Basic HTML Version
glish word "sprinkle."
lt
does mean to
"wash" or "bathe," but by DIPPING,
SUBMERG ING, IMMERSING.
Jt
is used as
a figure of speech to indicate being
overwhelmed.
It
is used classically
when speaking of people swimming
anda ship sinking. You can't swim in
the outpouring of a handful of water.
A ship can't sink in a splash. A body
can't be buried in a sprinkling of any–
thing- wateror dirt.
Baptism simply has no connection
with spr inkling or pouring. Other
words are used for those meanings.
The Picture
Baptism pictures the complete cover–
ing of a dead body by placing it in a
watery grave. But there is much
more to the picture.
Even as the "old, dead body" of
the convert is entombed in baptism it
is being literally washed-deansed.
This COMPLETE washing of the exter–
ior symbolizes the internal- men–
tal- moral- washing and regenera–
tion of the mind. A readying for an
altogether new man to be resurrected
to an altogetber new life.
To adequately capture and portray
this simple yet complex picture, John
the Baptist went to Aenon to baptize
"because there was
MUCH WATER
there"
(J ohn
3:23).
When J esus was baptized we are
exp ressly told tha t He "went
UP ... OUT OF the water" (Matt.
3:16).
He had been DOWN
1
IT!
Read Matthew
3:13-17,
putting "im–
mersed" where the word "baptized"
occurs-for we have already seen
that is exactly what the original lan–
guage means-and it al l becomes
very clear.
For an additional and clinching illus–
tra tion notice that Philip and the Ethio–
pian eunuch both "WENT DOWN INTO"
and carne
"up
OUT OF THEWATER" in
arder to properly a:ccomplish the bap–
tism (Acts
8:38-40).
lnto the Family
Sorne people are mixed up about the
simple, straightforward instructions
of Christ in Matthew
28: 19.
The
phrase "in the name of the Fa–
ther ... Son, and ... Holy Spirit"
gives them trouble.
Don't allow the little word "in" to
confuse you as it does them.
The
PLAIN TRUTH September 1979
The Greek word is a bit more dis–
tinct and should better have been
translated "into." Christ is simply
stating that baptism places the con–
vert in-or into-the family name of
God. Remember, Peter has told us
those who repent and are baptized
will receive the Spirit of God (Acts
2:38).
Those led by the Spirit of God
are the
sons
ofGod (Rom.
8:14).
The
receipt of the Holy Spi rit makes the
converted person part of the
family
of God. " ... We are· the
chi/dren
of
God ...
joint-heirs
with Christ ..."
( Rom.
8:16-17).
In Whose Name?
Christ is not ashamed to call us
brethren
(Heb.
2:1 1) .
These words
~(
This complete washing of
the ex terior symbolize_s
the interna/ washing and
regeneration of the mind.
A readying for an
altogether new man to be
resurrected to an
altogether new lije.
' '
depict ·a FAMILY relationship! We are
made a part of the family of God.
lt
is natural then that we are to have
the
NAME of God. We are baptized
INTO the very same name-it is also
a title- which describes the Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. The name is
Goo! ÜNE name fits the entire fami–
ly. Having this one name does not at
all detract from the wonderful name
of Jesus.
When we have God's Spirit, we
are His and Christ is in us
( Rom.
8:9-10).
We now have the
same MINO and we think like He
does (Phi!.
2:2,
5). Christ lives in
us (Gal.
2:20).
We now begin to
live like the rest of the family of
God, for we have been placed in–
put INTo-it!
J esus built His Church and set
up an organized mm1stry to run it
(Eph.
4:11-13).
His chosen ones act
in His stead. What they do is as if
it had been done personally by the
Christ (John
13:20).
He impressed
this fact firmly insofar as baptism is
concerned. Jesus did 'NOT baptize.
He had H is disciples
do it for
Him-IN
or BY H IS AUTHORITY
(John
4:2).
They acted in His stead
or
in His name!
No baptism is legal
except it be done by the authority
of J esus Christ- in his name!
Spirltual Counsel
Christ
has given
thi s responsibility to
H is minist.ry. Not all who think
themselves ready for baptism are. It
demands mature profound evalua–
tion.
It
must not be taken lightly. lt 's
not for children. J ohn the Baptist
sent many of the Pharisees of his day
a-packing when they presented
themselves to him. He unabashedly
advised them to .go
do
the things
which would
prove to him
they were
actually ready (Luke
3:7-8).
Even if you have already been bap–
tized, seriously consider that it
may
not
be valid. Such has happened to
others. Simon Magus believed the
message the deacon Philip preached.
But his subsequent baptism proved to
be a dunking only. When the more
di scerning Peter and J ohn surveyed
the situation, they summarily refused
to !ay hands on the unrepentant Si–
mon (Acts
8:13, 21-23).
But note that the now more experi–
enced Philip correctly decided the
Ethiopian eunuch was ready for bap–
tism (Acts
8:36-37) .
J ust so, Ananias
told Saul (who became the apostle
Paul) that it was
now time
for him to
be baptized (Acts
22:16).
God's ministers have spiritual dis–
cernment
(1
Cor.
2:14; 12:10).
They
are qualified to determine whether or
not the convert is truly repentant and
ready to be baptized . More than like–
ly there is a true minister of God
living near you who would
be
more
than happy to help you evaluate your
spiritual condition. He can help you
to better understand yourself and
what God expects of you.
If
you want
his valuable counsel, write immedi–
ately and tell us. We will place you in
contact just as soon as we possibly
can. o
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