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THINGS THAT WOULD INVALIDATE A PERSON’S BAPTISM

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The subject of baptism as revealed in the New Testament is not something that is difficult to understand. 

1.        The element of baptism is water (Acts 8:36; 10:47).

 

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water:  and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

 

2.       The mode of baptism is immersion.

a.       The definition of baptism is “to wash, to submerge, to plunge, to whelm, to overwhelm, to immerse.”

b.      Baptism involves “much water” (John 3:23).

 

And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there:  and they came, and were baptized.

 

c.       Baptism is pictured as a burial (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12).

 

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

 

d.      In baptism individuals when down into the water and came up out of the water (Acts 8:38-39a; Matt. 3:16).

 

And he commanded the chariot of stand still:  and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.  And when they were come up out of the water…

 

3.       The purpose of baptism is the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

 

And now why tarriest thou?  arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

 

B.      When we teach these points to others, one of three things happens.

1.        Individuals obey the gospel and are baptized.

2.       They disagree with us about some of the points that we are making.

3.       Individuals agree with us because this is what the Bible teaches and believe that the baptism they experienced in the past was New Testament baptism.  (NOTE:  Most individuals, however, were not taught the truth about baptism.  They were taught by those in a denomination who do not accept the things we stated at the outset of this lesson).

 

C.     When the second difficulty arises, we often have to teach individuals that there are things that invalidate a person’s baptism.  Let’s look at some of those things in this lesson.

 

I.             BAPTISM IS INVALID WHEN DONE IN THE WRONG MANNER

 

A.    The only way to properly baptize a person is to immerse the individual.  Again, the Bible teaches that baptism is a burial (Rom. 6:4).

 

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…

 

B.      There are two other modes that some religious groups refer to as baptism:  sprinkling and pouring. 

 

C.     Illustration:  The Catholic Church teaches that baptism is “for the remission of sins.”  However, the mode of baptism they use is pouring.  In essence the person is not really baptized.  Thus, the baptism is not a valid baptism.

 

II.           BAPTISM IS INVALID IF ONE DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER FAITH ABOUT JESUS

 

A.    When a person is properly baptized, Jesus plays an important part of the process.

1.        First, one has faith in Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 16:30-31)

2.       Second, one confesses his faith publically before men (Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10).

3.       Third, the individual is baptized in the name of Christ (Acts 2:38).

4.       Fourth, the person is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).

5.       In order to do these things, one must have a proper understanding of Jesus Christ.  If he does not understand Jesus correctly, his baptism will not be valid.

 

B.      When one studies the Mormon church, he finds that Mormons baptize, immerse, for the remission of sins.  Since this is the case, some might believe that Mormon baptism is an authorized baptism.

 

C.     The problem, however, is that the Mormons do not have a correct view of Jesus Christ.

1.        They believe Jesus was procreated by Elohim, God the Father, and one of his heavenly wives.  This caused Jesus to be a spirit child.

2.       In order for Jesus to obtain godhood, he has to leave his parents, obtain a physical body, and live a worthy life. 

3.       Mormons believe that Jesus received his body, not from Mary, but from his heavenly Father who was responsible for the impregnation of Mary.

 

D.    NOTE:  In Mormon theology, Jesus had a beginning.  He is not an eternal being.  Thus, when they baptize “in the name of Jesus,” they are not baptizing in the name of the same Jesus about whom we read in the pages of the New Testament. 

 

E.      A similar problem regarding baptism exists with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  They also teach that Jesus is a created being. 

 

III.         BAPTISM IS INVALID IF ONE DOES IT FOR THE WRONG REASON

 

A.    In Romans 6:17-18, there is an important point Paul makes about our obedience to the gospel.

 

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

 

1.        Paul tells us that obedience is supposed to be done “from the heart.”

a.       It is supposed to be done with an understanding of what one is doing.

b.      It is supposed to genuine and sincere.

2.       There are some who are baptized for the wrong reasons.  If so, it is not done from the heart.

 

B.      Examples:

1.        Baptized because your mom or dad wants you to do it.

2.       Baptized because all of your other friends did it as church camp.

3.       Baptized because the preacher put a guilt-trip or a fear-trip on you during a gospel meeting.

 

C.     In Scripture, not one person is ever coerced to be baptized.  The individual must make up his/her own mind about salvation. 

1.        I know that I am lost.

2.       I desire to be saved.

3.       I know what the Lord has commanded.

4.       I want to be baptized to wash away my sins.

5.       Examples:

a.       The Jews gladly received the word and were baptized (Acts 2:41).

b.      The eunuch saw water and asked to be baptized (Acts 8:36).

c.       Lydia wanted to be faithful to the Lord (Acts 16:15).

 

IV.        BAPTISM IS INVALID IF ONE IS BAPTIZED WITH THE WRONG BAPTISM

 

A.    Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:5 that there is “one baptism.”

1.        This is the Lord’s baptism (Acts 19:5).

2.       This is New Testament baptism.

3.       This is the baptism of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

 

B.      There are many baptisms out there.  One of the most common baptisms is sometimes referred to as the “coming out” baptism.

1.        The individual was “saved” by faith only.  He accepted Christ into his heart and said the sinner’s prayer:  at an assembly, at home, in the car, in the park, etc.  NOTE:  Only he and God knew about his salvation at that point.

2.       Baptism is when he “comes out” to the world revealing that he is saved.  Baptism is said to be the outward expression of an inwrought grace.

3.       Here is the problem.  The individual believed that he was saved before he was baptized.  Baptism did not wash away his sins.  He was not baptized to have his sins forgiven.  They had already been forgiven.

 

C.     In Acts 19, we have group of men who were baptized with the wrong baptism.  When Paul learned that they had been baptized with John’s baptism, he taught them correctly and they were baptized with the Lord’s baptism (Acts 19:3-5).

 

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John’s baptism.  Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

D.    Here is an important point that individuals need to understand.  It is impossible to be taught wrong and baptized right. 

 

V.          BAPTISM IS INVALID IF ONE DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE KINGDOM

 

A.    When a person is baptized, two things happen:

1.        His/her sins are forgiven.

2.       God translates, that is, moves the individual into the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

 

B.      Let’s look at some verses:

1.        The Samaritans

a.       “The Philip went down to Samaria, and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5).

b.      “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12).

1)       Their belief involved the authority of Jesus Christ, that is, “the name of Jesus.

2)      Their belief involved the kingdom of God, that is, the church of Christ.

2.       When a person is baptized, the Lord delivers him out of the power of darkness and translates him into the kingdom of Christ

a.       Two verses:

1)       Colossians 1:13

 

Who hath delivered us out of the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

2)      1 Corinthians 12:13

 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body…

 

b.      The denominational world does not have the proper concept of the church.

c.       Question: 

1)       Would the Lord add someone to something they do not properly understand?  Would He add them to something they do not even know exists? 

2)      Answer:  No.  Salvation involves knowing the truth.  If the truth is not known actions are not valid.

3)      I may believe that I am being baptized for the remission of sins, but if I do not understand that I have been translated into the kingdom of Christ, my baptism is not valid. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Salvation is a serious matter. 

 

B.      God expects the person who obeys the gospel to possess “the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

 

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

C.     Just being baptized is not enough for a baptism to be valid. 

1.        Baptism is valid when it is done in the right manner, immersion in water.

2.       Baptism is valid when it is done with the proper faith in Jesus Christ.

3.       Baptism is valid when it is done for the right reason, for the remission of sins.

4.       Baptism is valid when it is the correct baptism, that is, the baptism of the Lord.

5.       Baptism is valid when one understands the nature of the kingdom, that is, he knows that the Lord has added him to the precious church for which Jesus died.