Baptism in the New Testament (1)

The other day on the Facebook page Friends of the Restoration, there was a post concerning Alexander Campbell on the topic of baptism / rebaptism, something to which I want to give attention. Before I do, however, I want to briefly consider the purpose of baptism in the New Testament.

First, there is the baptism of repentance preached by John. I indeed baptize you in 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 in the Holy Spirit and in fire (Matthew 3:11, ASV). What is the baptism John preached? The word unto in this passage means with a view to or, in other words, baptism with a view to (toward) repentance. John called upon the community to change their way of thinking and living, looking forward to the One he proclaimed, for with Him, He brings the kingdom of God.

Second, there is the baptism unto remission of sins Peter preached in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost. The word unto is a significant word here also. Years ago Mac Layton produced a track “What Does Acts 2:38 Mean?” wherein he gave us 37 renderings of the verse in languages such as Syriac, French, Indian, English, German, Spanish, etc. How did the verse read in all these translations? Not once did it ever read, And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ because your sins have already been forgiven.” The English word for has been manipulated by many to mean because, something the New Testament does not (never did) teach. The ESV reads this way, “And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If the English word for meant because then one can be certain an English translation would have so rendered it – but not one did (in so far as I am aware).

This is not an unimportant point of emphasis! There are some denominations that teach one is baptized because their sins have already been forgiven, refusing to see that the wording of Acts 2:38 corresponds exactly as the words of our Lord in Matthew 26:28. Notice: …for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (ESV, emphasis added, RT).  If it means because one’s sins have already been forgiven in Acts 2:38, then it means the same in Matthew 26:28.

If people would just read and obey the Lord’s will as He expressed Himself on the topic and in the way He said we are to do it, there would be no questions concerning what He meant. As it is, because of a theological position to maintain, people miss the simple teachings of the New Testament. 

-Ron Thomas

Preacher, Rio Grande Church of Christ (etsop95@gmail.com)