WHAT DOES THE WORD OF GOD SAY ABOUT THE IMMERSION (SO CALLED BAPTISM)?
Ephesians. 4,5: “5 one Master, one belief, one immersion…”
Although the scriptures speak of “one immersion,” the modern Christian world is not unanimous on this matter. Some people have rejected the rite of baptism altogether. Others consider it absolutely necessary for salvation. Even those who practice immersion disagree on its meaning and form. Some advocate sprinkling, while others prefer pouring, and still others total immersion. Some practice infant baptism. Others maintain that only adult believers can be immersed. Many sincere people take a perplexed look at these divergent views.
Ephesians 4:5 assures us that there was a time when believers were in agreement on this issue. Of course, the easiest way to avoid confusion is to go back to the New Testament and look at how baptism was understood and practiced in the times of the scriptures, before the doctrine of immersion was distorted and covered with the tarnishings of tradition.
JOHN THE IMMERSER’S IMMERSION & YAHUSHA’S IMMERSION
Gospel of Matthew 3
1 And in those days Yoḥanan the Immerser came proclaiming in the wilderness of Yehuḏah,
2 and saying, “Repent, for the reign of the heavens has come near!”
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Yeshayahu, saying, “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Yahuah, make His paths straight.’ ”
4 And Yoḥanan had a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.
5 Then Yerushalayim, and all Yehuḏah, and all the country around the Yardĕn went out to him,
6and they were immersed by him in the Yardĕn, confessing their sins.
7 And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion, he said to them, “Brood of adders! Who has warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
8 “Bear, therefore, fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Aḇraham as father.’ For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Aḇraham from these stones.
10 “And the axe is already laid to the root of the trees. Every tree, then, which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11 I indeed immerse you in water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear. He shall immerse you in the Set-apart Spirit and fire.
12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He shall thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor, and gather His wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff He shall burn with unquenchable fire.
13 Then Yahusha came from Galil to Yoḥanan at the Yardĕn to be immersed by him.
14 But Yoḥanan was hindering Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You come to me?”
15 But יהושע answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
16 And having been immersed, Yahusha went up immediately from the water, and see, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him,
17 and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
1. The Commandment of Immersion
When we begin to study the matter of immersion in the New Testament, we come across an “authoritative command”.
Matthew 28:18-20: Go, teach, immerse!
Yahusha’s last command after the resurrection reads: Mark 16
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to every creature.
16 “He who has believed and has been immersed, shall be saved, but he who has not believed shall be condemned.
17 “And these signs shall accompany the ones who believe: In My Name they shall cast out demons, they shall speak with renewed tongues,
18 they shall take up snakes, and if they drink any deadly drink it shall by no means hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall get well.”
No scriptural command is as clear, strong and obvious as this one. Here is the threefold scriptural command: Go, teach, immerse. Logically, then, all three assignments are equally important. This is enough to settle the question of the validity of immersion. We have no right to abrogate Yahuah’s command. To declare it invalid or overdone would be to say to Yahusha: “Master, I do not place any value on what you command!”
Would any loyal Believer ever want to take such an attitude toward Elohim? But Yahusha gave us more – much more – than just the command to immerse. He supported this command with his own example!
Matthew 3,13-17: “13 Then Yahusha came from Galil to Yoḥanan at the Yardĕn to be immersed by him.
14 But Yoḥanan was hindering Him, saying, “I need to be immersed by You, and You come to me?”
15 But Yahusha answering, said to him, “Permit it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
16 And having been immersed, Yahusha went up immediately from the water, and see, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him,
17 and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
What greater proof of the validity of immersion is needed for a conscientious believer? If we lived in Yahusha’s time and witnessed his immersion and heard his command, could we have any doubts about it?
2. The Method of Immersion
According to the New Testament, Yahuah’s appointed method of immersion is as clearly articulated as His command. Three evidences prove that the apostolic manner of immersion (baptism) consisted of total immersion in water.
A. The original meaning of the word “baptize”
The Greek verb “baptidzo” means to immerse an object in water so that the object is completely under the surface, such as how a dyed fabric must be completely submerged in a cauldron of dye.
B. New Testament description of baptism (immersion)
All descriptions clearly depict immersion:
Mark 1:5.9: “He immersed in the Jordan River.”
John 3:23: “For there was much water there.”
Matthew 3:16: “When Yahusha was immersed, he soon came up out of the water.”
Acts 8:36: “They came by some water.”
Acts 8:38-39: “They went down (…) into the water (…). They came up out of the water.”
It is clear that sprinkling or pouring was not a New Testament method of immersion, as candidates for immersion would not then have to come to a lake or river. A cup or small bottle of water would have sufficed!
C. The way Yahusha’s disciples interpreted His commandment regarding immersion
Romans 6:4-5: “Having been buried … we shall also grow into the likeness of His resurrection.”
Colossians 2:12: “Buried (…) raised.”
Paul uses a simple, unambiguous word picture. However, the act of sprinkling or pouring is completely unlike burial and resurrection!
Further proof of baptism by immersion in water is the fact that the oldest scriptural churches in the world – in Italy, Greece and northern Africa – that are over 1,500 years old, have large, deep baptisteries, adapted for baptism by total immersion!
3. The Meaning of Immersion
Just as the New Testament clearly testifies to the precept and manner, it also clearly defines the meaning of immersion. The most comprehensive analysis of the spiritual meaning of immersion is given in
Romans. 6,4-13.
in 3: “We are therefore buried with Him through baptism into death.”
in 4-5: “We have grown into the likeness of His death.”
in 4-5: “That we (…) may live a new life”.
in 6-10: “Our old man was crucified together with Him, (…) so that we no longer continue to serve sin.”
in 11-13: “Consider yourselves dead to sin, and alive to Elohim.”
Whole Passage:
“1 What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, to let favour increase?
2 Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Messiah Yahusha were immersed into His death?
4 We were therefore buried with Him through immersion into death, that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the esteem of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have come to be grown together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also of the resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old man was impaled with Him, so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, to serve sin no longer.
7 For he who has died has been made right from sin.
8 And if we died with Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Messiah, having been raised from the dead, dies no more – death no longer rules over Him.
10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to Elohim.
11 So you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to Elohim in Messiah Yahusha our Master.
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires,
13 neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to Elohim as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to Elohim.
14 For sin shall not rule over you, for you are not under the law but under favour.”
The following passages in the New Testament say more about this:
John 3:5: “5 Yahusha answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he is unable to enter into the reign of Elohim.”
Galatians 3:27: “27 For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah.”
Colossians 2:12: “12 Having been buried with Him in immersion, in which you also were raised with Him through the belief in the working of Elohim, who raised Him from the dead.”
Colossians 3:1-3: “1 If, then, you were raised with Messiah, seek the matters which are above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand of Elohim.
2 Mind the matters above, not those on the earth.
3 For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Messiah in Elohim.”
From these passages of Scripture, the following conclusions are drawn regarding the meaning of immersion:
(a) It is a commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of Yahusha the Messiah
b) It is a figurative expression of authentic conversion and repentance.
c) It is the spiritual and physical joining of the family of Yahuah called the body of Yahusha the Messiah, of which He is the Head.
d) It is a public confession of Yahusha as Master and Savior and King with acceptance of His Kingdom and Law and His righteousness.
e) It is the only recognized way to join the people of Yahuah called the ekklesia (congregation) or body of Yahusha the Messiah.
f) It is the real surrender of oneself to death in Yahusha and in the power of Yahuah’s Spirit the resurrection to new life for Elohim in His Spirit within oneself.
John 3.3- 7 „3 Yahusha answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he is unable to see the reign of Elohim.”
4 Naḵdimon said to Him, “How is a man able to be born when he is old? Is he able to enter into his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
5 Yahusha answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he is unable to enter into the reign of Elohim.
6 “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You have to be born from above.’”
(g) It is the immersion of Yahuah’s Holy Spirit, usually after coming up out of the water as with Yahusha our Master, called being born again of the Spirit.
“When all the people were immersing, Yahusha was also baptized. And while He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, in corporeal form like a dove, and a voice was heard from heaven: “You are my beloved Son, in You I am well pleased.” Luke 3:21
(h) This is the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit of Yahuah, the Father, i.e. the indwelling of the Creator Himself in man together with Yahusha in his heart.
Acts 2:38 And Peter to them: Repent, and let each of you be immersed in the name of Yahusha the Messiah for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
John 14:23 “Yahusha answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and dwell in him.”
Acts 10:44-48:
“44 While Kĕpha was still speaking these words, the Set-apart Spirit fell upon all those hearing the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Kĕpha, because the gift of the Set-apart Spirit had been poured out on the nations also,
46 for they were hearing them speaking with tongues and extolling Elohim. Then Kĕpha answered,
47 Is anyone able to forbid water, that these should not be immersed who have received the Set-apart Spirit – even as also we?
48 And he commanded them to be immersed in the Name of Yahusha Messiah. Then they asked him to remain a few days.”
What is the certainty of being ready for immersion?
The story of Philip and the eunuch he immersed:
The Scriptures read in Acts 8:36-39:
„36 And as they were going on the way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, water! What hinders me from being immersed?”
37 And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, it is permitted.” And he answering, said, “I believe the Son of Elohim to be Yahusha the Messiah.”
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he immersed him.
39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of Yahuah caught Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went his way, rejoicing.”
In whose name must one be immersed, and what did the Apostle Peter command people to do who believed the Gospel he preached on the Feast of Pentecost?
The Scriptures read in Acts 2:38: „38 And Kĕpha said to them, “Repent, and let each one of you be immersed in the Name of Yahusha Messiah for the forgiveness of sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Set-apart Spirit.”
What should a person do to be immersed?
The Scriptures read in Acts 8:12: „12 And when they believed Philip as he brought the Good News about the reign of Elohim and the Name of Yahusha Messiah, both men and women were immersed.”
NOTE: The above facts make a discussion of infant immersion/baptism needless. Such immersion/baptism should be excluded as having no scriptural meaning. According to the New Testament, the immersion has meaning only for those who are mature enough to understand and accept the gospel message – to believe, show repentance and experience a true “new birth.” These are the New Testament requirements for immersion. If they are disregarded, immersion becomes just an empty rite. There is nothing magical or salutary about the water of the immersion itself. It has only symbolic value and means nothing without faith in the heart in the power of Yahuah’s resurrection and without dedication to Yahusha the Messiah in all things.
(See Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; 8:37).
2 Corinthians 5:11-21:
“11 Knowing, therefore, the fear of Yahuah, we persuade men, but we have been made manifest to Elohim, and I also trust in your consciences to have been manifested.
12 For we do not again commend ourselves to you, but give you an occasion to boast on our behalf, in order that you have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
13 For whether we are beside ourselves, it was for Elohim, or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Messiah compels us, having judged this: that if One died for all, then all died;
15 and He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them, and was raised.
16 So from now onwards we know no one according to the flesh. And if we have known Messiah according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know Him thus.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a renewed creature – the old matters have passed away, see, all matters have become renewed!
18 And all matters are from Elohim, who has restored us to favour with Himself through Yahusha Messiah, and has given us the service of restoration to favour,
19 that is, that Elohim was in Messiah restoring the world to favour unto Himself, not reckoning their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of restoration to favour.
20 Therefore we are envoys on behalf of Messiah, as though Elohim were pleading through us. We beg, on behalf of Messiah: Be restored to favour with Elohim.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”
Summary
Aacts 22:14-16: “Why do you delay?”
14 “And he said, ‘The Elohim of our fathers has appointed you to know His desire, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice from His mouth.
15 Because you shall be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
16 And now, why do you delay? Rise up, be immersed, and wash away your sins, calling on the Name of Yahuah.’
