Identifying The New Testament Church, Part 12
Whose Baptism, God’s Or Your’s

A. Last week we discussed the necessity of seeking and finding God’s will when it comes to
finding and preserving doctrinal purity. It’s the idea of obeying Covenant Law. We saw the
scriptures that foretold how men would violate God’s Covenant Law by rejecting and
departing from doctrinal purity and would begin to replace God’s word with man-made religious
substitutes. We also learned why denominationalism with it’s division in the body of Christ is
not desirable. Under the banner of denominationalism men teach and practice a
multitude of different doctrines, In the name of Christianity. They set before themselves and
the world a pattern of division and disunity between themselves. In every case it hinders unity
and fellowship that feeds bickering, partisanship and a divided Christendom.
One of the most obvious and blatant departures from New testament Covenant Law is in the area of baptism. Mention baptism, in the religious world today and people embrace several different concepts. To some Baptism is being Sprinkling with water; For others Baptism is being Immersed in water; For some it’s being baptized with the Holy Spirit; To some it is being baptized into a Church or Denomination; And others believe you don’t have to be baptized at all. And what is so puzzling and inconsistent is that most accept what ever definition you prefer. In the midst of all this confusion and spiritual anarchy, God’s will is ignored all together.
One thing for sure, Paul was right when he said, 1 Cor 14:33, “God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” God does not leave us in doubt when it comes to understanding how and when and where we are to worship Him. God commands us to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth and has given us specific instructions how to do that. The original New Testament Christians practiced immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins so that they could receive the Holy Spirit. Today, we do it by pouring water, sprinkling water on people and call it baptizing in water.
(A) The original language allows neither of these. It was an immersing, dipping under water and that practice prevailed for over a thousand years after Christianity came into being. It did not change until 1300BC. To understand the meaning, intent, purpose of
this command of Jesus and the Apostles, lets do what we’ve done before. Look at
the Biblical practice by looking at the Testimony of Church Leaders and founders of
the denominations, The Original Language, Historical Abuses, Translation Errors.
TESTIMONY OF CHURCH LEADERS AND FOUNDERS(a) Testimony of catholic Authorities.
Cardinal James Gibbons, Archbishop of Baltimore and Chancellor of the
Catholic University of America, Makes the following statement: "For
several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, baptism was
conferred by IMMERSION; but since the twelfth century the practice of
baptizing by infusion (sprinkling) has prevailed in the Catholic church, as this
manner is attended with less inconvenience than baptism by immersion."
The New American Catholic Edition Bible (New Confraternity Version) in a
footnote under Romans 6:3, states: "St. Paul alludes to the manner in which
baptism was ordinarily conferred in the primitive church, by immersion. The
descent into the water is suggestive of the descent of the body into the grave."

Both Cardinal Gibbons and the Catholic Bible reveal the fact that the Catholic church departed from the original command and practice of Jesus and His apostles. The Catholic church is the group who first departed from THE FAITH. From the day of Pentecost in, Acts 2:1 ?2:38, until A.D. 1311, all who became a Christian were baptized by IMMERSION in water. To baptize someone by sprinkling with water instead of IMMERSING in water is a man?made tradition begun by the Catholic church in the 12th century.
Testimony of Protestant Denominational Founders.
(1) Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran church: "Baptism is BAPTISMOS in Greek and MERSIO in Latin, and means to plunge something completely into the water, so that the water covers it. It would be proper, according to the meaning of the word that whoever is to be baptized, should be put in and sunk completely into the water and then drawn out again." "The term baptism is a Greek word ...when we immerse anything into water, that it may be entirely covered with water. That custom has been abolished among the generality, (for neither do they entirely dip, but only sprinkle with a little water). Nevertheless they ought to be wholly IMMERSED, for the etymology of the word requires it. And truly, if you consider what baptism signifies, you shall see the same thing required."
(2) John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church: "We are buried with Him???Alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by IMMERSION."
(3) Methodist scholars John McClintock and James Strong: "Sprinkling as a form of baptism took the place of IMMERSION after a few centuries in the early church. Not from any established rule, but by common consent."
(4) John Calvin, founder of the Presbyterian church: "It is evident that the term baptize means to IMMERSE, and that this was the form used by the primitive church." "Wherefore the church (Catholic church) did grant liberty to herself since the beginning to change the rite somewhat."
(2) Thus far we’ve seen the admission of the Catholic Church that they took the liberty of changing the mode of baptism from, Immersion in water, to sprinkling with a little water. They did what Jesus condemned in Matt. 15:6-9, “Made void the commands of God by substituting their own man-made traditions for the Word of God.” They did exactly what Paul said they would do when he warned about apostacy that would take place in the future, Acts 20:28-29; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:1-4.
(1) We also saw that the founders and leaders of today’s major denominations, all with one voice, state that God ordained baptism is by immersion only. Let me, once more, ask that important question. Does the church to which you belong follow God’s word when they practice baptism. Is it God’s baptism or man’s baptism?
(2) Acts 20:32.

Spur - 07/14/2002 am