Why baptism by immersion

Some devalue baptism by treating the ordinance as an optional add-on for Christians who want to become church members. Both approaches misconstrue the biblical understanding of baptism. From the giving of the Great Commission forward, the New Testament knows nothing of an unbaptized believer. Other modes of baptism dilute the deep symbolism that Scripture ascribes to the sacrament of baptism. Through baptism, the church identifies the new believer as a member of the new covenant community.

This limitation provides the church with a regular reminder that no one drifts inadvertently into the kingdom of Christ. The gospel demands a personal and particular response from every person, and baptism stands as the God-ordained sign of this response.

The church is inclusive because the church is the community that offers the gospel freely and indiscriminately to everyone. The church is at the same time exclusive, because faith in Christ and incorporation into the body of Christ must precede participation in the benefits and blessings of this community.

Baptism is the God-ordained sign of grace that marks our incorporation into this glorious body. Three of the gospels mention such events. Matt , Mark , Luke Examined closely, it is clear from these texts that Jesus did, indeed, welcome them, touch them and bless them — but nowhere does He baptize them or advocate such. Furthermore, the household members involved in these cases, are described as hearing the gospel, receiving the Spirit, speaking in tongues, praising God, and, most significantly, believing.

If there were infants or toddlers present, who did in fact do all of these things — then, yes, they too would be appropriate candidates for baptism! This is called regenerate church membership. The church is for believers. Believers come into the local church and profess their faith through baptism. Infants cannot and do not believe. In addition to this idea, we also believe that the Bible teaches that true baptism can only be performed in a certain way — by immersion only.

Immersion is not merely one of several options: it is the only proper mode consistent with the grammatical evidence, Scriptural pattern, and theological implications for what baptism is.

Even apart from the sacred Christian ordinance, this was the most common way in which the word was used in the Bible. Several instances of baptism are recorded in the New Testament. The language found in all of these indicate a full body submersion into water. The Church should welcome into its fellowship all those whom Christ has accepted Romans , I John Thank you for your help. Article ID: DB By: CRI Statement There are three modes or methods of water baptism used in Christian churches today: immersion in which the person is completely submerged , affusion that is, pouring , and aspersion sprinkling.

It is true that in Acts, Peter makes a connection between the pouring of the Spirit and the rite of baptism, but the connection is not as direct as the kind found in Romans ; and the Bible never connects baptism with the imagery of sprinkling. Whenever the act of baptism is described in the New Testament which is rarely , the one who is baptized actually goes into the water. Furthermore, we are not told in Scripture that we must baptize in exactly the same way as John or Philip.

The mode used by the early Church in the first few centuries was immersion, with affusion reserved for occasions when immersion was impossible due to lack of sufficient water, and aspersion used for individuals too sick or weak for either immersion of affusion.

The modern practice of sprinkling for baptism, which many churches are now following, dates back to the time when the early Christian Church was spread to foreign regions. While Christians were traveling a long distance, if there were some who wanted to be baptized after listening to the gospel in a desert area, where it was not even easy to have a sip of water, they sprinkled a few drops of water on them instead of immersing them in water.

It was because there was not enough water to soak the whole body. This informal practice of baptism was only permitted in inevitable or exceptional circumstances. However, after around A. In the Old Testament times, the ceremony of circumcision was performed as a sign between God and His people. This rite of circumcision has been replaced by baptism in the New Testament.

Col Thus, baptism is a holy ceremony to become a child of God. Jesus Himself set us an example by being baptized in water Mt As salvation through faith was emphasized after the Reformation, baptism was merely regarded or interpreted as a sign of repentance.