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A Study on Baptism |
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A Study on Baptism |
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?A discussion the controversial versus Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen We have here a command of Christ that we should make disciples of all nations, and be instrumental in disciplining them. Baptism was simply a means of initiation as a disciple. If we read the verse carefully we notice that the order make disciples is explains as baptizing. You make disciples by baptizing people. They are not two separate acts. John baptized and made his disciples. Jesus and his apostles baptized and made disciples for Jesus. So when we go into nations, we make them disciples by baptizing. It is in no indicative of any knowledge that these people have attained. That comes as a disciple grow in the community. Again this command was to those who were going out into the nations and not to the church. You are not ordered to baptize people who are in the church already or those who believe already. It is particularly relevant to the mission fields where the gospel has not reached. One observations that people like us who have been immersed in other cultures was the need for mass baptism including the total households so that they will survive. Stray and rebels of communities who were baptized did more harm to the missions than good. Such individuals made good house servants to the missionaries and not more than that. There is still another problem associated with the passage which is the uncertainity of what baptism is referred to here. It is mostly assumed that water baptism is meant. However the passage does not indicate it. On the other hand what is speciifc here is not "baptism in" water but " baptism in the name of the Father , Son and the Holy Spirit". Great Gurus take disciples into their Gurukulas. They are then known as the children or pupils (chela) of the Guru. The verse inidcates just that. The Baptism here is not for a mode of rritual, but into a community of Christians. Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned." The most supportive passage indicating that baptism is part of salvation is this verse. Before we start discussing the verse, it should be noted here that this particular section of Mark is not found in many of the older manuscripts. It is usually considered as a redaction by bible scholars. A redaction is something which some scribe wrote at the margin of the text as his own study note which later was included within the text. Using such a controversial passage as a support for establishing a doctrine is a questionable act. The argument here seems to be: Believe + Baptized = Saved
While the first clause says that all who both believe and are baptized will be saved, it does not say that all who neither believe nor are baptized will not be saved. In other words, the clause does not exclude any group, while it does tell of a group of people who will be saved, namely, those who both believe and are baptized. But the second clause negates one group: those who do not believe will not be saved. There is no negation of the group of those who believe but are not baptized. Those who believe and are not baptized are not condemned in any way. Thus, while the verse as a whole does teach that belief is essential to salvation, it does not teach that baptism is. Luke 7:30
"him" in this verse refers to John the Baptist. . Acts 18:24-19:7 clearly indicates that John's baptism was not sufficient because it was only a baptism of repentance. To reject John’s baptism, therefore, was to reject John’s testimony. John’s testimony was that Jesus was the Savior (John 1:6-7) Jesus pointed this out clearly when he was questioned by the Pharisees by asking them in return "John’s Baptism. From whence was it? From heaven or from the earth.?’
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. This interview with Nicodemus took place before the public ministry of Jesus.Jesus told Nic that unless a man is born again he cannot be saved. The response of Nic was, how can he go back to his mother’s womb. Now notice that Jesus says: Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Jesus evidently mentions two births.- Born of water, Born of Spirit. These are two distinct births. Both are necessary to enter into the kingdom of God. Then in traditional style the same idea is repeated to explain the two births, Born of flesh and Born of the Spirit. Then he emphasizes, you must be born again. Every man is born of water, i.e. born of flesh. He must be born again in the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. Being born from the watery womb makes a person fleshly person – a child of Adam – a living soul. Being born of the Spirit makes a man - a living soul- into a child of the second Adam – spiritual person 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. The Rabbianic tradition and teaching supports this contention. Nicodemos as a teacher of the Jews – as a Rabbi – certainly knew of this "being born of water" as birth from the watery womb as his reply clearly indicates. So when Jesus refers to Pneuma (fluid – as the Greek word for Spirit implies) he assumes it as a second birth from the mother’s womb. Jesus could not have been referring to Christian baptism because it was not instituted yet. Jesus began to baptize in the traditional manner of John of repentance soon after, delivering the same message of impending Kingdom of God. This was not the Christian baptism of salvation, because Jesus was not crucified, nor did he ascend to heaven and the Holy Spirit was not given to those who were baptized by the disciples of Jesus. Apostles themselves did not receive the Holy Spirit until they were sent on the mission and that only for the period. How could Jesus expect anyone to understand him if he was referring to something which was to come a full three years later. If "born of water" meant water baptism, then verse 5 would contradict verse 6. Verse 6 requires being "born of the Spirit," as the only condition for salvation. Whereas verse 5 would require both being baptized in water and being born of the Spirit for salvation. In any argument you can increase the condition, but if we decrease the condition only the latter is valid. There are people who would like to consider as being "born of water" as a figurative way of saying "born of the Spirit," then verse 5 does not contradict verse 6. Spirit is often compared to water in the scripture. There is good reason to believe that "born of water" could be simply a figurative way of saying, "born of the Spirit." The word "water" in connection with salvation, the covenant, regeneration, rebirth, is often used in Scripture as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself used water this way when He said:
Various views are given to explain
Jesus’ words about being born of water and the
Spirit: |
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