What Does Water Do?

There has been much talk and much debate about the topic of water baptism amongst Christians today. Is it for the Church today or not? And for those who do think it’s for us today, there is still more debate about how they should be water baptized. Should they be immersed in water, sprinkled, or poured with water? Well, I don’t believe water baptism is necessary for the true Church, the Body of Christ today.

I want to start off with giving you an illustration that I came across in one of Pastor Cornelius R. Stam’s articles. Suppose you have a saved person, but that person lives a careless life and bears a poor testimony. Would water baptism change this? Would the believer even be motivated to go through the water ceremony? If the person is saved, then water baptism will do nothing. It won’t make him any better. He’s already saved. Now, suppose you have a saved person who does live a godly, consistent life before the world. What would water baptism do in this person’s case? Nothing! He is already saved and is already living a godly life, as best as he can at least. Water baptism won’t make him any better either. He too is already saved. (Stam, "Is Water Baptism A Testimony?")

 What does God’s Word say about this?

All believers in Christ would agree with each other, for example, that the Corinthians are believers. They are called saints. In Corinthians 1:2 we read, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” We read here that the Corinthians were sanctified (“set apart”) in Christ Jesus and also that they are "called to be saints." The New King James Version (which is what I’m using) has the words “to be” italicized, because they were not in the original text. It should be read to those who are "called saints," because they are saints.

And Paul writes to this same church in verse 14, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius.” Also verse 16 and 17 says, “Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.”

The believers of the church at Corinth are believers, yet they were also carnal as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:1. So, what would water do for these believers? Would water cause them to change their ways? No, it wouldn’t.

Now, some people may say Paul was not sent to baptize, because that’s a job for the bishops, deacons, and other leaders of the church to do. I have a few questions for them. Wasn’t Paul made the Apostle of the Gentiles? (Rom. 11:13) Yes! Was he not given a revelation by the Lord Jesus Christ? (Gal. 1:12) Yes he was! And doesn’t he say to follow him as he followed Christ? (1 Cor. 11:1) Yes he does! The elders and leaders of each of the churches that he writes to were given instructions by the Apostle Paul or at least by someone that learned it from Paul. So, wouldn’t it make sense that they would follow Paul in this particular area as well. Now, maybe some of the church leaders here at Corinth did baptize a few just like Paul, but I don’t think they would’ve baptized the whole church (also just like Paul). Paul, is our example (1 Tim. 1:15,16). Therefore, we too shouldn’t baptize, but instead we should preach the gospel. Our focus should be on the preaching of the cross! Water baptism takes away from the cross of Christ.

Water Baptism was required when the Israelites were under the Law, but we are no longer under the law, but under grace. (Rom. 6:14) The Mosaic Law which is contained in ordinances was nailed to the cross and blotted out. (Colossians 2:14) That includes not only circumcision, but also water baptism.

The word baptism simply means “identification.” All believers became believers when they trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. When we believe in his death, burial, and resurrection, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into the Body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12-13) The Spirit identifies us with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. (Rom. 6:3-5) His death becomes our death. His burial becomes our burial. And His resurrection becomes our resurrection.

The important thing to remember in the illustration above is that both of them are saved. One just happens to live a poor life and the other happens to live a godly life, but they are both saved, because they have trusted in Christ as their Savior. Water baptism would add nothing to their spiritual life. The only thing it would do is get them wet. Believers today are already baptized by the Holy Spirit, so why get baptized with water by a clergyman? The Holy Spirit has already taken care of it. In fact, the whole trinity has taken care of it. God the Father initiated the plan of salvation, God the Son carried the plan out by dying for our sins, and God the Holy Spirit has baptized us and placed us securely in the Body of Christ (in the very person of Christ). To conclude, I heard Pastor J. C. O'Hair say in one of his sermons this phrase. "God [the Father] said it, Christ [the Son] did it, I believe it, that settles it." (O'Hair, "A Sermon By J. C. O'Hair") Salvation is by grace through faith alone today. (Eph. 2:8-9) Water Baptism is not required for salvation, nor is it required to show your faith as an outward expression. All I or any one has to do is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and that settles it.







Bibliography

O'Hair, J. C. A Sermon By J. C. O'Hair. Berean Bible Society. Podcast retrieved from https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/a-sermon-by-j-c-ohair/.

Stam, Cornelius R. "Is Water Baptism A Testimony?" Two Minutes with the Bible. Berean Bible Society. Web. https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/is-water-baptism-a-testimony.