January 5 - True Baptism—Christ Immersed - Devotional

GracetoYou.org ^ | 2008 | John MacArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16).

Christians, especially new believers, sometimes wonder what mode of baptism Jesus underwent, and therefore wonder which is correct for them to experience. Since genuine baptism represents cleansing from sin and symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, the ordinance must involve immersion, not merely sprinkling or pouring.

The Greek word (baptizo) literally means to dip or submerge an object into water or another liquid. Confusion regarding the word’s meaning resulted largely because Latin and more modern-language translations of Scripture simply transliterated many occurrences of the Greek word.

Until the Middle Ages, the Christian church knew and officially practiced no form of baptism but immersion. Then the Roman Catholic Church formally introduced and sanctioned baptism by sprinkling or pouring. Prior to that, even the great Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote, “In immersion the setting forth of the burial of Christ is more plainly expressed, in which this manner of baptizing is more commendable.”

That Jesus “came up immediately from the water” indicates He had been completely in the water—in other words, almost surely immersed. John baptized people in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:6) and at other places where “there was much water” (John 3:23). That would not make sense if he had baptized only by pouring or sprinkling (cf. Acts 8:38–39). Unlike immersion, those other modes just do not fully symbolize dying to sin and being raised to new life.

Ask Yourself

Baptism is a one-time exercise in obedience, but the reality of being crucified with Christ and raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) is an ongoing experience. How do you remind yourself of this on your average day? Pray that the gift of God’s grace never loses its wonder.

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[Kevmo]

I have heard this canard several times but I don’t know how to affirm it:

When the King James transcribers came across the phrases where it describes baptism, they looked at the Greek meaning of the word. Baptismo means ‘immersion’.

1) The meaning of the word baptizo in Greek is essentially “dip” or “immerse,” not sprinkle,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immersion_baptism

But at the time, the church practiced ‘sprinkling’ so they chose to keep the original greek word rather than translate it and upset the religious apple cart.

[metmom]

I figure since baptism is an outward physical sign of being buried with Christ, and we are baptized into Him, we don’t just get sprinkled or poured on by Jesus for the cleansing of our sins.

When someone dies, you don’t bury just part of them and leave the rest exposed.

I cannot fathom why the idea of full immersion baptism irks some so much.

[MurphsLaw]

"The Greek word (baptizo) literally means to dip or submerge an object into water or another liquid.

Your man would not be wise to push the Baptizo angle too hard here, because that word is found elsewhere in divine scripture, and inconceivably, alone, does not always mean what he may want it to mean...

And if we're gonna go by the book - than no Baptism should be valid outside being done in the Jordan river as well. Authenticity should know, no shortcuts.

And Peter's 3000 repentees baptism deal more than likely could not have been possible- or very hygienic - on that day
Holy Mikveh !

just sayin...

[MurphsLaw]

Then Philip did it wrong when asked, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

By George, you got it !

[Elsie]

If you wish to debate baptism or religion, you could start your own thread on the topic.

True, we could, but this one is here already.

Besides, he said some very specific things about baptism:

Baptism is a one-time exercise in obedience, but the reality of being crucified with Christ and raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) is an ongoing experience.