Acts
19:1-5
Which baptism did you receive?
– Acts 19:3
While Apollos was at
Faith in Jesus Christ is
stressed yet again as a prerequisite to baptism. It cannot be looked
back on in retrospect (as is practiced with infant baptism). These disciples had been baptized, but they did not
have faith in Jesus at the time of their immersion. Therefore, they
needed to be baptized correctly. They
lacked a complete teaching on baptism (one element was missing--faith in Jesus),
so Paul deemed it insufficient, taught them what they lacked, and baptized them
properly.
Paul taught only ONE
baptism. (Ephesians 4:4-5 ) This ONE baptism is
into Christ for the forgiveness of sins after a person hears, believes
and repents. John the Baptist’s baptism was one of repentance (for
the forgiveness of sins nonetheless) These disciples only knew John’s baptism.
They did not know yet the baptism of Jesus Christ that had replaced John’s
starting when the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts 2. Since there is only ONE baptism and the
baptism of John’s was no longer valid, Paul had them baptized right, with
the ONE baptism.
“Baptism” that is not “for
the forgiveness of sins” is not that one baptism and should be
looked on in the same manner as a “baptism” that occurs before a person has
faith in Christ—it needs to be done in the correct Biblical manner. If these
disciples could not look back and apply their newfound faith in Christ retroactively
to a different baptism (John’s), how then, can we look back on a different
baptism (one that is NOT for the forgiveness of sins) and apply our newfound
faith to it?
We know John the Baptist
preached a baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3)
We know Peter preached a baptism
for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38)
We know that Jewish baptism
(Tevillah) was for the
forgiveness/removal of sins. (See John 3:3-5)
Before the protestant
reformation movement, baptism was always for the forgiveness of sins.
Baptism that is not for
the forgiveness of sins is a different baptism than the ONE baptism in Scripture. It is for a different
purpose. It is NOT for the purpose that scriptural baptism is for—which is
for the removal of our sins. And if it is NOT for that purpose, how then can
our sins be forgiven? If we deny baptism is when our sins are forgiven and we
pass from death to life, are we not denying the resurrection
as well as the Word of God? And if we deny the resurrection,
we deny Christ. So if a person did not understand baptism is when they become
saved (i.e. their sins are forgiven) then they must have been receiving a different
baptism. Anyone who has received the ONE baptism understands and believes this
is when their sins are washed away. If we believe we receive forgiveness before
baptism we have believed something contrary to the word of God. Furthermore, if
we say we are saved prior to baptism we are not believing the Gospel message
and are contradicting God. We are not acknowledging our state of being lost,
or, our sins. That’s not a very good way to approach God if we are wanting Him
to forgive our transgressions.
The idea that baptism is not for the removal/forgiveness
of sins is a modern day idea that is contrary to the Word of God, the practices
of the first disciples, and the teaching of Jesus. Jesus taught one cannot be saved unless one is
baptized (see also Mark 16:15-16) If sin is what
separates us from God, then our sins would have to be forgiven in order to be
saved. If sins are forgiven at baptism, this would account for His teaching that we must be baptized in order to enter
the
Certainly if Jesus, who was sinless, was concerned with “fulfilling all righteousness” in His baptism, we, as sinners, should be even more concerned about doing the same with ours.
Some (such as Baptists) may
ask if what we believe about baptism at time of immersion matters. I.e., Is
it important for us to believe that God is forgiving our sins in baptism
when we are baptized? The answer is, yes, it is vital
that we believe and understand what baptism is about, otherwise we are
undergoing a different baptism, which is not the ONE baptism of Ephesians 4:4-5. The Colossians believed that God
was working to make them a new creation in baptism. Notice the phrase “through
faith in the working of God”:
and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the
dead.
See also “Commanded but not essential”
|
|
The ONE baptism
in the Bible |
“Baptist” or “non-denominational” baptism |
Full water immersion? |
YES |
YES |
|
For the purpose of having your sins forgiven/washed away? |
YES |
NO |
|
To save you? |
YES |
NO |
|
To be reborn? |
YES |
NO |
|
To have new life? |
YES |
NO |
|
Required for salvation/criteria for judgment? |
YES |
NO |
|
United with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection THROUGH
baptism? |
YES |
NO |
|
Saved before baptism? |
-- |
NO |
YES |
CONCLUSION: |
Biblical baptism |
Non-Biblical baptism--needs to be corrected |
Which baptism is Biblical today? |
Explanation |
Reference |
“Baptism of the Holy Spirit” |
Happened once to the Jews in Acts 2 and once
to the Gentiles in Acts 10. Has since passed away 2000 years ago. |
|
Infant baptism |
Must believe, repent, and make conscious decision to
follow Christ. Doctrine of “original sin” false. |
|
Baptism for the dead |
Man faces judgment after death |
|
Baptism as a “public confession of faith” |
Not taught in bible |
-- |
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins into Christ |
The ONE baptism spoken of in Ephesians 4:4-5 |
Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, 1Peter 3:20-21, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:26-27, John 3:3-5, Mark 16:15-16, Titus 3:5, Matthew 28:19-20 |
Click here to read the James
Burton Coffman commentary on Acts 19, excerpt quoted below:
“DISCIPLES NEEDING
RE-BAPTISM
Are there any
today whose baptism was so defective or inadequate that they should be baptized
again "into the Lord Jesus"? The answer without any doubt whatever is
affirmative. And who are they? (1) Those who were baptized in infancy, or at a
time in childhood so early that no adequate understanding of the ordinance was
possible. Millions today have never in any sense obeyed the apostolic
injunction to "have yourselves baptized" as Peter commanded (Acts
2:38) F15 That passage makes it absolutely clear that the
convert must consciously, and of his own will, submit to Christian baptism. If
infant baptism is adequate, then baptism without faith, confession, or
repentance is valid; and this we hold to be absolutely impossible of
acceptance. (2) Those whose baptism was by some action other than the immersion
submitted to by Christ, taught by the apostles, and practiced by the apostolic
church, which action was denominated by the Holy Spirit as a figure of the
death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Romans
6:3-5), making it certain that forms of baptism (so-called) without such a
likeness are invalid. (3) Those whose baptism was an action initiated by
others, not themselves, or whose baptism was in their hearts undertaken for any
unscriptural purpose, such as (a) merely going with the group, (b) primarily to
please parents, husband, wife, or other persons, or (c) any purpose other than
that of surrendering the soul to the Lord as commanded in the gospel and for
the purpose of coming "into Christ," receiving the forgiveness of
sins and the promise of the Holy Spirit. (4) Those whose baptism was understood
by themselves as having no connection with salvation, or as being, in their
view, absolutely unnecessary, irrelevant, or unessential. (5) Those whose
baptism, instead of being "into Christ," was into some organization
unknown to the Scripture, operating contrary to New Testament authority, and constituting
some kind of fellowship other than that of Christians "in Christ."
This writer
earnestly prays that all who read these lines will ask himself in all humility,
"Was I Scripturally baptized?" If the answer is negative, the
rebaptism of these twelve disciples at
…in other words, you
can’t be taught wrong and be baptized
right…
For
further study, see the History of Baptism page
Back to CONVERSION
STORIES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
This page last updated: May 9,
2013