November 4, 2007                                                                                                             Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

When Not to Baptize

 

Introduction: This is the third in our “When Not To. . .” series. Solomon listed 14 pairs of things saying that there was a time and season for everything under heaven. Half of those were things not to do. We have already discussed: “When Not to Talk,” and “When Not to Confess Sins.” Today consider, “When Not to Baptize.”

 

Example of John the Baptist: “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Matt. 3:7-9.)

 

John the Baptist baptized many of the Jews in the River Jordan. His baptism was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mark 1:4.) John also baptized Jesus Christ whom he, at first, refused because he knew Jesus. John said, I have need to be baptized of you and you come to me? John submitted to Jesus’ request and baptized him in the Jordan. But John refused to baptize some of the Pharisees and Sadducees because they had not repented. Therefore, there is a time to not baptize a person. If it is evident that the person has not repented, but is doing it for some other reason, then that person ought to be refused and told to bring forth fruits that demonstrate repentance. John’s and Christian baptism is a baptism of repentance for the remission of sin. Peter told those on Pentecost, Repent and be baptized everyone of you. (Acts 2:38.) Repentance must precede baptism or the baptism is invalid. This is why John refused to baptize the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were trying to stay ahead of the crowd and remain their religious leaders, but they knew that they were behind them instead. It is a sad picture of supposed leaders trying to get to the head of the group. There is a time not to baptize some people.

 

Example of Paul: “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gauis; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized the household of Stephanus, besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Cor. 1:13-17.)

 

Divisions existed in the church at Corinth. Some were claiming to be followers of those who taught and baptized them. They were carnal in following men, instead of following Jesus Christ. For this reason, Paul added that he thanked God that he had not baptized more of them than he did. That is, if they were going to behave this way, he was glad that he did not personally baptize any more of them, lest they should say that he had baptized in his own name. In the process of making these statements, Paul named two things that are necessary before one can be a follower of Jesus Christ. They are: 1) Jesus would need to be crucified for you, and 2) you would need to be baptized in his name. Since that could not be said of Paul, Cephas or Apollos or any other man, then the Corinthians could not follow them. There is a time not to baptize some people.

 

Example of Jesus Christ: “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples), he left Judae and departed again into Galilee.” (John 4:1-3.)

 

The Bible does not tell us why Jesus did not baptize people. He could have baptized thousands; many would, no doubt, have wanted to have been baptized by Him, the Son of God! If Jesus came to earth today, multitudes would line up to be baptized by Jesus Christ if he announced that he was going to perform some baptisms. It is noteworthy that Jesus commanded baptism as a part of our response to the Gospel. (Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24.) Yet, Jesus did not baptize lost people.

 

It should be noted that John baptized in water, but Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit and in fire. (Matt. 3:11-12.) In many respects, these two baptisms are greater than water baptism. That is John’s point here. He, in effect, said, I just baptize people in water, but there comes one after me who is mightier (KJV), more powerful (NIV), than I.

I do not think that it is difficult to figure out why Jesus did not baptize people in water. Many would have been baptized by him for the wrong reasons. They would have boasted to others who were not baptized by Jesus that they were nearer to God and had greater assurance of salvation. Parents would have wanted their small children to all be baptized by him, even though they were not old enough. People would have ignored old John the Baptist. He would have lost his position as the baptizer. There is a time when not to baptize people. Jesus knew the carnal nature of people.

 

Times When Not to Baptize Others or Be Baptized by Others

 

1—When tourists want to be baptized again in the River Jordan. I have heard that tourists, who visit the Holy Lands and the supposed site of the baptism of Jesus, will often be baptized again. Is there something special about the waters of the Jordan? Will that ensure your salvation if you are baptized where Jesus was immersed? To use the words of Naaman: “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than (or just as good as) the waters of Israel?” (2 Kings 5:12.) There is no advantage in being baptized in the same river in which Jesus was baptized.

 

2—When the preacher tells you before baptism that you are already saved. Often people today are told, before they are baptized, that they are already saved. Being baptized simply makes them a member of that local church, they believe. Baptism is often used as an initiation rite for church membership, but is not connected in any way to salvation.

 

John the Baptist did not want to baptize Jesus because Jesus did not need his baptism. It was a baptism of repentance (which Jesus did not need to do) and for the remission of sins (Jesus had no sin). (Mark 1:4.) Jesus is the only person who was free of sin before baptism. The Bible teaches that baptism is “to wash away our sins.” (Acts 22:16.) That is what water symbolizes. Are you clothes clean before you wash them or afterwards? Is your car clean before you carry it to be washed? Are the dishes clean before you put them in the dish washer? Is a sinner clean of his sins before baptism or when he is baptized? The Bible answers clearly—it is when he is baptized. (Mark 16:16.)

 

3—When people are being baptized for others. There is a religious body who baptizes “for the dead.” (1 Cor. 15:29.) In Salt Lake City, one church has thousands of files of people for whom others have been baptized. You can go there as a member of that church and be baptized many times over for family and friends. They put their names and relationships in their files.

There is no biblical foundation for such a practice. If one can be baptized for another, can one repent, or confess, or believe for another? Can you attend church for another? It is easy to see why such a practice could arise. People are naturally concerned for others who have not obeyed the Gospel. The rich man did not say to Abraham, “Send someone back and tell those on earth to be baptized for him, or to offer some sacrifice for him.” He was concerned about his five brothers. Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:27-31.)

 

The famous preacher, brother Marshall Keeble, was once baptizing people in a river. He noticed that the clothes of the candidates were wet before he baptized them. He wondered if he was baptizing some of the same people over and over. He asked one man, Why are your clothes wet? Have I already baptized you? The man replied that they were changing behind the trees so they would have some dry clothes to wear home. They were all using the same wet clothes! No one should be baptized over and over, or for someone else.

 

4—When people practice baptismal regeneration. There are many different ways in which people show that they believe in baptismal regeneration and practice it. This phrase means that one believes that the act of being immersed in water regenerates the heart of the sinner. Let me illustrate the concept.

 

The clearest example is the baptism of infants. It should be obvious that an infant does not understand what is happening when he is sprinkled or immersed. Often it is annoying to an infant; he wonders what is happening and why these adults are making his head wet! Yet the adults believe that somehow just the act of “baptism” alone regenerates the infant and removes original sin. Regardless of what the adults believe, such a ceremony (that is all that is happening) is of no spiritual value. It does not regenerate the heart of the infant.

 

Many people are baptized with no desire to change their lives or make a genuine commitment to the Lord. They attend for a few Sundays and a few times a year after that. Why were they baptized? They were baptized because they had never been immersed into Christ and they believe that just the act of baptism, without repentance and very little faith, will save them. They believe in baptismal regeneration, even if they do not know what it means.

 

Another example is “just-in-case-baptisms.” People sometimes are told to be baptized just-in-case. There may be something wrong with your baptism; so do again just-in-case. But no one can be biblically baptized “just-in-case” because conversion is a process that involves godly sorrow, a change of heart, and the spirit of man being born of the Spirit of God. (John 3:3-5.) Baptism is not just a physical exercise; it is pre-eminently spiritual in nature. Just being baptized with the right words said over you does not regenerate the heart and bring salvation.

 

Conclusion: Who should be baptized? Adult penitent believers should be. Luke recorded: “Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” (Acts 5:14.) “The Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” (Acts 18:8.)