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| WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF
BAPTISM? |
#111
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After studying the Bible for some time, earnestly desiring
to obey God’s will, a young woman approached a preacher in her
town and asked if he would assist her in being baptized. “Why
would you want to do that?” he asked. She said, “The Bible
teaches that we should.” He told her that it was not important
... that it was for children ... but was not necessary for her.
He said it would be a lot of trouble and that he really didn’t
want to do it. Desiring to please God rather than men, she left
that place, found someone who would help her, and she was
baptized!
It is hard to believe that baptism is unimportant when the
Bible says that it is for the forgiveness of sins and that it
saves us! Yes ... that is what it says. In Acts 2:37, convicted
sinners asked the question, “What shall we do?” To which the
apostle Peter replied, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” When Peter
gave that response, he was only following the command of Jesus.
Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus commanded His apostles
to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation”. Then Jesus said, “He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be
condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). It seems likely that Jesus would
have known the purpose of baptism. I would hate to say it is not
important when Jesus commanded to do it in order to be saved!
Later in his life, the apostle Peter wrote a general letter
to the church. He had not changed his mind about the purpose of
baptism since the Acts 2:38 incident. He wrote, “And
corresponding to that, baptism now saves you -- not the
removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good
conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter
3:21). Peter was not deluded with some “water salvation
theology.” He fully recognized the importance of the death,
burial and resurrection of Jesus to salvation. But he said that
baptism was the point at which we make an “appeal” to God
to make our consciences clean. The word translated “appeal” in
the NASB is the Greek word “eperotaw” which means “to
ask, require, request, or seek after.” Baptism is the point at
which we are requesting a clean conscience. We can only enjoy a
“clean conscience” if our sins are forgiven. Thus, baptism is
the appeal for forgiveness.
In Acts 22:16, we find another example of baptism being
referred to as an appeal to God. A man named Saul of Tarsus is
grieving over his sins, being full of faith in Christ. A
disciple of Christ named Ananias comes to Saul and tells him
what to do. He said, “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be
baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.”
Ananias did not consider Saul’s faith to be sufficient for
salvation, for his sins still needed to be “washed away”. It
seems that Peter and Ananias agreed concerning the purpose of
baptism. Not only did Ananias say that baptism is the point at
which sins are removed, but he also agrees that baptism is the
point at which we are “calling on His name.”
Saul of Tarsus was later called “The Apostle Paul.” He
wrote a letter to the church at Rome in which he said, “Whoever
will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans
10:13). What do you think Paul meant by that statement? Do you
think he had in mind some other means of salvation than what his
colleague, the apostle Peter, taught? Or was he now teaching
some other means of salvation than the disciple who had
instructed him?
As we shall see in the next study, the apostle Paul
knew exactly what the purpose was for baptism and he had a lot
to say about it.
| Bible
Probe |
WHAT IS THE
PURPOSE OF BAPTISM? |
111
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1. In Acts 2:38, the apostle Peter said that baptism was for
what purpose?
2. In Mark 16:16, the Lord Jesus Christ said that belief and
baptism would result in what?
3. From I Peter 3:21, complete the words of this quotation:
“...baptism now _______ _____.”
4. When a person is baptized, that person is “appealing” to God
for what? (I Peter 3:21)
5. What does the “appeal” of I Peter 3:21 have in common with
the “call” of Acts 22:16?
6. Saul was told that baptism would do what for him? (Acts
22:16)
7. Did Saul have “FAITH” in Christ when he was told to wash away
his sins?
What conclusion might you draw from this?
8. Do you think Romans 10:13 is teaching a different means of
salvation than I Peter 3:21 and Acts 22:16?
9. How would you explain the purpose of baptism?
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Your Bible questions answered here.