The Five B’s of Baptism
by
Jim Dearman
There is much confusion about baptism. Many do not believe a person must be baptized to be saved from his sins. Others say baptism is necessary for salvation. Some say sprinkling or pouring are acceptable forms of baptism. Others say only immersion in water is acceptable. There is only one way to settle the confusion about baptism. We must go to the New Testament, which is the law for all men today. What does the Bible tell us about baptism? Its teaching is clear on this subject. Let us notice the five “B’s” of Bible baptism.
First, baptism is a BURIAL. Notice the Apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 6:3, 4; “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Paul states clearly that baptism is a burial. To bury something is to cover it completely. Sprinkling or pouring will not substitute for the burial which baptism demands. In fact, the word “baptism” itself means “to immerse, dip, plunge.” Bible baptism is a burial.
Second, baptism is for BELIEVERS. Bible baptism is for those who can show they
believe in Jesus, the Son of God. In Mark
16:16, Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he
who does not believe will be condemned.”
No where in the New Testament will one find a person baptized who was
not able to express his belief in Christ.
In Acts 8:12 we read, “But
when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of
God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” Notice that “both men and women” were baptized,
not little children. Why? Because baptism is for believers, not
babies. Babies are born innocent. They are not guilty of the sins of their
parents, as some teach (Ezekiel
Third, baptism comes BEFORE forgiveness of sins. Jesus made this clear in His statement; ”He who believes and is baptized will be saved: but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus said belief AND baptism bring salvation. He did not say belief brings salvation, and then one is baptized. One cannot be saved without baptism. In Acts 22:16, Saul of Tarsus, a man who believed in Christ, repented, and confessed Jesus as Lord, still had to be baptized to wash away his sins. There is not a single instance in the New Testament where anyone was said to be saved until he was baptized. Baptism comes BEFORE forgiveness.
Fourth, baptism is the BIRTH of the Christian. It is the beginning of the Christian’s
life. In John 3:5, Jesus told a man named Nicodemus, “... Most assuredly, I
say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
The final “B” is that Bible baptism
is where the BLOOD of Christ is
applied to cleanse us from our sins. Can
a person be saved from his sins without the blood of Christ? No! But
only in baptism is the blood applied from Heaven to take away our sins. The blood of Jesus was shed in His death. The soldier pierced the side of the slain
Saviour of the world, and “...immediately blood and water came out” (John
We should never forget the five
“B’s” of baptism. They remind us of what
the Bible teaches about this very important subject. The Bible says baptism is a BURIAL. It is for BELIEVERS,
those who can express their belief in Christ. It comes BEFORE
forgiveness of sins. It is the BIRTH of the Christian, and it is where
the precious BLOOD of Jesus is
applied to wash away our sins. Have you
received Bible baptism?