The first thing necessary for a clear understanding of baptism is realizing the place where baptism puts the baptized person. The commission to baptize given by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:19-2019Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19‑20) is significant as to its time and place. The commission falls between the time when the Lord rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Baptism, in the same way, has its significance for us during the time we are on earth. It has nothing to do with our heavenly privileges. The Lord Jesus, having all power here on earth and in heaven, gave the commission to identify souls with Himself by teaching and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This act introduced them into a new sphere of identification here on earth — a position, heretofore, non-existent. The act of baptism identifies the subjects of baptism, in an external way, with the Lord who died and rose from the dead. The act of baptizing is done in the name of the three persons of the Godhead, as our knowledge and relationship with the trinity is characteristic of Christianity. This is the correct formula for baptism.
Baptism on the Day of Pentecost
In Acts 2:37-4137Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then 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. 39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:37‑41) we have the first occasion when the apostles taught and practiced baptism after the church was formed. Those who heard Peter’s preaching were convicted of their guilt of crucifying the Lord Jesus, and then Peter taught them how to dissociate themselves from the guilty nation by being baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.” The judgment of God was pending upon them and could well fall at any moment. Baptism was the way of being saved from that judgment. Thus, Peter testified and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (vs. 40). This salvation refers to the present salvation on earth from the governmental judgment of God. In preaching the gospel, these verses are often applied to the salvation of the soul and we do not object to this application, but this was not the intent of Peter’s words.
Along with the salvation from God’s governmental judgment, Peter preaches, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (vs. 38). This expression also refers to governmental forgiveness from the pending judgment over the guilty nation of Israel. The way to escape that judgment was to identify with the Lord Jesus by baptism. It was very important for them not to be associated with the guilty nation. Baptism was an external change of position. This external change of position in no way conflicts with or alters the need for the inward work of faith in Christ and His shed blood. Peter follows with the promise, “Ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost,” which is a proof of the completion of the salvation of the soul. These two truths go together when there is a real work of God in the soul. God alone sees this work in the soul, which is the only way of forgiveness before Him judicially. The teaching of this truth comes out later in the Acts and the epistles (Acts 2:3838Then 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); Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)).
The External Position
Is Important
The following true story illustrates the importance of our external position. During the Second World War, while the Axis forces led by Germany were occupying much of Europe, the Jews were herded together in ghettos along with gypsies and other unwanted citizens. While this was going on, one perceptive Jewish mother realized she would not be able to save her family from the awful genocide as long as it was connected with her people. In her plight, she chose the son that least resembled a Jew and took him to the door of an orphanage. She told him he must not reveal his identity as a Jew and left him there, cutting off all contact with him. Poor young Henry went into the orphanage and never saw his family again. Throughout the war he kept his identity a secret. It cost him much suffering to have no documentation. God honored the faith of that mother and preserved him until the war was over. Afterward he immigrated to Israel and became a devout Christian.
The story illustrates the significance of the outward position. Henry had to dissociate himself from his identity as a Jew. By becoming associated with the orphanage, he was saved from pending death. For the early Jewish Christians, this external change of position was necessary because of the national rejection of the Messiah. Christ, the very One they had crucified, was presented to them as a means of salvation. Their salvation from the pending judgment came through baptism. The outward position was very important. We who live in sheltered, so-called “Christian countries” do not see the apparent need of the outward change of position by baptism like those who live in non-Christian lands. Baptism is a big step in non-Christian countries. For Gentiles, the apparent need for baptism was not as important, but the privilege of being identified outwardly with the Lord Jesus is just as great. And let us not forget there is an impending judgment hanging over the world, and that baptism has its place in evangelized lands.
Faith, Salvation and Baptism
In the commission of the Lord to His disciples in Mark’s Gospel, we find these words: “He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-1615And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:15‑16)). Many have had difficulty with this last verse and thought it meant to say, “He that believes and is saved should be baptized.” But when we understand that baptism is an outward change of position, not a judicial confirmation of the soul’s salvation before God, we can accept the verse as it reads. Salvation, as it is presented in this verse, follows faith and baptism. When we see that the salvation in these verses refers to the present, outward position, then this verse is easily understood. If this is not understood, then the verse would appear to teach baptismal regeneration (new birth through baptism), which is totally foreign to Scripture. We must remember that the eternal salvation of the soul with a view to dwelling with Christ in glory could not be announced until Christ had gone there Himself. For those of us living today, the knowledge of the eternal salvation of our souls and the hope of eternity with Christ in glory may cause us to overlook the view of salvation as it is connected with baptism.
The Name of Christ
“Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:26-2726For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26‑27)). These two verses speak of both the inward salvation of the soul (life in Christ) and the outward putting on of Christ (clothed with Christ). By faith in Christ Jesus, we are born anew and become children of God, and through baptism we are identified in this world with Christ — we put on Christ. The thought in putting on Christ is being clothed with His identity. In some translations this word is used. For an example of “being clothed,” consider how we are accustomed to know a policeman by his uniform. His clothes make him known. Baptism makes us known as “Christian”; it puts His name upon us. It is important for a policeman to be easily recognizable, and so with the Christian. But mere clothing is not the only thing necessary to make a person a policeman. So faith in Christ is necessary to belong to God’s family. Both the internal faith and the external change of identity by baptism have their place of importance in their distinctive ways.
The Lord’s name was put upon the children of Israel in a similar way in Number 6:27. “They shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.” There was great blessing in having the name of Jehovah put upon them. Baptism, likewise, puts the Lord’s name upon His subjects, which is a great privilege that brings its corresponding responsibility.
Unto His Death and Burial
“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” (Rom. 6:3-43Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore 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)). Baptism is a figure of our identification with the death and burial of Christ. The baptized person is identified with Him in the waters of death. This is the act of the baptizer, but it should remind the baptized person to walk in newness of life by recognizing himself dead and buried with Him. This teaching, as all those dealing with baptism, has its application to us while here on earth as to our outward position and is the only way of freedom from sin in our practical walk. It is our present way of deliverance from sin in the flesh — salvation from the power of sin in this world.
Much more could be written regarding who should be baptized, but we purposely are not attempting to cover the whole subject. Our desire is to take up the subject in a concise way to fill a lack of ministry that has resulted from brethren not wanting to be controversial. We trust that taking it up in this way will not provoke controversy. “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. ... For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. ... For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:29-33).
D. C. Buchanan