Is Your Baptism Valid?
By Glen Young

No Bible subject evokes more controversy or engenders more passion than that
of baptism. Christians are often placed in situations where they must define
the role of baptism as taught in the scriptures. This has caused many to
accuse us of believing in ‘water salvation.’ Nothing could be further from
the truth. Salvation comes because one obeys the commands of God.

Baptism that is administered as God prescribes in His Word must meet certain
guidelines. These guidelines are a proper subject and the proper mode. There
are many religious bodies who practice a type of baptism. To engage in an
action and call it baptism doesn’t make it the baptism commanded by the
Lord. Baptism as it is practiced by Catholic and protestant (i.e.
denominational) religions does not meet the guidelines of scriptural
baptism.

The proper subject for baptism is a penitent believer (Acts 2:38; Mark
16:16). Penitent means, “Feeling or expressing remorse for one's misdeeds or
sins.” This suggests that the subject of baptism must understand their need
for cleansing from sin. Believer means, “To expect or suppose; think.” Think
is defined as, “1. To have or formulate in the mind. 2. A. To reason about
or reflect on; ponder. B. To decide by reasoning, reflection, or pondering.”
(All definitions taken from The American Heritage Dictionary) A believer is
one who thinks. Thinking suggests the ability to formulate in the mind by
reasoning what actions one must take to receive salvation.

The requirement for one to be a believer rules out infant baptism. The
infant doesn’t have the mental capacity for reasoning. Infant baptism is
performed because of the belief that infants need salvation. This is not the
case. We read in Luke 18:16, “But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer
the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such
belongeth the kingdom of God.” Obviously, infants don’t have the mental
ability to sin and are innocent. Otherwise how could Jesus proclaim that
they are in the kingdom of God?

This brings up the question, what does one need to know for their baptism to
be valid? Over the years, this question has been of concern to Christians
because some have advocated that denominational baptism is valid as long as
the mode was by immersion. Christians are sometimes faced with a person who
was baptized in a denominational church (which denies the necessity of
baptism to obtain salvation), who will, after a period of Bible study, claim
that they were baptized for remission of sins. The person is not being
dishonest when they make such a claim. After the study, they have come to
understand that baptism is essential to salvation. What is happening is that
they are recalling a past event (their denominational baptism) using their
current knowledge (baptism is essential to salvation). This is not an
uncommon occurrence according to psychologists.

To overcome this dilemma, at the beginning of a study have the student write
down what he or she believes is necessary to obtain salvation. Later, if the
student claims they were baptized for remission of their sins, you can refer
them to what they have written. This puts any past baptismal experience into
proper perspective.

Baptism is something a person does. It is not something that is done to
them. Therefore, one must have knowledge of the purpose for baptism. The
purpose for baptism is “the remission of your sins” (Acts 2:38), “wash away
thy sins” (Acts 22:16) and “doth now save you” (1 Peter 3:21). Those who
believe that baptism is an outward act of an inward grace or that it gives
one membership into a specific denominational church is baptized for the
wrong reason. In cases of this nature, the student should be encouraged to
be baptized properly. Whether or not one was baptized with the assistance of
someone from the church of Christ is not the issue. Whether or not one was
baptized with full knowledge of the purpose for their baptism is the issue.

Baptism will only accomplish its purpose when it is participated in by one
who repents of any and all sins (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:5). A turning away from
one’s sins is necessary to salvation. Failure to do so will result in one’s
baptism being null and void. To become penitent, one must experience godly
sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). Those who would submit to baptism for any
reason other than a deep abiding sorrow for their sinful life only get wet
and their baptism is to no avail.

The mode of baptism is total immersion in water. We are told that “… John
also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water
there: and they came, and were baptized.” John 3:23 The English word baptize
is a transliteration of the Greek word baptizo. When the Greek word is
translated the English word immerse is used instead of baptize. Whereas
baptism is immersion, it rules out sprinkling or pouring. No one should
think for one minute that they have been baptized because someone sprinkled
a little water on them or poured a cup of water on their head. The
scriptural mode of baptism is complete submersion in water (Acts 8:36-38).

Now that we have studied these matters, I ask you, is your baptism valid?