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What Is A Proper Baptism?

First of all the very word "baptize" comes from the Greek word baptizo meaning "to submerge or dip in water." While there is no mention of the type of water or a specific location of the water such as pond, lake, river, swimming pool or even a bathtub there are several mentions of the amount of water involved.

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. (Matthew 3:16 NKJV)

Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. (John 3:23 NKJV)

34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. 36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ""See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may."  And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:34-39 NKJV)

These passages tell us in each passage that there was enough water to go into. This is in keeping with the Greek ""baptizo" meaning to submerge or immerse. The inference by example is that proper baptism is a submerging or to use another biblical term, a burial.

It is not the amount of water or the location of the water that is the qualifier. It must be enough to submerge the candidate, any less is not the proper biblical amount.

In addition to the amount of water involved in a proper baptism, a proper baptism must also have a proper purpose. It is not to join a church. It is not a public show of faith.

It has to be connected with a saving belief or understanding of the gospel.

15  And He said to them, ""Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV)

What is the gospel? It is how God saves. He now saves no other way after Jesus died on the cross.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (Romans 1:16 NKJV)

15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. " (Mark 16:15-16 NKJV)

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (I Corinthians 15:1-4 NKJV)

The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (Jesus - MW), according to the scriptures.

7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (II Thessalonians 1:7-8 NKJV)

How does one literally obey the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?

See if you can see the three death, burial and resurrection gospel components here...

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-7 NKJV)

Not only do you have the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus there you also have what he told Nicodemus in John 3:3 and again in John 3:5, ""you must be born again or you cannot see the kingdom of heaven. "Newness of life" is "born again."

In Acts 2 Peter tells those convicted of murdering the Messiah...

Then Peter said to them, ""Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38 NKJV)

Paul says in Romans 8:1...

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1 NKJV)

How does one get "into Christ Jesus?" Romans 6:3.

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (Romans 6:3 NKJV)

Proper baptism is baptism by immersion in water for the remission of sins by a believing gospel obedient candidate.

Proper baptism, in obedience to Mark 16:15-16, puts one "into Christ," once and for all, where there is no condemnation to those who follow Christ's teachings. Any thing else, for any other reason, no matter how many times, is not a proper baptism.

If we can be of assistance in any way, feel free to contact us.

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