The Gospel of Baptism

The Purpose of Water Baptism

If Spirit baptism is the most important baptism, why was water baptism continued? Before Pentecost, it appears that water baptism was an open statement of response to the message being preached (repentance). After Pentecost, it is a statement of belief in Jesus as Savior. But if men can be baptized with the Spirit without water baptism, what is the purpose of water baptism?

From scripture, I think we can say that water baptism today is for the following three reasons:

First, it was commanded by Jesus. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). The baptism here is obviously water baptism, because men cannot baptize with the Holy Spirit. If we had no other reason to baptize in water, this would be enough. There is no indication in scripture (either by teaching or example) that this direction from the Lord was changed.

Secondly, as we have seen from many accounts in the book of Acts, water baptism is God's chosen way for a believer to declare their faith in Christ as Savior. It is an open act, before God and men, of faith in the heart. God could have chosen some other way, such as signing a confession or some other act. But from the teaching and accounts we have, we see that this is God's chosen way for a person to declare their decision to turn their back on the world and follow Jesus.

Thirdly, it is very symbolic of what God does in reality. It symbolizes death and resurrection with Christ. It also symbolizes submersion into God in the Spirit. Water is used throughout scripture as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Submitting one's life into the hands of another symbolizes a release of control and complete trust in another to raise us from the waters of death. It also symbolizes a washing that God does within. It has value if it is done in faith with a clear conscience before God.

The act of baptism itself is only a symbol, similar to the cup and bread of the Lord's table. Apart from moving in faith before God, the actual act of water baptism accomplishes nothing. No outward act can do what can only be done by God as we respond to His word in faith. We partake of the elements of the Lord's table as an outward testimony of what we are doing inwardly before God. Water baptism has the same value. It is an outward testimony of an inward reality.

There is a statement by Peter concerning baptism that I think helps to clarify what we are saying. "There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:21-22). An "antitype" is the reality which the "type" represents. So to put this in other words, we could read this scripture as: "There is a real baptism that saves us, not water baptism, but a clearing of our conscience before God, based on what Jesus obtained for us through His resurrection." What is the real baptism? It is a baptism into union with God in the Spirit. It is in this way that we experience the life of God by which we are saved. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Romans 5:10).

Water baptism as a testimony of our faith in Christ has benefits to us and to God. I see it as an evidence of faith in Jesus that is expressed by an act of our will (i.e., faith revealed by works). It is also an open testimony of faith before others that has value in God's eyes. As already mentioned, it symbolizes what takes place in the spirit when we experience spiritual baptism. It may have other benefits, but these are the main ones that I see.

Next: Our Baptism into His Baptism