Baptism

Monday:  What is the difference between submersion and sprinkling?
 
The word baptize is a transliteration of the original Greek word baptizo. In turn, baptizo comes from the root word bapto, a term used in the first century for immersing a garment first into bleach and then into dye; both cleansing and changing the color of the cloth. (note its similarity to baptisms cleansing of sin and becoming a new person through Christ.) Stated another way when you process cloth to change its color you are said to baptize it. If sprinkling of any kind was to be practiced a different Greek word would have been used.

Tuesday:  Why are some people baptized (or sprinkled) as infants?

You may ask whether infants or young children should be baptized. It may help if you understand where the idea and practice of baptizing infants came from. Around 400 AD, a man named Augustine taught that all of man was damned from birth because of Adam’s sin and would spend eternity in Hell because of it until they were made right with God, including children. This was disturbing to parents who were concerned for their children’s spiritual state. Of the steps that were required to be right with God, it was decided that the only one an infant could take part in was baptism. Since it is risky to immerse an infant, these people decided to sprinkle them with water instead in an effort to remove the original sin of Adam. Thus, both baptizing infants and baptizing by sprinkling came from human ideas, not from the Bible.

Wednesday:   Why is it important that baptism come after salvation?

The clear teaching of Scripture is that all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord should be baptized in obedience to Him. The New Testament order is always: The preaching of the gospel; faith in the gospel; then, baptism. Never once is there an example of baptism preceding faith as the norm to be followed. And there are no examples or commands concerning the baptism of the infants or yet unbelieving children of believing parents. Consider the following verses from Acts, noting the order of belief first, then baptism:

2:41: ... those who had received his word were baptized; ...

8:12: But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.

8:36-38: And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Thursday:  Should baptism be an immediate response after accepting Christ or is it better to wait and mature spiritually to fully understand the truth of what is taking place?

The Bible always placed believing in Christ for salvation and baptism together.  Acts 2:41: 3000 people were baptized after believing. vs. 38 and 39 make it clear that this is the way it will always be done; that is all people who accept Christ as their Savior will come to him in this way.

Also in Acts 8:26-39 we follow the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Vs. 26 terms it as desert and the only source of water there was an oasis. This means that the eunuch and Phillip climbed down into the people’s drinking water to baptize. Apparently, Philip and the eunuch did not think it could wait until later. You will also notice that they did not take a handful of water and sprinkle the eunuch. The Bible states that all Philip did was preach Jesus to him and then the eunuch said that he wanted to be baptized. This means that the preaching of Jesus includes preaching the need to be baptized.

Friday:  Why be baptized?

Acts 2:38 Ties repentance and baptism together.

Also Romans 6:1-7:  This shows us that the mode of baptism, which is immersion, pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. In the same way that he went through these things, we are to die to our old sinful nature and we are to be buried with him through baptism into death and raised to walk in newness of life or live like Jesus. We do not just try to be a better person; we bury the old person in the water and become a new person through our acceptance of Christ. It's just like a new birth and a new beginning for us.