Ever since I began walking with YESHUA questions regarding water baptism regeneration have come up. Most often it becomes an issue among those who were born into a Catholic family (or similar infant baptizing group), being baptized as an infant and then later in life having come to a saving knowledge of and faith in YESHUA. They ask questions like, “Should I be re-baptized, since I was baptized as a child?”, or “Will this church accept that I was baptized in another church or as a child?” I have even been asked, “Am I supposed to be baptized again, since I was baptized as an adult (though I was not saved at the time) when I joined the last church?” Needless to say, there is allot of confusion in professing Christendom today, surrounding the issue of what baptism. Well, as always, we must go to the Scriptures to find the truth…
In Mark 16:15-16 MESSIAH said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned”. Notice the emphasis is on “He who believes” as the one who “…will be saved.” Not on being baptized.
In Acts 10:43-48, Peter confirms this priority saying, “To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM will receive remission of sins.”
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Notice the progression here that AFTER they believed, as witnessed by them receiving the Holy Spirit, they are then baptized in water. If water baptism saved them, then are we to believe that the HOLY SPIRIT was given to them PRIOR to their salvation?
Also, if water baptism was synonymous with salvation would Paul, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 have said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”? Belief first seems to be the key…
I believe that a serious study would reveal that the concept of infant baptism has it’s origins in the Catholic Church, not in the Scriptures. The Catholic Church has had a history of changing, by adding to and/or subtracting from what GOD has said in HIS Word. They claim to have the authority to change the biblical Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day (see quotes at: http://messiahfellowshiponline.com/discipleship-articles-cat/sabbath-quotes ), as well as being able to replace the biblical holy days with unbiblical holidays celebrated by the ungodly as well as by professing Christendom today! This too is the case concerning infant baptism. As the Scriptures state above, the person must first “believe” in the LORD JESUS before he/she is baptized in water. To teach that water baptism somehow saves a person is not in line with the Holy Scriptures consisting of The Hebrew and Apostolic Scriptures known as the Old & New Testaments.
So, the question to be answered is “Have you been born from above?” not “Have you been baptized?”
John 3:3-7 records JESUS speaking to a very religious man, who should have known the answer, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
Some have tried to use this portion of Scripture to legitimize water baptism by suggesting that JESUS is referring to it in saying “born of water.” However, if we consider the context, JESUS is first describing what takes place in being born the first time as coming through the womb (woman’s water) and then HE goes on to describe that the second birth must take place after that, by being born from above (Spirit), as we saw in Acts 10.
Now, when I have explained this position to folks asking the question of baptism, often they will ask; “Should I be baptized again?” To which I respond something like:
Again, since salvation didn’t take place at infant baptism, once the person comes to the knowledge of their need for The MESSIAH YESHUA, he/she should, after it is confirmed that there is belief in the heart, and confession of that faith is witnessed among other believers, then water baptism should be accomplished the same way that The Master was baptized, according to the Scriptures; by submersion. As followers of YESHUA, we are to live according to the ENTIRE Word of GOD, just as HE did! The apostle elaborates on this in the following.
1 John 2:3-6 confirms this. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Please keep in mind that the only “commandments” that existed when John wrote this, were the Commandments of the only Scriptures that also existed at the time; The Hebrew Scriptures.
We must always be careful of those who might try and sway us away from what GOD’S Word says, in their efforts to try and get us to follow their man-made commandments instead. A couple of other articles that might help you understand this perspective would be:
This is another classic example of tradition clouding the Truth. It’s a lot like the grafted into Israel position, like the Judaizer’s proselytizing that made men twice the sons of hell; taking it away from “He who believes,” and into a man centered method of salvation that opposes the simple message of faith; believing and obeying Torah – grace working in us through faith. The whole counsel of the Word of Yah, in consistent context, is placed in a role subordinate to man’s commandments and doctrines, and therein is the age old problem – The fault is with us! I continue to pray that HE continues HIS work of grace in us, causing us to walk in HIS statutes and keep HIS commandments – Messiah in us, the hope of glory… for HE works in us, both to will and to do for HIS good pleasure.
Bless you brother. People are reading, even if you don’t hear from them. Be encouraged.
I appreciate your perspective brother! When people begin to realize how serious of a matter that it is for them to set HIS Word aside and pay more attention to man’s inventions/traditions, I believe that they will also see the necessity of addressing them! That will be a revival worth waiting for!!!