WHAT IS BAPTISM?

Romans 6:4

Many object to our insistence on immersion. They suggest that baptism may be performed by sprinkling a few drops of water on the face, or pouring some water on the head. But Paul states the case plainly - "We are buried with Christ by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." Baptism is a burial.

1. Baptism must be a burial, because IN ITS ORIGIN AND PRACTICE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT WAS DONE BY IMMERSION.

Immersion is not a mode of baptism. It is baptism. That is what the word means. Without immersion there is no baptism. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament. It began with the coming of the gospel age, and will continue until Christ comes. And in the New Testament, baptism was always performed by immersion: There is neither precept nor example of any other "mode of baptism". Sprinkling and effusion (pouring) are merely remnants of popery in protestant churches.

2. Baptism must be a burial, because IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL.

We were "Buried with Christ in baptism, wherein also ye are risen, with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised us from the dead" (Col. 2:12). By baptism we preach the gospel of substitution. We are buried with Christ in baptism to show, in a public manner, our faith in his substitutionary work. In baptism we publicly acknowledge our faith in the fact that we are dead with Christ. When he died, I died in him. And a dead man must be buried. But we also arose with him in the resurrection of life. Therefore we come up out of the watery grave.

3. Baptism must be a burial, because IT IS A PUBLIC PROFESSION OF OUR SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION IN CHRIST.

It is not just a symbol of the life of the Spirit. It is the symbol of a new, resurrection life. It is the outward symbol of an inward reality. At my baptism, I set up a marker over the grave of Don Fortner for all the world to read - "He is dead, and his life is hid with Christ in God." In our baptism we profess that we are dead to the world, dead to the law, dead to sin, dead to self, and alive in Christ. Are you dead with Christ, and raised with him to the newness of life? Then publicly confess it by the Burial of Baptism. Be not ashamed of the gospel.