Why Were You Baptized?

Prepared by Chris Reeves * Centralia church of Christ Gospel Meeting * October 26, 2015

Have you been scripturally baptized? Many will answer “Yes” without giving careful consideration to what the Bible teaches about baptism

Others will give a candid response concerning their conversion and then try to change it after hearing the truth

More and more Churches of Christ are accepting members with denominational baptism in order to build their attendance

Some brethren are teaching that it is not necessary for one to understand the purpose of baptism in order for his baptism to be valid

The purpose and intent of something does make a difference; it is important; purpose matters!

We give consideration to purpose and intent with regard to killing: murder (1st and 2nd degree), manslaughter (accidental), and justifiable homicide (self-defense)

Killing animals: for worship or for food (Deut. 12:13-15)

Sexual relations: for marriage (Mt. 19:4-6) or for gratification (1 Cor. 6:18)

Circumcision: for influence (Acts 16:3) or for salvation (Gal. 2:5; Acts 15:1,5)

Meats: for food (Rom. 14:2) or for idol worship (1 Cor. 8:10; 10:27-28)

Days: for conscience (Rom. 14:5) or for salvation (Col. 2:16-23)

Lord’s supper: for a memorial or for hunger (1 Cor. 11:19-24)

Abstinance: for personal preference (1 Cor. 7:7-8) or for man-made religion (1 Tim. 4:3)

Baptism: for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) or for

Purpose matters! Purpose makes a difference!

When the purpose of an act changes, the consequence of that act changes

Is purpose important in baptism? For what purpose were you baptized?

Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, baptize infants for original sin

Baptists, etc., baptize for church membership

Methodists, Pentecostals, etc., baptize for an outward sign of an inward grace

J.W.s baptize for dedication of service Mormons baptize for the dead

John’s baptism had one purpose: to prepare Israel (Acts 13:34; 19:4)

The baptism of Jesus had another purpose: to fulfill all righteousness (Mt. 3:15)

The baptism of the great commission has another purpose: saves (Mk. 16:16)

Baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38)

Baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16)

Baptism puts one “into Christ” (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:26-27; “into one body”, 1 Cor. 12:13)

Baptism separates (cutting off, putting off) one from sin (Col. 2:11-13)

Baptism saves (1 Pet. 3:21)

The Bible Denominations

Remission-sins Washed away Into Christ Separation To be saved

Already remitted Already washed Already in Christ Already separate Already saved

If one does not have to understand the purpose of baptism, why is the purpose even stated in Scripture? (Acts 2:28)

If being baptized to “obey God” is sufficient, why was the baptism of the Ephesians invalid? (Acts 19:1-5)

If understanding the purpose of baptism is not important, what other things, like the L.S., does a person not need to understand? (1 Cor. 11:29)

If one does not need to know the purpose of baptism, what else does he not need to know, period? (1 Tim. 2:4)