Radio Transcript

Shortly before Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave his apostles the Great Commission. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).

In the book of Mark, the Great Commission is worded as follows: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:15-16).

In both places we notice the mention of baptism. In Matthew, it is related to the process of making disciples. In Mark, it is mentioned in connection with salvation.

It’s not uncommon to hear numerous questions arise when it comes to the subject of baptism. What is baptism? Is it pouring, sprinkling, or immersion? Are people to be baptized in water, or in the Holy Spirit?

What is the purpose of baptism? Is it for the remission of sins, or because our sins have already been forgiven? Is it in order to be saved, or a public confession of faith having already been saved?

Who should be baptized? Should infants be baptized? Should just anyone be baptized?

Since baptism is commanded by Christ, it is important that we give it our careful consideration. This is the first lesson in a series of lessons concerning the subject of baptism. As we go through this series, I hope you will have the attitude of the Bereans. It is said that the Bereans were "more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

In this first lesson, we will consider how the apostles carried out the Great Commission. That is, we will see what the apostles said about baptism in their preaching.

Let’s begin by considering Peter’s preaching concerning baptism. On the day of Pentecost, those who were present and heard Peter preach asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do" (Acts 2:37). Notice Peter’s response in verse thirty-eight: "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."

Peter told those present to be baptized for the remission of sins. Did Peter mean for them to be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins, or because their sins had already been remitted? For our answer, let’s go to Matthew 26:28, where we find the same grammatical construction as in Acts 2:38. Here Jesus said, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Clearly, Jesus meant that his blood was shed in order to provide the remission of sins, and not "because" remission of sins had already taken place.

It is also significant that in Acts 2:38 the conjunction "and" joins the commandment to be baptized to the commandment to repent. Just as people were commanded to repent in order to receive the remission of their sins, they were commanded to be baptized in order to receive the remission of their sins.

Consider Peter’s preaching at the house of Cornelius. Peter commanded Cornelius and his household to be baptized (Acts 10:44-48). It is obvious from verse forty-seven that what Peter had in mind was water baptism. In one of the lessons to follow, we will study whether Cornelius and his household were saved when the Spirit fell upon them or when they were baptized as commanded by Peter. But from what we have studied thus far, the text indicates the baptism that was commanded by Peter was a baptism in water, and was in order to receive the remission of sins.

Next, let’s consider Paul’s preaching concerning baptism. Note the following from the record of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16:13-15: "And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met [there.] Now a certain woman named Lydia heard [us.] She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged [us,] saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay. So she persuaded us." As evidence that she gave heed to the things spoken by Paul, she and her household were baptized!

Notice her comment in verse fifteen: "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord." How could Paul have judged her to be faithful to the Lord? By her response to the commandment of the Lord concerning baptism!

Let’s consider what Paul preached about baptism by examining the conversion of the Philippian jailor. Paul told the jailor that he must believe on the Lord in order to be saved. "And he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." But Paul went on to speak the word of the Lord to the jailor (Acts 16:32). In response, the jailor and those of his household were immediately baptized (Acts 16:33). It is obvious that when Paul preached the word of God to them, he stressed the need to be baptized. It is also obvious that Paul stressed the need to be baptized immediately.

While we are considering Paul, it would be beneficial to study Paul’s own conversion. In Acts 22:10-16, Paul described how he was told to go to Damascus, for there he would be told all things which were appointed for him to do (Acts 22:10). One of the things he was told to do was to be baptized without delay. Notice Ananias’ words from Acts 22:16, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Notice that Paul was told to be baptized in order to wash away his sins. Even though Paul had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus and spent three days fasting and praying, he was still lost in his sins. Seeing the Lord did not save him. Accepting Jesus as Lord, as recorded in Acts 9:9-11, did not save him. Praying and fasting for three days did not save him. Not until Paul was baptized were his sins washed away.

Next, let’s consider the preaching of another prominent New Testament character. Phillip, who preached to the Samaritans, was not an apostle. Yet his preaching concerning baptism is very significant.

Let’s read from Acts 8:5, "Then Phillip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them." Now, from verse twelve notice the people’s response to Phillip’s preaching. "But when they believed Phillip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized."

Consider Phillip’s preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Ethiopian, a very religious man, heard Phillip "preach Jesus" to him (Acts 8:35). We are not told the content of Phillip’s sermon. Yet, from the Ethiopian’s question, we can rightly conclude that the content of his sermon included baptism. Let’s read from Acts 8:36-38, "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? Then Phillip 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. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Phillip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."

Like Peter, Phillip "preached Jesus" not only by telling people about Jesus, but also by telling them what Jesus commanded. Baptism was an immediate result of such preaching. Is this surprising in light of Jesus’ statements in Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15-16?

What can we conclude from all of this? Baptism played a prominent role in apostolic preaching. This is especially evident when we compare what is revealed in the examples of conversion. On the day of Pentecost, those present were told to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:14-41). In Samaria, the people believed and were baptized (Acts 8:5-13). It is said that the Ethiopian believed and was baptized (Acts 8:35-39). Saul was baptized (Acts 9:22-26). Cornelius believed and was baptized (Acts 10:44-48). Lydia heeded the word and was baptized (Acts 16:13-15). The Philippian jailor believed and was baptized (Acts 16:30-34). In every case of conversion described in detail in the book of Acts, baptism is mentioned. Clearly, it was an important theme of apostolic preaching. G. R. Beasley-Murray, a Baptist, made the following observation, "Baptism is a part of the proclamation of Christ. In an Apostolic sermon it comes as its logical conclusion." This is found on page 393 of "Baptism in the New Testament," published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962.

In this lesson we have found that Baptism was commanded for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Baptism was done to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). Baptism involved water (Acts 8:36-38). It was done immediately with no delay, even if after midnight (Acts 16:25-33).

This would certainly suggest that baptism is necessary for salvation. But is this a fair conclusion to make from the apostles’ preaching? Is this conclusion consistent with the teaching of the apostles that we find in their letters? Our next lesson will examine what the apostles taught in their letters regarding baptism.