Those who believe immersion is the only way, what do you think of these verses?

Question

Matthew 28:19 (New International Version)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
ALL NATIONS NOT EVERYONE BUT BABIES

Mark 10:14 (New International Version)
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Ephesians 4:5 (New International Version)
one Lord, one faith, one baptism

And if Mother Theresa was not immersed (we can assume she was not because of her Catholic Background) was she then not saved?

Answer 1

The insistance on baptism by immersion among some denominations is due to a misinterpretation of a couple of passages, especially the baptism of Jesus. The passage says that Jesus "came up out of the water", and they take that to mean He was immersed. That isn't what the passage says at all. Jesus was first on the bank of the river. He then "went down into the water". Once there, John baptized Him (no indication of how). Then Jesus "came up out of the water", back onto dry land. It is significant that every known early depiction of the baptism of Jesus shows Him standing in the water beside John, as John pours water over His head, either from his hand or from a shell.

Still, immersion is a perfectly legitimate method of baptizing. But it is not the only legitimate method. We know, indirectly from Scripture and directly from the writings of the earliest Church Fathers, that babies were baptized from the earliest days of Christianity, and they certainly were not immersed. Also, the early Church existed in a largely desert land, where very often the only available water for a great many miles was the town well. When Jesus and the Apostles preached and baptized in those towns, they baptized with water drawn up from the well in a bucket.

Answer 2

All you who deny Baptism is NOT necessary have to argue with Jesus.

Baptism IS necessary for Salvation. Jesus said so:

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes AND is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

BTW: The theif on the cross is NOT a "proof text". The Bible never says whether he WAS or WAS NOT Baptized. That is an assumption one way or the other.


The Didache is the common name of a brief early Christian treatise (c. 70–160), containing instructions for Christian communities.

Excerpt From the Didache follows:

Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism.

And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water.

But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm.

But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

The scriptures dont give us a specific "how to" baptise.... i believe in immersion baptism, however the scriptures simply tell us when we baptise to baptise in the name of The Father The Son and The Holy Spirit.
I do not baptise babies.... I do dedications for them, baptism is an outward expression of what Christ has done in the heart. Immersion baptism is not a requirement of salvation, the theif on the cross was not baptised. However I believe if we have the ability we should follow Christ into baptism. I have baptized people in hospital beds hooked up to machinery when they could not be immersed i simply put water over them. Its the act of obedience of following Christ into baptism that is important not whether we are dunked or sprinkled... what matters is the condition of our souls and where our hearts are with him.
God bless you :)

Answer 4

We'll never know the end of Mother Theresa until we get to heaven. If she was saved, she'll be there.

But regarding infant Christenings, one cannot be saved except by a conscious personal decision for Christ.

Verse to consider:
Philippeans 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Salvation by association is no salvation at all.

The penitent thief on the cross next to Jesus' wasn't able to get baptized before he died. So, you are implying that Jesus is a liar.

If you are counting on your own Christening to get you into heaven, then...

Answer 5

Your Mark 10:14 argument is flawed.How is a bit of water sprinkled over a babies' head mean that they are a Christian?I believe that there is an age of accountability,and before that age Jesus will cover a person without that person making a decision.Are we to assume that babies that been aborted don't go to heaven because they haven't been baptized?Or stillborn babies?Or miscarried babies?That doesn't fit in well with that verse,does it?

Answer 6

Jesus set the example of full immersion and I think it wise to follow that. It symbolizes the death of the old person and the spiritual birth of the new.

Matthew 3

13] Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
[14] But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
[15] And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
[16] And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
[17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Answer 7

Right.

The "thief on the cross" is not applicable. That is just one of many times where Jesus forgave sins on the earth. The person was a Jew that lived and died UNDER THE LAW. There were NO CHRISTIANS during Jesus' lifetime. The beginning of Christianity and the church is presented in Acts 2:14ff. What were those FIRST CHRISTIANS told?

Acts 2:21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved... Then Peter went on to explain HOW WE DO THAT.

37 When the people heard this, their hearts were filled with shame. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
38 Peter replied, “All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children. It is also for all who are far away. It is for all whom the Lord our God will choose.”
40 Peter said many other things to warn them. He begged them, “Save yourselves from these evil people.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized. About 3,000 people joined the believers that day.

Scripture does not contradict itself. So we are left with people being told what LOOKS LIKE 2 different things IN IMMEDIATE CONTEXT WITH ONE ANOTHER. The ONLY VALID way to interpret it is to conclude that they are in fact THE SAME.

Remember Jesus' words in Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter. 22 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord! Lord! Didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we drive out demons in your name? Didn’t we do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will tell them clearly, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who do evil!’"

Clearly, 'calling on the name of the Lord' is NOT MERE VERBAL ASSENT. It INCLUDES repentance and baptism. WATER BAPTISM, we learn from Acts 10, the story of Cornelius, that 'Spirit baptism' was NOT the same. "Acts 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 Some Jewish believers had come with Peter. They were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on those who weren’t Jews. 46 They heard them speaking in languages they had not known before. They also heard them praising God.
Then Peter said,“47 Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days."

Answer 8

Where does it say that we baptise babies? Sure Christ said to bring the little ones unto him, but he didn't then say to baptise them.

He showed us the right way to baptise, but being dunked by John the baptist who baptised in the river jorden for there was much water there. Why would much water be needed if you were only going to sprinkle.

Baptism is in similitude of being laid into your grave and then be resurected. It is the death and rebirth. It needs to be done where your completely submerged. And it, like all other sacred ordinances, needs to be preformed by one who has the authority given to him from God to do such things.

I'm confused by the Ephesians 4 and talk about mother Teresa, they don't help your point any.

Answer 9

Baptism does not save you. It is an act of obedience to God to show the world that you are saved. We as Baptists do not believe in baptizing babies because they have not made the decision to follow Christ, nor are they at the age of recognition to be able to hold themselves accountable.

Answer 10

Baptism of water has nothing to do with Salvation. It is faith on Christ alone that he is God, that he died for us on a cross and rose again three days later that whoever calls upon Him for foregivenes of sins will receive eternal life.

The theif on the cross is the proof text.

However, immersion is the only Biblical baptism and it is only by a believer. Not for salvation but as a tetimony to others of the new faith.