Why do churches baptize? Each organization has its own explanation. The most important question is, why did Jesus and his Apostles baptize? Why did Christianity in its original form baptize?
The answer is put very simply right from the beginning of the Christian movement. Peter the Apostle, on the holiday of Pentecost, in the city of Jerusalem announced to those who felt new-found remorse over the crucifixion of Jesus and called out what shall we do? Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts of the Apostles 2:38). Why be baptized? It is part of the response the Lord requires before he will forgive our sins.
Some are so steeped in sectarian theology that they claim that Peter said, repent and be baptized because of the forgiveness of sins. In other words, baptism is not a prerequisite to the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, for them, baptism is a nice thing to do which may or may not demonstrate a new relationship to their church but is not essential.
Let’s first take note of the fact that no reputable translators of the New Testament make what Peter said, because of the forgiveness of sins. This is so even though some translation committees have included members of fellowships which would like to see it so. This includes the New International Version which is quoted above. Others include:
New King James Version: Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
New American Standard Version: Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
English Standard Version: And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
King James Bible: Then Peter said unto them, 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.
The Message [another paraphrase]: Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven.
Living Bible [a paraphrase not a translation]: And Peter replied, each one of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit.
That should be enough for now; but there are more, of course.
It was clear to all these translators that the response of Peter the Apostle regarding the purpose of baptism, was for or to obtain the forgiveness of sins.
That this was the understanding of the original Christians is also seen in the immediate application of baptism even under difficult circumstances. Consider the following examples.
Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. This despite the logistical difficulties involved. It was certainly possible to immerse 3,000 people in a single day in Jerusalem but not easy. What was the hurry. Because, of course, it was urgent, necessary for the forgiveness of sins.
Acts 16:33: At that hour of the night the jailer took them [the Apostle Paul and his assistant Silas} and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
When Jesus met Paul the Apostle on the road to Damascus he told him to go into the city and once there someone would tell him what to do. He was met by a disciple named Ananias. After some initial explanation, Ananias, Jesus’ messenger in this case, said to Paul, and now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name (Acts 22:16).
Consider also that Christians believed that they were joined to Jesus in his burial and resurrection by being baptized, that is,by their own burial in and resurrection from water. Remember, the letters of Paul were mostly written to churches or individuals who were part of churches. In other words, he was writing to those who were already baptized. Consequently, there are no direct pleas for them to be baptized. But, on occasion he reminded his fellow Christians of their baptism. Such is the case in the letter to the Roman church: What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his (Romans 6:1-5). There is no union with Jesus without baptism. No baptism, no union with Jesus who takes away sin, no forgiveness, plain and simple.
In the Apostle’s letter to the Galatian churches he wrote, so in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:26-27). By baptism we are clothed with Christ. God sees Christ, not us or our sins. No baptism, naked and unpresentable.
The Apostle Peter, who spoke on the aforementioned Jewish holiday of Pentecost, wrote, and this water [of the Noahic flood] symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him (1 Peter 3:21-22).
Some object to baptism for forgiveness of sins on the ground that it seems as though the idea of forgiveness through baptism claims that the water itself saves. This is not the case. It is God that saves. He made baptism a condition. If it follows faith and repentance, it is God’s way of granting mercy. If it doesn’t make sense to us, it is all the more reason to believe it. In fact, it is precisely because it seems to make no sense to us that God chose it! It is God’s sovereign choice not an attempt to make sense to us. Faith should operate apart from our own sense. Paul wrote, we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). We should not decide based on how it appears to us, but rather by what the Lord has said.
The final words in the Gospel of Matthew say, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, [by] baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
If you haven’t been dipped in water for forgiveness of your sins, don’t delay. Get up and be baptized.
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