Does baptism make a person a child of God?
The word baptize means, "to dip." It used 116 times in the New testament portion of the Bible. The Old Testament portion of the Bible does not mention baptism at all. You will find it used as a proper name, "John the Baptist," as a noun, "baptism," and in verb forms, "baptized," "baptize," and "baptizeth" (same as 'baptises,' but with third person verb ending).
A quick FACT: baptism is to dip, and every instance of baptising in the New Testament is of immersion (technically speaking, followed by emmersion). ........
John 3:23, "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized."; Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: "; Mark 1:5, "And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins."; Mark 1:9, "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan."; and Acts 8:38-39, " And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing."
........No where in the New testament does sprinkling or pouring water on people appear.
Another FACT, less quick :). People that were baptized in the New Testament were first repentant believers that had been born-again by the Spirit of God; therefore, they already had been made God's child. The Bible says, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:26) The Bible no where says that we are the children of God by baptism.
In Acts 8:27-38 we have the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. Philip the Evangelist preached Jesus Christ to this man (vss. 30-35) and after some time the Ethiopian asked, "See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Obviously, Philip, in preaching Christ to this gentleman taught him what baptism was about. Philip's response is key, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." Baptism comes after faith and conversion in and to Christ, not before. The Ethiopian professed his faith, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," and then Philip baptized him.
Faith and conversion before baptism is also seen in the following: Acts 2;41; Acts 9:1-18; Acts 10:34-38; and, Acts 19:1-5.
Baptism is a figure, a picture of reality. 1Peter 3:21-22, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." Baptism is a picture of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ--His death, burial, and resurrection. Peter is clear that baptism does not cleanse our heart, saying, "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh." The fact that baptism is an outward picture of an inward reality of the heart of a born-again soul is also spoken of in Romans 6:1-9.
Baptism is...
...for persons already born-again, as has been already shown.
...a declaration of the Gospel--the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. (See Romans 6:1-6 & Acts 19:1-5.)
...a declaration that one is repentant toward God and has exercised faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Saviour. (Mark 1:1-4, 14-15; Galatians 3:27.)
...a commitment to the new life which is now resident in the born-again person. (Romans 6:1-6; 1Peter 3:21, "the answer of a good conscience toward God."
...the required ordinance in order to be a member of one of Christ's New Testament Baptist Churches. (Acts 2:41; 1Corinthians 12:13)
No where in the Bible does it say that Baptism saves a person or adds to a person's salvation.
Please continue reading the blog to learn more about God, the Saviour, and your need of Jesus Christ.
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