Introduction

In a previous article, we looked at teaching and baptism from the teacher’s side of things. The fact that you teach first, then baptize, then teach some more.

In this article, we’ll look at it from the student’s point of view and ask how you were taught and then baptized. Some people may be surprised that there are right ways and wrong ways to both teach and to baptize people.

You CAN be Taught Wrong and Baptized Wrong

Most denominations have cornered the market on this statement. The majority will baptize infants because they believe in original sin. In other words, babies are born in sin; inherited from their parents who inherited from their parents and so on all the way back to Adam and Eve in the Garden.

Their defense for this is to state reference Jesus in Mark 10:13-16, Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. “Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

Because Jesus touched them, this is the equivalent of baptizing or christening them. But it doesn’t say that anywhere. Blessing a child or person, for that matter, isn’t the same thing.

In regard to inheriting a parent’s sin, the prophet Ezekiel has the answer, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” (Ezekiel 18:20) No infant has committed a sin as they don’t even know the difference between right and wrong. They can’t even believe as Jesus states is one of the prerequisites (Mk. 16:16).

They even go further as to say that it’s the parents who believe on behalf of the child. There isn’t a single verse in all of scripture that supports that belief.

You CAN’T be Taught Wrong and Baptized Right

The Baptist denomination hold sway on this statement. Even some of the Catholic groups do as well. The incorrect mode of baptism is by sprinkling or pouring water on a person’s head. This includes adults as well as children.

The correct mode of baptism is by immersion, a burial of the body completely under water. And even if someone is baptized this way doesn’t make it correct if they were taught the wrong reason for being baptized in the first place.

The Baptist groups draw the conclusion that all you have to do to be saved is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins. Belief is just one part, but not whole part. And yet, they’ll tell you a different story.

While they assert that you are saved once you believe, you have to be baptized to become a member of their faith. The way it is put is that baptism is ‘an outward sign of an inward grace.’ Yet, they don’t have any scripture to support this belief.

Here’s what happens, they go to Mark 16:16, and they will put a stranglehold on the second half of the verse which reads, “…but he who does not believe will be condemned.” As stated before, they insist that Jesus should have said, ‘not believe and is not baptized.’ But it makes it redundant.

Turning to James chapter 2, the writer makes a statement to show why baptism is necessary; even though people call it a work. Look at verses 17-24 and you’ll get a clear picture. To save space in this article, we’ll look at verse 17 and then verse 24,

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)

Here then is where the phrase, ‘faith only’ is found in scripture and it shows that it isn’t alone in the scheme of redemption. You can’t be taught wrong and baptized right.

You CAN be Taught Right and Baptized Wrong

This might sound like an odd statement unless you are familiar with Apollos and the disciples from Acts 19. We are first introduced to Apollos in Acts 18 and in verse 25 we notice a problem, This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:25) Somehow, Apollos slipped through the proverbial cracks of being baptized in the name of Jesus. As the verse states, very plainly, he taught accurately up to a point.

He was taken aside by Aquila and Priscilla and taught more accurately (vs.26). We can conclude, by necessary inference, that he was re-baptized in the name of Jesus as those in Ephesus were as well.

Paul’s encounter with those disciples of John’s (Acts 19:1-5) tells us that Apollos was the one who had taught them. They were instructed correctly up to a point, but Paul encouraged them and finished the teaching which prompted to be re-baptized. Instead of being baptized according to John’s baptism, they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Although it does sound unusual, it has an example found in scripture.

Sometimes, those of the International churches of Christ or others, from more liberal congregations, might choose to be re-baptized when they are taught more accurately the things of the Lord. It should be on a case-by-case situation and not forced or demanded of them.

You CAN be taught Right and Baptized Right

Finally, we come to this last point and it, of course, is the once taught in scripture. Looking at the first half of Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” If you believe then you will be baptized immediately. The second half of the verse is irrelevant to you.

Someone might say, “Wait, where does scripture say, ‘immediately’? For that, we turn to the latter half of Acts 16. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Thyatira, they were heard singing and praying at midnight (vs. 25). A great earthquake shook the foundation and opened all the prison doors and loosened the shackles. We pick up the story in verse 27,

And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 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.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. (Acts 16:27-33)

Notice, again, in verse 25 that it was midnight, and then in verse 33 it says they were immediately baptized. This shows how urgent the situation is. Paul didn’t tell them that now that they heard the gospel, the next time they pass through they would be baptized then. No, they were baptized at that very moment in time.

Paul further confirms this when he wrote, Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:11) He says, ‘we persuade men’. This shows the urgency of the need to be taught and baptized for salvation.

It also shows that belief and baptism go together. It’s to wash away you sins (Acts 22:16) and to be added to the church (Acts 2:47). We’re not talking about a denomination either, we’re talking about the one true church which Jesus promised to build (Mt. 16:18).

Conclusion

Before you go running to the water to be baptized by immersion, make sure you understand why this is necessary. Don’t just assume, actually think about it.

Paul wrote, 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. (1 Corinthians 1:17) This is not to say that baptism isn’t essential, but that the teaching of Christ must come first or you just become a wet sinner.