Most churches practice some form of baptism.
Some churches sprinkle water upon the head of the one being baptized. Others will not sprinkle, but will pour water upon the one to be baptized.
Also, there are churches that completely immerse a person in water when that person desires to be baptized.
Does it matter what method of baptism is used?
If only one is correct, then, which one is the right one? The Bible is our standard of authority in matters pertaining to religion, so the Bible is where we will turn for an answer to these questions (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Jesus Christ commanded his disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19).
They began to do this on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Acts, chapter two, records the first Gospel sermon as preached by the Apostle Peter.
The Bible says upon hearing that sermon the hearers “...were pricked in their heart...” and they wanted to know what they must do.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38).
That day about three thousand people were baptized. The book of Acts speaks of several others who, on different occasions, were also baptized into the church. What was the method used to baptize all of these individuals?
We find more about it in Acts 8:35-39. This passage tells of an Ethiopian who responds to the preaching of Philip and requests baptism. The Bible says concerning Philip and the Ethiopian, “...they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 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.” (Acts 8:38-39).
Notice that both Philip (the baptizer) and the Ethiopian eunuch (the one to be baptized) went down into the water.
If Philip were going to use sprinkling or pouring, why did both he and the eunuch go down into the water? All they would have to do would be to stand upon the bank while Philip dipped his hand or a container into the water. The sensible conclusion is that they both went down into the water so that Philip could immerse the Ethiopian eunuch.
The apostle Paul clears up the matter even further. Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.” (Romans 6:3-4).
Paul said we are “...buried with him by baptism...” Baptism is, therefore, a burial in water. Is one buried in water when a small amount is sprinkled upon his head? Is one buried in water when a little is poured upon his head? The obvious answer to these questions is no! Only a complete immersion in water is a burial.
The Bible is clear! The only method of baptism acceptable to God is immersion (Romans 6:3-4).
If one has had water sprinkled upon his head, he has not been baptized. If one has had water poured upon his head, he has not been baptized.
All men and women must be buried in water as a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, in order to receive remission of sins (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38).
Some churches sprinkle water upon the head of the one being baptized. Others will not sprinkle, but will pour water upon the one to be baptized.
Also, there are churches that completely immerse a person in water when that person desires to be baptized.
Does it matter what method of baptism is used?
If only one is correct, then, which one is the right one? The Bible is our standard of authority in matters pertaining to religion, so the Bible is where we will turn for an answer to these questions (2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Jesus Christ commanded his disciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matthew 28:19).
They began to do this on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Acts, chapter two, records the first Gospel sermon as preached by the Apostle Peter.
The Bible says upon hearing that sermon the hearers “...were pricked in their heart...” and they wanted to know what they must do.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38).
That day about three thousand people were baptized. The book of Acts speaks of several others who, on different occasions, were also baptized into the church. What was the method used to baptize all of these individuals?
We find more about it in Acts 8:35-39. This passage tells of an Ethiopian who responds to the preaching of Philip and requests baptism. The Bible says concerning Philip and the Ethiopian, “...they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 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.” (Acts 8:38-39).
Notice that both Philip (the baptizer) and the Ethiopian eunuch (the one to be baptized) went down into the water.
If Philip were going to use sprinkling or pouring, why did both he and the eunuch go down into the water? All they would have to do would be to stand upon the bank while Philip dipped his hand or a container into the water. The sensible conclusion is that they both went down into the water so that Philip could immerse the Ethiopian eunuch.
The apostle Paul clears up the matter even further. Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.” (Romans 6:3-4).
Paul said we are “...buried with him by baptism...” Baptism is, therefore, a burial in water. Is one buried in water when a small amount is sprinkled upon his head? Is one buried in water when a little is poured upon his head? The obvious answer to these questions is no! Only a complete immersion in water is a burial.
The Bible is clear! The only method of baptism acceptable to God is immersion (Romans 6:3-4).
If one has had water sprinkled upon his head, he has not been baptized. If one has had water poured upon his head, he has not been baptized.
All men and women must be buried in water as a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord, in order to receive remission of sins (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38).