Baptism in Water
February 9th 2010
And I’m Shawn McCraney, your host.
Alright, listen up. I think this is a VERY important event. Out there in the fray of the Mormon/Christian dialogue is a very adept and capable man. His name is John Dehlin. Amidst a rather amazing list of academic accomplishments and experiences, John does some of the best work out there in exploring Mormonism – from within and from without. He is kind, fair, but not afraid of facts nor the balancing of facts with spiritual reason. Oh, and John Dehlin is LDS.
Now, this Thursday evening, John has asked to interview me. I consider it an honor because where most faithful LDS just want to hate me, John seeks to hear me first (he might hate me later – wink). John is accepting questions and has opened one of his websites to receive them: www.mormonstories.org. Got that? www.mormonstories.org. If there is something you would like to confront me with, question me about, or ask, go to www.mormonstories.org and submit it to John. I will let you all know in the future about the interview and how you can observe or listen to it.
And with this, let’s have a prayer.
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER
Examining Water Baptism
Well, tonight we enter into the “B’s” of our year of Bible topics in Mormonism, and our first B subject? Baptism in water. It’s actually one of the more difficult topics we will discuss this year because what the Bible says has been very misunderstood by many people of many denominations and it takes an in-depth study of the Word to get to the heart of it all. Because many Christian denominations differ on the matter the Christian/Mormon debate is further complicated.
Generally speaking, there are two main views regarding water baptism in the vast arena of doctrinal opinions. The first? A person must be baptized to enter heaven. The second state it is not essential to salvation. Where The Anglicans, Apostolic Brethren, Christadelphians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Oneness Pentecostals, Revivalists, Roman Catholics, and a number of other faiths join the LDS belief that it is required for salvation, Baptists, Disciples of Christ, Anabaptists, Lutherans, Methodists, Wesleyans, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Seventh-day Adventists, and the broad category of non-denominational born-again Christians say it is not.
One thing is certain – it is ignorant for anyone to take a single verse from the Bible to prove their pet position. Controversial as it may be, let me share my personal take on the debate before we examine the biblical perspective: If someone thinks getting water baptized is a requirement to getting into heaven, they better do it. And if someone claims to want to follow the setup of the early Christian church they would want to embrace it joyfully. But . . . if someone misses the opportunity to be water baptized in this life it is irrelevant to their standing with God in the hereafter.
Understanding John the Baptist
Now . . . What does water baptism mean to the Christian? Is it necessary for salvation? Why was Jesus baptized? I want to try and plainly lay out the biblical view of water baptism. Taken exegetically and contextually, the purpose and meaning of water baptism is quite clear once all things are considered. So let’s start by talking about John “Le Baptiste! What was that guy up to? A number of things.
First, John the Baptist was sent to prepare a way for the House of Israel to meet its King. In Malachi 3:1 God said:
“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me.”
And he came calling the Kingdom of Israel to repent and to prepare themselves to accept their King. His was a “Baptism of Repentance” and he was preparing the Jews of Israel to repent for their failure under the system of the Law and to receive their King with their hearts and minds. And what method did John the Baptist use to prepare them? Water baptism! Why water baptism?
Remember who he was dealing with – the Jews. A group of people who had a thousand years of washings, Mikvahs, and cleansings which were primary in their rituals and rites of symbolic cleansing.
Symbolic cleansing of what? SIN! Symbolic of the cleansing of sin by the washing of the Holy Spirit.
Ezekiel 36:25-27 says
"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart
The Significance of Baptism
of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.
All the water and washings were emblematic of the washing away of sin by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit, which does the cleansing, was not given by John, but by Jesus. Remember what John said to the Jews? “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”
This was the whole event John was preparing the Kingdom of Israel for – the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to be born-again, and this came by Jesus. Now these cleansing rituals of water the nation of Israel were so familiar with were especially binding on their priests. You see, at first, way before the Law of Moses was given, every man was his own priest, and presented his own sacrifices before God.
Priesthood and Cleansing Rituals
Later on the office of priest devolved onto the head of the family, as in the cases of Noah (Genesis 8:20), Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:4), Isaac (Genesis 26:25), Jacob (Genesis 31:54), and Job (Job 1:5). Then, with the Law of Moses given, God designated only men from the tribe of Levi to be His priests, specifically only those who came through Levi’s son, Aaron. But in the end, all of these priesthood appellations were only temporarily in place and looked to the time when the true high priest would come, who was cleansed by righteousness and not water, and, shedding His own perfect blood instead of the blood of animals, entered into God’s presence once and for all with His eternal offering.
So when John the Baptist began his prophetic mission “to prepare the way for Jesus,” he was calling all of Israel to repent and prepare themselves for the King’s coming and there was no more symbolic method to prepare these people than an act that tied to the water and washing rites of purification. Add to the fact that when a gentile converted to being a Jew they too were immersed in water and we have a solid picture of John’s baptism unto repentance and why he did it. Now understand, this specific water baptism that John performed has nothing to do with us who have faith in Jesus and have become the recipients of His Grace. It was a completely different baptism and had a completely different purpose than baptism has for us.
Different Types of Baptism
The Bible speaks of all sorts of baptisms. Some are wet, some are dry, some are moist. There are baptisms of spirit, baptisms unto suffering, baptisms of trials. So why was Jesus baptized by John the Baptist? Mormonism makes it seem like Jesus was baptized to show the world that they had to be baptized too – as a means to be righteous and to join a church.” This is such a simplistic manipulation of the event! Remember, John's baptism was NOT a Christian baptism. Nor were the water baptisms Jesus disciples did while He was alive Christian baptisms! Those were “baptisms unto repentance” for the House of Israel.
Listen closely. There was no “Christianity” when Jesus was alive – no body of Christ was established – His body was still here on earth! There was no Christian baptism until after the death, resurrection, and ascension as the New Testament economy did not even exist until then. John’s baptism bound its subjects to repentance relative to the Law and the Messiah, and not to the faith of Christ and being buried with Him. To support this, remember that John’s baptism was not administered in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit – it was a water baptism unto repentance, AND (and this IS very IMPORTANT) – those whom John baptized were re-baptized by Paul later on! (see Acts 18:24; 19:7 for support of this). Are you starting to get the biblical picture of the baptism John the Baptist performed and how that the purposes behind it are not tied to why we are baptized today?
(BEAT)
Now there are a number of very important reasons why Jesus was baptized but obviously, it was not for a remission of sin or an act of repentance. Let me ask you a question, “What was the initiatory ordinance of the Mosaic dispensation?” The old snippy snippy – circumcision. (Ouch.) And just as Christ was
Understanding the Purpose of Jesus' Baptism
Submitted to circumcision, which was the initiatory ordinance of the Mosaic dispensation, it was necessary that he should submit to the initiatory ordinance of the dispensation of Grace and Truth – water baptism!
"Christ was circumcised, and observed all the other ordinances of the law of Moses, but not with a view to his own justification; but to fulfil the dispensation committed to him by God."
Sometimes, when people ask, “Why was Jesus baptized?” I ask, “Why was He circumcised? Was circumcision mandatory to salvation for the Jews or to Jesus?”
No.
“So then was baptism mandatory to Jesus of Christians today.”
No.
The Role of Circumcision and Baptism in Identity
Circumcision is best understood as an ordinance of “identity” which in and of itself had no power or ability to actually make a person part of the house of Israel. A pagan could go out and circumcise himself and it would make him pleasing to God – it was the heart and faith. In the Christian economy the rite of water baptism ought to be seen in the same light – as a means to identify ourselves as His . . . as Christians.
The problem is organized religions have taken the beauty and power of baptism and applied and used it to its own benefit, NOT to the benefit of the believer and his or her life of faith. They act as if baptism actually cleanses sin. Or that it makes a person a member of the Body of Christ. And through this perfunctory approach to it, it is stripped of its pure purpose. I mean, the LDS baptize children when they are eight years of age and make the intended purpose of it perfunctory. Now, Jesus was also baptized for other necessary and important reasons.
Jesus as the Final High Priest
The Book of Hebrews tells us plainly that Jesus is our final and last high priest, and will be this high priest for us forever and ever. And as every high priest was initiated into his office by washing and anointing, so was Christ – by being baptized (washed) and anointed . . . (by the Holy Spirit) that descended upon Him in the form of a dove.
By this, He fulfilled the righteous ordinance of his initiation into the office of high priest, and thus was prepared to make a full and final atonement once and for all for the sins of mankind. It was in this respect that Jesus “fulfilled all righteousness” by being baptized or washed by water.
In another respect, Jesus was baptized by water as a means to fulfill prophecy. Jesus not only let John the Baptist baptize Him to put an end to the Mosaic dispensation and to initiate the beginning of the Christian dispensation of Grace, He at the same time affirmed the purpose of John the Baptist’s ministry as it was prophetically recorded in Malachi. Remember what it said?
(Malachi 3:1) Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:
And then in the Gospel of John we read the fulfillment of the Malachi reference when John the Beloved tells us the story of Jesus and John the Baptist meeting.
Listen
John 1:29 ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
When John baptized the Lord, God, or the one “who sent John out to baptize,” had told Him that “when you see the spirit “descending and remaining on a certain man,” that is the one who will baptize with the Holy Ghost.” In other words, God told John the Baptist to look for the sign of the Holy Ghost descending upon a person and when he saw it he would have a sign and know who the Messiah was.
The Messiah's Role
And what would that Messiah do? Baptize with the Holy Spirit – which
Water Baptism in Christian and LDS Perspectives
is what spiritual rebirth is, and which is what we have to experience if we ever want to see the Kingdom of Heaven. Bottom-line, Jesus being baptized has nothing to do with it being mandatory for YOUR salvation, as the LDS attempt to imply. In Mormonism, baptism is not only requisite to enter the celestial kingdom, it is tantamount to being born-again. I am not going to cover this aspect of the LDS view of baptism because I will cover that when we discuss being Born-again in a few weeks.
Nevertheless, to the LDS, official water baptism, which can ONLY come by the LDS priesthood holder, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost – which can also only come through the hands of an LDS priesthood holder – are what being born-again means to a Mormon. So then, what of water baptism in the Christian dispensation?
Understanding Baptism Terminology
The words "baptize" and "baptism" are simply Greek words transferred into English. This was done by the translators of the Scriptures and no literal translation can really express all that is implied in the Greek terms. The mode of baptism – you know, dipping, sprinkling, immersing – can in no way be determined from the Greek word rendered "baptize." Baptidzo means both to dip a thing into an element or liquid, and to put an element or liquid over or on it. It was an industrial term for dyeing a fabric – which truly relates to the important overall concept of “identification.” The word has a wide latitude of meaning as it is applied even in the Septuagint to “sprinklings, washings, pourings, and dippings.”
In the New Testament there is not one single well-authenticated instance of the occurrence of the word where it necessarily means immersion, and none of the instances of baptism recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Ac 2:38-41; 8:26-39; 9:17,18; 22:12-16; 10:44-48; 16:32-34) favors the notion that it was by dipping, immersing, though it seems immersion was most probable. Remember, the gospel and its elements are designed for all people over the whole world, and we cannot become so dogmatic or religiously institutionalized as to believe there is only one way to administer something that is symbolic in the first place. A person who loves Jesus in the Arctic or the Sudan will seek identification in whatever way is available – and God honors their faithful attempt. Mormonism would have you believe otherwise. Because it wants to come between you and God.
Symbolism in Baptism and Communion
Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two symbolic ordinances of the New Testament which serve to remind and identify us with Him. The Supper represents the work of Christ, and Baptism the work of the Spirit. We take communion because we believe and have been saved by His blood, not to believe and be saved by His blood. We are baptized because we believe and have been saved by His blood, not to believe and be saved by His blood.
To the Christian, water baptism is an outward, public pronouncement of an inward faith, symbolic that we are willing to be buried with Christ (thus turning our back on the former things of our life and being raised with Him unto a new life. It is the public profession of our faith. Perhaps one of the best verses that illustrate this order of saving faith before the public profession of water baptism is found in the second chapter of Acts. Ironically, it is also a verse that makes the subject of baptism so controversial. Peter stands up before a crowd of Jews on the Day of Pentecost. They believe his message surrounding Christ, and Peter cries:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . . . Now, these Jews who came from all over believed. As a result of their faith Peter says, “Now change your minds on all you have carried with you regarding the Messiah, and be baptized for the remission of sins . . .
Understanding Acts 2:38
The key to a proper understanding of this verse is the Greek. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the remission of sins . . .” In the Greek, “for” is “eis,” a preposition that can indicate causality (like “in order to get something”) OR as a resultant preposition (as in “the result of or because of” something). So let’s read this verse in the causal preposition sense. “Repent and be baptized every one or you in the name of Jesus Christ IN ORDER
Understanding Baptism and Its Role
TO GET the remission of sins . . .
Now let’s read it with the preposition being resultant.
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ BECAUSE YOU HAVE RECEIVED the remission of sins . . .”
Guess what?
In Acts 2:38 the preposition sense is RESULTANT! And it clearly states that we embrace water baptism BECAUSE we have received the remission of sin! Praise God?
Baptism is not some act we take to get us into heaven. It is a sacrament like taking communion, which serves as a gift from God to Man. Religions want you to believe you must have their respective baptism and you must take their communion to enter heaven. Not so. You must believe on Him whom God sent to save us from sin. Baptisms follow them that believe.
I love the Lord’s gift of baptism. And I think it is certainly a command of God for every Christian in a place to undertake it. With it comes a power and a peace that is other worldly, one I never expected prior to my own public descent unto His death. I challenge all Latter-day Saints, if they really love Jesus, to get baptized as a public profession of faith and a willingness to follow Jesus and Jesus alone! NOT A CHURCH. What have you to fear? Certainly not the Lord. He will delight in your coming to Him in this way.
The Way of Faith
And let me tell you, you’ll experience Him in ways that defy R-E-L-I-G-I-O-N.
John 14:6 No man comes to the Father but by Jesus. (not by baptism – but by Jesus)
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (nothing about baptism there)
John 3:14-15 … that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (again, no baptism but just belief).
Community Interaction
Let’s open up the phone lines –
(801) 973-8820
(801) 973-TV20
While the operators clear your calls, please take a minute and view some spots.
Thanks so much – and stay with us – as we’ll be back to take your calls.
Conclusion
Remember, go to mormonstories.org to submit your questions for my interview with John Dehlin.
Troy
12 apostles names are on the wall of the new city. Matthias replaced Judas. So it is not Paul's name as one of the twelve.
Various verses explain there are other apostles besides the 12 apostles, so how do you resolve this contradiction in your beliefs?
Tammy
I watched your show today and I was really disappointed. I don't know what it was that made you leave the LDS church and become so bitter towards it, that you belittle it on TV, but obviously you didn't ever have a strong enough testimony. Your show gave me a yucky, black feeling inside. I don't stand on a soapbox and belittle other faiths to anyone within ear shot and neither should you! What bothered me most about your show was the ending, when you showed the faces on the box of candy and stated the Mormons feel this way (happy to mad) when you belittle their gospel. Of course we get upset, you would too if someone bashed what you believe! If you truly want to help people, stop trashing the LDS gospel and start talking more about how they should believe in Christ. TRUE Christianity is about love, respect, and positive service to others. And to anyone who has a question about the LDS church, ask someone who is an active member in the church, not someone who no longer lives the LDS gospel and is bitter toward it! I highly doubt you will read ALL of this email on air, but I dare you too!
