1. Is Baptism By Immersion Necessary? (John 3:1-5)

2. Why This Question? Calvinism Calvinism –The salvation of the elect only –Given “enabling grace” Consequences Consequences –Rejection of any human effort like baptism –They believe any such effort nullifies grace –Failure to distinguish between works of men and works of God (James 2:24)

3. Which Baptism Is For Today? Several baptisms in the Bible Several baptisms in the Bible –Baptism of John the Baptist (Mark 1:4-8; 3:6) –Baptism of fire, or judgment (Matthew 3:11) –Baptism of suffering (Mark 10:35-40) –Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 5; 2:4; 10:44-48; 11:15, 16) –Water baptism (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2;38) –Baptism unto Moses (1 Corinthians 10:1, 2)

4. Which Baptism Is For Today? Which one is for us today? Which one is for us today? –There is only one (Ephesians 4:5) –John’s baptism became invalid (Acts 19:1-5) –The baptism received by the apostles and Cornelius was not commanded. –Only the baptism of the Great Commission remained after the death of the apostles.

5. What Is The Form of Baptism? There was no disagreement for centuries There was no disagreement for centuries

6. History of Sprinkling “For several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, baptism was usually conferred by immersion; but since the twelfth century, the practice of baptizing by infusion has prevailed in the Catholic Church, as this manner is attended with less inconvenience than Baptism by immersion. (Cardinal Gibbons, Faith of Our Fathers, p. 38)

7. History of Sprinkling “Change leads to change. Immersion was the only mode of baptism in the Apostolic Church. No other would have been understood. But when baptism no longer immediately followed conversion, when it was frequently deferred till death was near, immersion in such a case was impossible. When infant baptism became common the necessity for some relaxation of the rule became still more pressing. You could not take a dying man from his bed, nor a sickly child from its mother's lap and plunge it in cold water.

8. History of Sprinkling Already in the second century there are indications of some yielding to circumstances. In the passage in the "Teaching of the Twelve Apostles," which I previously quoted, we are told that where cold water could not be used, warm might; and that where a bath could not be resorted to it was enough to pour water three times on the head. Here was the first beginning of what were afterwards called clinical baptisms, baptisms accommodated to the babe of a day old, to the sick and the dying.

9. History of Sprinkling When Christianity pushed its way northward among barbarians living amid dark forests and by frozen rivers, averse to being plunged in the icy stream, the accommodating missionaries of the new faith insisted only on such a baptism as had hitherto been reserved for cradles and deathbeds. Sprinkling instead of immersion became common in cold latitudes, but by no means universal.” (John Cunningham, The Growth of The Church, pp. 190, 191)

10. What Is The Form of Baptism? There was no disagreement for centuries There was no disagreement for centuries –The doctrine of “original sin” led to infant baptism –Thomas Aquinas (13 th Century) declared pouring and immersion to be acceptable –Eastern Orthodox still practices immersion –Exceptions made for the sick and elderly

11. What Is The Form of Baptism? Anything less than immersion is wrong Anything less than immersion is wrong –“Baptism” is a transliteration, not a translation –The Greek word is “baptizo”, and it means to dip, plunge, immerse, or submerge –A proper translation would be “immerse” (AV) –John needed “much water” (John 3:23) –Phillip and the eunuch both went “into the water” (Acts 8:38) –Baptism is a burial (Romans 6:3, 4; Colossians 2:12)

12. Is It Necessary For Salvation? Jesus said one “MUST” be born again Jesus said one “MUST” be born again –Born of water and Spirit (John 3:3, 5) –Some argue for the correct form of baptism but conclude it isn’t necessary

13. G.R. Beasley-Murray "Had an early Christian teacher handed on in writing a systematic treatment of this subject, which alas none ever did, it is conceivable that he could have included in his discussion all six aspects we have considered, viz. baptism and grace, faith, the Spirit, the Church, the good life, and hope. But I cannot think it would have entered his head to round it off with a section entitled, 'The necessity of baptism,' Who would have wished to raise the question?

14. G.R. Beasley-Murray It would have sounded as strange to a first generation Christian as many other queries characteristic of our time such as, 'Is it necessary to pray? Is corporate worship necessary? Is preaching necessary? Is the Lord's Supper necessary? Is the Bible necessary?' Such matters are self-evident, for they belong to the very structure of the Christian life.“ (Baptism in The New Testament, p. 297)

15. Is It Necessary For Salvation? Jesus said one “MUST” be born again Jesus said one “MUST” be born again –Born of water and Spirit (John 3:3, 5) –Some argue for the correct form of baptism but conclude it isn’t necessary –Begotten by the Word and brought forth by water (1 Peter 1:22-25)

16. Is It Necessary For Salvation? Other reasons Other reasons –The apostles placed baptism before salvation as did Jesus (Matthew 26:28; Acts 2:38) –Paul was in sin until baptism (Acts 22:16) –We get into Christ by baptism (Galatians 3:27) –Peter said baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:21)