In my studies of the Bible I have come across some very disputed scriptures. Churches all over the world are arguing over beliefs and practices that are pretty wild, some of which I could never imagine.Until recently, I thought there was no way a fundamental Christian principle like baptism could be disputed, but when I was having a discussion with a very close friend, I found that I was not well read on the subject. Being the Christian that I am, I set out to study the Scripture and find the true teachings behind baptism.

As always, it is my will to provide literature that refutes the false teachings of the world and to enlighten those who wish to find the true meaning of the Scripture. I have studied all Scripture straight out of the Bible, not from what people have told me it meant. I have kept all Scripture in context, a point many other authors and preachers fail to pay attention to. I have not twisted any verses to fit what I am trying to prove.

When I speak of baptism in this paper, I am referring to the actual physical baptism of the body, not the "baptism of the holy spirit". This is another highly disputed subject, and it will be discussed in another paper. There are many different ideas in the Church today about baptism. First, let's discuss the different practices.

Many different types of baptism are implemented today. The majority of the Protestant churches practice total immersion: the person is totally submerged under water and is then brought back up. Other churches, such as Catholics and Presbyterians, practice 'sprinkling': simply sprinkling water over the person, or sometimes pouring a cup of water on them. What does the Bible teach?

The word 'baptism' essentially means 'submerge'.

"and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptised him."

Acts 8:38

If baptism did not mean 'submerge', then it would not have been necessary to go down into the water.

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened..."

Mark 1:9-10

Christ himself was baptised by being submerged. To come out of the water, he must have been in it. Nowhere in the Bible is a baptism performed by 'sprinkling'. So the Bible teaches total submergence, then what does the baptism actually mean?

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Romans 6:3-4

The baptism symbolizes death from your sins and resurrection through Jesus Christ. It symbolizes your sins being washed away and you rising a new clean spirit. This simple fact of the matter shows that the 'sprinkling' practice has no symbolism, defeating its purpose.

Many churches teach have strayed from what the Bible teaches. The most fundamental element of Christianity is that Jesus Christ alone gave us the gift of salvation from our sin by dying on the cross. It was his blood that brought atonement for our sins, and nothing else. This is a major principle that separates Catholics from Protestants, yet there are still Protestant churches who dispute this issue. Works have no part in the salvation process. Yet many churches insist that baptism is what actually saves your soul from hell. They say that believing and trusting in Christ gets you to the point of baptism, and the baptism saves you, completing the process.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast:"

Ephesians 2:8-9

It is the clear message of the New Testament that faith alone saves. The Bible makes it very clear that works do not save. Over sixty times the New Testament states that salvation is received by faith with no mention of baptism.

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

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

Colossians 2:11-12

Here Paul parallels baptism with circumcision.

"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision?

How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteouness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness migh be imputed unto them also:

And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faithof our father Abraham, which he had being yet unircumcised.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abragam, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

Romans 3:9-13

Here Paul refutes the heresy that the church was teaching, saying that he was saved before he was circumcised, not at the point he was circumcised. The Lord commanded to Israel to be circumcised upon being saved to outwardly acknowledge Him, identifying himself with God and God's chosen people. Circumcision never made anyone a Jew and likewise baptism does not make one a child of God.

When baptism is mentioned in the same reference as salvation, it is never in direct connection to the actual salvation. It is always saying that the person(s) in regard were baptised because they were saved, not that they were saved because of baptism.

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 2:38

Here the Greek preposition for 'for' is 'eis', meaning 'on account of'. It is saying ,

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ on account of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

It is because of a simple misinterpretation of the scripture that many believe this passage makes baptism essential to salvation. The same mistake with the same word is often made in interpreting Mark 1:4 and Luke 3:3, also. If Peter had preached in Acts that baptism gave salvation, he would have contradicted the clear meaning of Ephesians 2:8-9. Why would he make such a mistake or overlook telling the people this unbelievably important step to salvation? Especially if he was a man lead by God himself, writing the infalliable Word of God? Because baptism is not a necessary step to be saved. So what is necessary to be saved? Faith alone.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

John 3:36

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

John 5:24

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."

John 6:47

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"

John 11:25

"But these are write, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

John 20:31

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:15-16

Now we have made clear the true teaching of the Scripture(using only one book!), let's see some examples of it being put to use in the Bible.

"While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghostfell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, necause that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

'Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have recieved the Holy Ghost as well as we?'

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry in certain days."

Acts 10:44-48

Here both baptised and unbaptised men were given the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the unbaptised were baptised afterwards. As with all of the other gifts of God, God's gifts are not given to the unsaved. They are gifts to the saved for choosing salvation. The obvious problem with believing that baptism brings salvation is that God gave these men the gift of the Holy Spirit even though they had never been baptised. Either God can't stick to his promises, or baptism did not bring these men their salvation. Another example includes:

"And he said unto Jesus,

'Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.'

And Jesus said unto him,

'Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.'"

Luke 23:42-43

This passage is one that every person who believes that baptism brings salvation chooses to ignore. Here Jesus is hanging on the cross between two thieves about to die. One of the thieves lifts his head and asks Jesus to remember him. Jesus replies saying that he will be with him that very day. This man repented face to face with the Lord and was forgiven, no strings attached, just as promised. There was no way for the thief to step down from the cross and get baptised, yet he was saved. Many argue that if a man dies without being baptised, it was his fault that he did not come to Christ earlier. This man repented just moments before dying, and he was forgiven!

This passage brings me to a point: every Christian must use reason when attempting to understand the Scripture. In my mind, there is one gaping problem in believing that baptism is what brings salvation: God would not allow baptism to bring salvation. Yes, you heard me right. That is my own opinion, but it is justified. If I were anywhere else than in my safe little church listening to a preacher, things would be different. Let's say I'm walking home one night and came to Christ right before I'm robbed and held to gunpoint by a thief. There are no baptysmal pools in sight. This thief has just become my one and only God; he alone has the power now to send me to heaven or hell. He has the power to either allow me to go, get baptised, and finally 'achieve' salvation. Or he can kill this believer and allow him to burn in hell. I simply find it impossible for such a great God to allow such a mistake to take place. This is not the God that I believe in. This is not the God that saved me from my sins.

In John, Jesus made a statement that he followed up with a question:

"And whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

John 11:26

If you believe that baptism brings salvation, you would have to stand there and tell Jesus,"No, I don't believe that, not unless they've been baptised!" I wouldn't choose to be in a church that disagrees with Jesus on his own doctrine, and I don't recommend that anyone else should try it. I believe Jesus knows his own rules; it's pretty foolish for a church to disagree.

"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him,

'Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.'

Jesus answered and said unto him,

'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Exceept a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'

Nicodemus saith unto him,

'How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?'

Jesus answered.

'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'"

John 3:1-5

Water baptism is not even mentioned here, it is speaking of the water associated with physical birth.

"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

I Peter 3:21

Those that believe baptism brings salvation focus totally on the first half of this verse and totally ignore the second half of it. The second half of this verse was written to refute any idea that baptism saves anyone!

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."

Mark 16:16

Most denominations that believe that baptism is necessary for for salvation cannot honestly use this verse in defense of their doctrine. Most of these denominations helped to translate the New International Version (NIV) Bible, and these NIV scholars claim that this verse does not really appear in the Bible. Someone arguing that baptism is necessary for salvation couldn't argue their point using this verse because their denomination says this verse doesn't exist! But Mark 16:16 is part of the Majority Text, meaning it appears in about 95% of the original Greek Bible Manuscripts and is found in early church writings since 150 A.D.. This said, I will continue with my point with all technicalities set aside. This verse is often interpreted as meaning,

"He who does not believe or is not baptised will not be saved."

This is not the meaning, though. The verse only says if one does not believe, will he be condemned, since not believing is the only thing that could render you lost. Why would Jesus make such a vague statement to begin with? Because he wasn't speaking on salvation, but rather the signs of someone who is a believer. One of the signs of a true believer is that they have been baptised as instructed. Notice Mark 16:17 begins with:

"And these signs will follow those who believe: ..."

For one to argue that this passage supports the idea of baptism being essential to salvation, they must take it out of context and ignore the passages around it.

This paper has helped me in ways I could never imagine. It has made me aware of what I believe, why I believe it, and the false teachings that are being spread in the world today. When I began writing this paper, I was dumbfounded. A few days before, I had a serious discussion with a very close friend on this subject. I knew what I thought I believed, but when questioned, I was unprepared. I had no idea why I believed what I did. So I took the Bible, the ultimate source for spiritual guidance, and began studying. At first I believed what I had been told. Then I started actually investigating the passages themselves, and found that I was making the mistake of looking at the verse and not the context. Through testing each verse with the time tested method described above and in other papers of mine, the correct interpretation became evident, disproving other interpretations.I hope that this paper has allowed someone to see what baptism is: a ritual, nothing more, nothing less.