Christianity appears to have several forms of baptism. Which way is right?

Question

I know that the Bible says that "he that believes and is baptised shall be saved", but different churches do it different ways. Which way is best? Didn't everyone get baptized the same in the Bible or did they just do it however they wanted? I don't want to be baptized incorrectly. Whtich is correct and why do you think so?

Answer 1

The word baptize comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means to immerse. Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected so that we could be saved. We must also die (repent), be buried (be baptized), and resurrect in the Spirit (being filled, or baptized, by the Holy Spirit) to be saved.

I think that being baptized by immersion would follow Jesus’ example. Besides, it means we’re obeying what the Bible says, baptizo.

Through baptism our sins are cleansed, but we must still repent everyday because of our sinful human nature. I think that is what Paul calls dying daily.

You might also want to consider in what name you are baptized in.

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”

Some people argue over Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;”

Matthew was a tax collector so he had to be a very detailed person. Besides, Jesus was talking to his disciples and they knew what He meant. When Peter said, “in the name of Jesus Christ” there were other disciples there and if what he taught was wrong, then I guess they would have complained and it would have been written in the Bible, but it was not. The name of the Father is Jesus. The name of the Son is Jesus. The Holy Spirit is Jesus, and they are all one. So I suggest baptism in Jesus’ name.

Try reading Romans 6:1-4. I’d say that the “him” means Jesus (verse 4, 6th word).

It is good to be baptized the right way and not many people think about it and I hope you can find the answer to your question.
God bless.

Answer 2

No one has mentioned the Reformed/Presbyterian viewpoint yet, so I'll throw that in.

First of all, have you already been baptized as an infant? If so, then no need to be rebaptized, you are already "marked out" as God's own, no reason to reaccomplish this -- you would only be getting wet.

However, assuming that you have not been baptized and are a believer, baptism not only becomes a "marking out" similar to circumcision in the Old Testament, it also becomes a profession of your faith and a promise to conduct your entire household in a Christian manner, regardless of any age of reason. The entire households being baptized in the early church indicated an authority issue, not an age of accountability issue -- you have to look at the culture of the times, and how society still works in certain cultures today.

Too many people focus on the method rather than what it represents, and this is also an error. The practice of baptism is not the work of man and what we do for God, but rather what God does for us, and we need to remember that.

So, if you're being baptized for the first time, immersion is a nice way to do it -- but not necessary either. Concentrate on the fact of water and what it represents, not the method itself that you might think would gain you any merits toward heaven.

Answer 3

In biblical times, just as today, the principle method of baptizing was to pour water three times over the forehead of the person being baptised, while saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". That is the method shown in every early work of art depicting the baptism of Jesus. However, full immersion was also an acceptable manner of baptizing, just as it is today. However, in the desert region where Jesus and the disciples lived and preached, there was often no water for a great distance except the town well, and people certainly were not immersed in it, which is why pouring was the usual means employed. There is nothing in the Bible that specifically describes any particular form of baptism, let alone prescribes any particular form. The Bible only tells us of the necessity of being reborn through the waters of baptism, and through the Holy Spirit Who comes to us in that holy sacrament. The only way we really have of knowing which methods of baptism are legitimate is to accept the biblical teaching that whatsoever Christ's Church binds upon earth is bound in heaven.

"Sprinkling" of water, though it is often alluded to, is not practiced in any church I know of, certainly not in the Catholic Church. The water must be poured if immersion is not used.
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Answer 4

Baptism is supposed to be "in the name of Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). "In the name of Christ" means according to his authority or instructions.

You are correct to notice that Jesus taught "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16) Any baptism doctrine that teaches one is saved before or without baptism, therefore, is not according to Christ's authority (instructions). Such would be according to the doctrine (teaching, authority) of men and not "in the name of Christ".

Secondly, you are correct to notice there are many baptisms taught in different churches. They differ in method and purpose. The Bible, however, says there is "one baptism", just like there is one God and one Lord. (Ephesians 4:3-6)

If we look into the Bible and see what the method and purpose of baptism that was taught and practiced by the early church, then we can know what this "one baptism" is.

First the method. We see this baptism was in water. (Acts 8:36, Acts 10:47) But was it sprinkling, pouring, or immersion? Notice Acts 8:38, it involved going down into and coming up out of the water. In Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12 it is described as a burial. John the Baptist chose the location he used for baptism "because there was much water there" (John 3:23). Only immersion fits all of these descriptions, so we see the "one baptism" is immersion in water.

Now for the reason. We have noticed it is "for the remission of sins". 1 Peter 3:21 says that it saves. Romans 3:3-4 says at baptism we enter "into Christ" (we can't be saved outside of Christ), and it says we are "baptized into His death". At the death of Christ, we contact His saving blood, because that is where the blood was shed. Finally Romans 3 teaches that at baptism we "rise to walk in newness of life". We cannot be saved if we are not born into this new life, or "born again". Also baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16).

So according to the bible, baptism is by a burial (immersion) in water to become saved. This action must be coupled with faith, confession and repentance.

As for the Holy Spirit baptism, please notice this baptism was a promise that Christ made to the apostles. It was always a promise, and never a command, and it was promised specifically to the apostles. This promise was fulfilled in the first few verses of Acts 2. Also Christ (God) was the one who did this baptizing, and it was not the baptism commanded in the great commission (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:18-20).

The great comission baptism (water baptism) is the one that existed when Ephesians 4 declaired there was "one baptism". If Spirit baptism continued with water baptism, then there were 2 kinds of baptism and not just "one".

Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". Some will tell you that one believes, is saved, then he shall be baptized. This is not what Jesus said. It is not in the same order.

What would Jesus have said if he had meant "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"? I believe he said what he meant and meant what he said. I believe Jesus! He that does not believe Jesus, "shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16)

Read carefully the verses I have cited. Believe what the Bible says!

Answer 5

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

Baptism is performed in the most expressive way by triple immersion in the baptismal water. However, from ancient times it has also been able to be conferred by pouring the water three times over the candidate's head.

In accordance to the command of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:19-20:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

Catholics baptize using the words, "[Name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

The Catholic Church accepts any baptism from any other Christian Church if it was done in this manner.

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

The Bible records that people got the weird idea they were baptised in the name of whoever taught them.

1 Corinthians 1
12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

I personally believe we are to be baptised according to Matthew 28. I was baptised in a pool, completely going under.
Hansel is right on about the point of water baptism.
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Answer 7

There are three baptisms,
1 By water,
2 By fire,
3 By the Holy Spirit.

Answer 8

The primary meaning of the Greek word baptizo is "to immerse." And the prepositions normally used in conjunction with baptizo (such as "into" and "out of" the water) clearly picture immersion and not sprinkling. The Greek language has perfectly acceptable works for "sprinkling" and "pouring," but these words are NEVER used in the context of baptism in the New Testament.
It is noteworthy that the ancient Jews practised baptism by immersion. Hence, it is likely that the Jewish converts to Christianity (including the disciples, who came out of Judaism) would have followed this precedent.
Certainly baptism by immersion best pictures the significance of death to the old life and resurrection to the new life in Christ (Rom 6:1-4)

Answer 9

I don't think there's a literal "right" way to be baptized. Our church practices full submersion. That's what I understand John the Baptist to have to done (even to Jesus Christ). I've never understood the sprinkling of water on people's heads (or even babies) to be baptism, but I know it's considered to be. I can't say what's best because that's something you have to figure out for yourself, at least I think so.

Answer 10

There are only two ways of being baptised (i think)...anyways, the one is infant baptism which is when the priest sprinkles water on the baby's head! But the right one would be baptism by being immersed in water! The same way Jesus did it!