Scriptural baptism is "in" water and not "with water."

Mark 1:5 (KJV)
⁵ And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

        It is not only in water but in "much"water.

John 3:23 (KJV)
²³ And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

        It is going down into the water.

Acts 8:35 through Acts 8:38 (KJV)
³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

        It is burial in water.

Rom. 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

        It is coming up out of the water.

Mark 1:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Acts 8:39 (KJV)
³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

        Please permit me to share with you the words of another pastor. "I preached this week to 27 Grace Brethren churches down in Mansfield, Ohio, 27 churches and pastors and representatives. I didn't know what this particular branch of the brethren believed. There are all kinds of beliefs in the world today. But when I went in, I heard them singing some wonderful old gospel hymns. First of all, they were singing "Our God is Able To Deliver Thee." They sang, "Though by sin oppressed, come to Him for rest, our God is able to deliver thee." That made me feel at home. You can listen to the singing in a church and tell whether the Lord is there or not. The Lord never heard of a lot of the music in churches today.

        Then I felt further at home when I looked up and the curtains were closed over a great big baptistry, I said, "That looks good to me." I turned to the preacher by whom I was sitting and I said, "Does this denomination believe in baptism by immersion in water?"

        He said,"We sure do. We baptize them in the name of the Trinity and we put them down three times."

        I said, "Praise the Lord."

        When I got up to speak, I complimented the people. I said, "I am glad to find a movement of people that believe in baptism by immersion, three times as strong as I believe it and that is getting mighty strong." Because I Corinthians chapter 15 is the definition of the gospel, the death, the burial, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers baptism by immersion, in water is the only way to picture that. "Buried in the likeness of His death, raised to walk in the newness of life."

        A man said to me one time, "Why, I could take a teacup full of water and baptize everyone in the city of Pontiac." Not long ago, I thought I would just see if that fits in anywhere. I tried to fit it into several places where they baptized in the Bible. I tried to put it for instance in Acts, chapter 8 where the Ethiopian eunuch got saved and we read in verse 36, "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See here is water . . . ." No, he said, "Here is a teacup full of water." " . . . what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the (teacup full of) water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the (teacup full of) water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip . . . " I said, "I don't believe it will work that way. I don't believe you can work that in anywhere. You say, "Oh, well, that's fanatical. No, it is just the Bible. Baptism is the immersion of the believer in water. And you can't be baptized any other way. We are not baptized with water but in water.

        The Bible tells us that there is one baptism. Today some practice pouring, sprinkling and immersion. That is three modes and the Bible says there is only one. So two of these are wrong. No one can study seriously the Word of God and fail to understand that immersion is the one and only mode of baptism given us by the Lord.

III.   Why Is One To Be Baptized?

        Some would tell you that you have to be baptized in order to be saved. The Bible declares that one is saved by grace through faith and that excludes all owrks, even baptism.

Eph. 2:8 through Eph. 2:9 (KJV)
⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 3:36 (KJV)
³⁶ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Gal. 3:26 (KJV)
²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

        Those who say you have to be baptized in order to be saved, say the thief on the cross was probably saved but he lived and died while the law of Moses was in force, before the death of Christ and before the terms of pardon were in force for the New Testament dispensation. They continue by saying, "Before one's death, his will can be changed. A will is never in force until the one who made it is dead. Hence before the death of Christ, He could forgive sins on different condition but since His death and since the new will or testament is in force, there is no hope nor promise of salvation without complying with the terms of pardon as set forth in the gospel age which is to repent and be baptized. They say that it was after the death of Jesus that these condition were changed."

        The Bible is very clear that God has had only one way for man to be saved, justified, and that was by faith. That has always been God's way for man to be saved.

Acts 10:43 (KJV)
⁴³ To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

        Abraham was saved by faith.

Rom. 4:3 (KJV)
³ For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

        David was made right with God by faith without works.

Rom. 4:6 through Rom. 4:8 (KJV)
⁶ Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, ⁷ Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. ⁸ Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

        The Bible states that the reason we are told that Abraham was saved by faith is that we may know that salvation comes to all by faith.

Rom. 4:23 through Rom. 4:24 (KJV)
²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; ²⁴ But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

        We are plainly told in the books of Romans and Galatians that the law was never given to save man.

Rom. 3:20 (KJV)
²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Gal. 3:8 through Gal. 3:11 (KJV)
⁸ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. ⁹ So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. ¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. ¹¹ But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Gal. 3:24 through Gal. 3:26 (KJV)
²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

        Why be baptized if one can be saved without doing so? First of all Jesus commanded it and that should settle it once and forever. We are baptized because we love the Lord and love motivates us to follow His will.

John 14:21 (KJV)
²¹ He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 15:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

1 John 2:3 through 1 John 2:5 (KJV)
³ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ⁴ He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

2 John 1:6 (KJV)
⁶ And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

        The second reason we are baptized is to show forth to the world that we have died to sin and are being raised to walk a new life.

Rom. 6:1 through Rom. 6:11 (KJV)
¹ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. ¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

        When one is saved, he is raised out of a state of death into a new life. And this he proclaims to the world in his baptism. He has died to the old life and from now on he will live a different life.

John 5:24 (KJV)
²⁴ Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

        One has said, "If any man believes, after he is baptized, that he has a right to live his own life, then he has wholly misunderstood the meaning of baptism. Anyone who has been baptized and did not mean to count the old life dead and buried, did not mean to live a new life in the power of God, did not mean really to count himself simply alive to God and dead to the old life and the old world, lied to God and lied to every man who saw him baptized."

        Before one is baptized, he repents of sin and accepts Jesus as Savior. In baptism he proclaims that he has linked his life with Jesus and will hence forth live a new life. After baptism his life influences others to follow his example. In reality he carries with him the reputation of the church.

        When one purchased slaves, one would hold his hand over the heads of the slaves and pronounce the name of the one who purchased them. This meant that the slaves are now the property and the servants of the one who bought them. When one is baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, he is now the servant of the One who bought him.

        May the world know that we have died to sin and that we have been with Jesus and He has made a new creature out of us. Have you accepted Jesus as Savior and followed Him in baptism? If you haven't, I would urge you to do so.

John 3:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.