Why I Am A Baptist
by Pastor Coleman
First of all, I am a not a Baptist by denomination, but by biblical definition. So it does not matter if "Baptists" sully their name by bad behaviour or false doctrine, I am going to stick with the name Baptist because that is the name God gave. I have outlined the details of my reasoning below:
1. It's a God-given name.
Luke chapter one tells us of the birth of John the Baptist to an aged couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, when they were past child-bearing years. God sent an angel to announce that they would be having a child, what he would be like and what his purpose in life would be. The angel also told them what to name the child.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
In John 1:6, the Bible says, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John." This John is later called, John the Baptist, by Jesus Himself.
Matthew 11:7-11 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
The reason He was called John the Baptist is because He was sent from God to baptize.
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me
Yet, God did not call him John the Baptizer, but John the Baptist. Baptizer identifies what he did. Baptist identifies what he is. Just as there is a difference between a painter and an artist, there is a difference between those who claim they baptize people and those who are Baptists.
There are many who because of denominationalism prefer to be called Christians. While there is nothing wrong with the term Christian, and I do not mind being called that, I prefer to call myself a Baptist as that is a God-given name, whereas Christian is a man-given name.
Acts 11:26 ...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
They didn't call themselves that. They were called that by unbelievers because they were always preaching about Jesus, telling the people that Jesus, Who had died, risen from the dead and taught them for forty days before ascending back up to heaven, was the Christ (Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah).
I would rather bear the name God gave to the man He sent to baptize (Baptist), than a name given by unbelievers (Christian). While I am not ahamed of the gospel of Christ, and will gladly bear the name Christian, I prefer the name Baptist and I hope to always be worthy of that name. Baptists have always been the people who stood for truth the most, who contended for the faith with the most resoluteness. I intend to be faithful to God and His Word until He calls me home to glory!
2. It's a God-given command.
Jesus is God manifested in the flesh.
John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...
He commanded the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel and to baptize those who believed the gospel.
Mark 16:14-16 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The fact that He commanded them to preach the gospel and then to baptize those who believe is made even clearer in Matthew:
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The gospel they are to preach is the good news (gospel is from good spiel, spiel meaning tidings, news; hence, good news) that Jesus, the Messiah, came and paid the wages of sin for us and then rose from the dead, proving His ability to pay the full price of all the sins of all the world from the beginning of history to the last man. Thus making it possible for God to save the souls of man. But, of course, since love never forces, God will not save anyone without their consent, so He offers eternal life to all and gives it to those who choose to believe the good news and put their trust in the Lord Jesus as their only hope of salvation from hell, and as their only Saviour. Since we deserve an eternal hell for the sins we have committed against the eternal God, it certainly is good news to find that the very God we sinned against loves us enough to pay for our sins. And being eternal, He could do it.
Since Jesus died, was buried and then rose from the dead, when we believe in Him as our Saviour, He wants us to confess our faith before men (publicly) and follow in His steps by being baptized. Jesus set the example for us when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour. So biblical baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21) when we declare by virtue of a public confession and the willingness to show publicly by baptism that our faith is in the One who died (stand in water), was buried (lowered under water) and rose again (brought back up out of water).
The Scriptures reveal this pattern, Believe in Christ, publicly profess your faith in Him, follow His example by being baptized.
The following Scriptures show this pattern:
Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Philip and Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Saul, the Former Persecuter of Those Who Believed In Jesus
Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
God directs a disciple named Ananias to find Saul and tell him some things. Here's the result:
Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Cornelius
Act 10:36-48 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord...
It is apparent that Cornelius believed what Peter preached unto him about Jesus because the Holy Ghost would not come upon unbelievers.
Philippian Jailer
Acts 16:23-33 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
3. The Mode of Baptism
Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The proper mode of baptism, therefore, is by immersion, not by pouring or sprinkling. Who would pour or sprinkle dirt on a dead body and consider that burial? That only pictures being dirty!
Bible examples:
Jesus' baptism.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water...
If He went up out of the water after being baptized, he had to have gone down into the water to be baptized!
Ethiopian Eunuch's baptism.
Acts 8:38-39 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water...
Philippian Jailer's baptism.
Acts 16:32-34 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them...
Paul and Silas went to the jailer's house to speak unto him the Word of the Lord (vs. 32), but then the jailer took them out somewhere, apparently where there was a lot of water, to wash their wounds. While in that place where there was much water, Paul and Silas baptized the Jailer and the people of his household who believed in Christ (vs.33); then the Jailer brought them back into his house and fed them (vs. 34).
John the Baptist's converts.
John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
You have to have a lot of water in order to baptized properly. It doesn't have to be a river, just "much water", though rivers are usually an easy place to find "much water".
4. Jesus was a Baptist.
As we have already seen, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus sought him out because John the Baptist was the only one authorized by God at that time to baptize with water.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me...
John 4:1-2 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
I believe Jesus did not actually baptize with water, because:
1) He was going to baptize with the Holy Ghost, meaning He was going to immerse believers in the Holy Ghost (Spirit). In other words, immerse them under the influence of the Holy Spirit so much that they would follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and thereby accomplish great things;
2) He did not want people boasting that they had been "baptized by Jesus" after He ascended back into heaven. Very wise!
5. All the disciples were Baptists.
It is apparent that, just as Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, all of Jesus' disciples had also been baptized by John the Baptist.
After Judas betrayed the Lord and Jesus had ascended back up to heaven, the disciples met to decide who would take Judas' place. One of the prerequisites was that he had been baptized by John the Baptist.
Acts 1:21-22 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Additionally, John Clark Ridpath, a Methodist by denomination, and considered by some to be the greatest historian the religious world has known, is on record as saying, "all Christians were then Baptists," speaking of the first century, A.D.
6. Baptists are the only group that did not come from Catholicism or some other pagan religious group.
All Protestants came out of the Catholic religion. The various denominations of Protestants were mostly started by Catholic priests, who protested certain doctrines decreed by the Vatican, between the years 1517 and 1648. Baptists have always been in existence from the days of John the Baptist and Jesus' disciples. Learn more about that here.
In conclusion, I care not for the boasting that some do for being a Baptist. Those that do so are boasting about a denomination. I am not doing that. I am merely determined to be what God wants me to be. I take no pride in anything I do. I am humbled and grateful for my salvation and just want to be what God wants me to be. The Scriptures make it plain that God wanted His people to be called Baptists. He didn't say, start a denomination, He gave a command and we are to fulfill that command. That identifies us as Baptists, and of that I am not ashamed.
A Parting Shot
It occurred to me, I ought to make one more important point; not another point of why I am a Baptist, but a reason I would never give as to why I am a Baptist.
Why I Would Never Be a Baptist.
Because my parents were. This is how the devil gets control of so many people in the world. People do not make as many choices as they ought to because they are lazy minded when it comes to spiritual issues. They are content to bear the label their parents had.
Most Muslims are Muslim because their parents were. Most Buddhists are Buddhist because their parents were. Most Catholics are Catholic because their parents were. This is foolish in light of Romans 14:12:
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
See my article on "Don't Follow the Crowd" for more on this.
Take responsibility for your own life, your own soul, your own eternal destiny.
God will bless you according to your faith in Him and His Word!
1. It's a God-given name.
Luke chapter one tells us of the birth of John the Baptist to an aged couple, Zacharias and Elizabeth, when they were past child-bearing years. God sent an angel to announce that they would be having a child, what he would be like and what his purpose in life would be. The angel also told them what to name the child.
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
In John 1:6, the Bible says, "There was a man sent from God whose name was John." This John is later called, John the Baptist, by Jesus Himself.
Matthew 11:7-11 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
The reason He was called John the Baptist is because He was sent from God to baptize.
John 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me
Yet, God did not call him John the Baptizer, but John the Baptist. Baptizer identifies what he did. Baptist identifies what he is. Just as there is a difference between a painter and an artist, there is a difference between those who claim they baptize people and those who are Baptists.
There are many who because of denominationalism prefer to be called Christians. While there is nothing wrong with the term Christian, and I do not mind being called that, I prefer to call myself a Baptist as that is a God-given name, whereas Christian is a man-given name.
Acts 11:26 ...And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
They didn't call themselves that. They were called that by unbelievers because they were always preaching about Jesus, telling the people that Jesus, Who had died, risen from the dead and taught them for forty days before ascending back up to heaven, was the Christ (Greek for the Hebrew word Messiah).
I would rather bear the name God gave to the man He sent to baptize (Baptist), than a name given by unbelievers (Christian). While I am not ahamed of the gospel of Christ, and will gladly bear the name Christian, I prefer the name Baptist and I hope to always be worthy of that name. Baptists have always been the people who stood for truth the most, who contended for the faith with the most resoluteness. I intend to be faithful to God and His Word until He calls me home to glory!
2. It's a God-given command.
Jesus is God manifested in the flesh.
John 1:1,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh...
He commanded the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel and to baptize those who believed the gospel.
Mark 16:14-16 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The fact that He commanded them to preach the gospel and then to baptize those who believe is made even clearer in Matthew:
Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The gospel they are to preach is the good news (gospel is from good spiel, spiel meaning tidings, news; hence, good news) that Jesus, the Messiah, came and paid the wages of sin for us and then rose from the dead, proving His ability to pay the full price of all the sins of all the world from the beginning of history to the last man. Thus making it possible for God to save the souls of man. But, of course, since love never forces, God will not save anyone without their consent, so He offers eternal life to all and gives it to those who choose to believe the good news and put their trust in the Lord Jesus as their only hope of salvation from hell, and as their only Saviour. Since we deserve an eternal hell for the sins we have committed against the eternal God, it certainly is good news to find that the very God we sinned against loves us enough to pay for our sins. And being eternal, He could do it.
Since Jesus died, was buried and then rose from the dead, when we believe in Him as our Saviour, He wants us to confess our faith before men (publicly) and follow in His steps by being baptized. Jesus set the example for us when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour. So biblical baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21) when we declare by virtue of a public confession and the willingness to show publicly by baptism that our faith is in the One who died (stand in water), was buried (lowered under water) and rose again (brought back up out of water).
The Scriptures reveal this pattern, Believe in Christ, publicly profess your faith in Him, follow His example by being baptized.
The following Scriptures show this pattern:
Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Philip and Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:35-38 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Saul, the Former Persecuter of Those Who Believed In Jesus
Acts 9:1-6 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
God directs a disciple named Ananias to find Saul and tell him some things. Here's the result:
Acts 9:17-18 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
Cornelius
Act 10:36-48 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord...
It is apparent that Cornelius believed what Peter preached unto him about Jesus because the Holy Ghost would not come upon unbelievers.
Philippian Jailer
Acts 16:23-33 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
3. The Mode of Baptism
Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The proper mode of baptism, therefore, is by immersion, not by pouring or sprinkling. Who would pour or sprinkle dirt on a dead body and consider that burial? That only pictures being dirty!
Bible examples:
Jesus' baptism.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water...
If He went up out of the water after being baptized, he had to have gone down into the water to be baptized!
Ethiopian Eunuch's baptism.
Acts 8:38-39 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
39 And when they were come up out of the water...
Philippian Jailer's baptism.
Acts 16:32-34 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them...
Paul and Silas went to the jailer's house to speak unto him the Word of the Lord (vs. 32), but then the jailer took them out somewhere, apparently where there was a lot of water, to wash their wounds. While in that place where there was much water, Paul and Silas baptized the Jailer and the people of his household who believed in Christ (vs.33); then the Jailer brought them back into his house and fed them (vs. 34).
John the Baptist's converts.
John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
You have to have a lot of water in order to baptized properly. It doesn't have to be a river, just "much water", though rivers are usually an easy place to find "much water".
4. Jesus was a Baptist.
As we have already seen, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus sought him out because John the Baptist was the only one authorized by God at that time to baptize with water.
John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me...
John 4:1-2 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
I believe Jesus did not actually baptize with water, because:
1) He was going to baptize with the Holy Ghost, meaning He was going to immerse believers in the Holy Ghost (Spirit). In other words, immerse them under the influence of the Holy Spirit so much that they would follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and thereby accomplish great things;
2) He did not want people boasting that they had been "baptized by Jesus" after He ascended back into heaven. Very wise!
5. All the disciples were Baptists.
It is apparent that, just as Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, all of Jesus' disciples had also been baptized by John the Baptist.
After Judas betrayed the Lord and Jesus had ascended back up to heaven, the disciples met to decide who would take Judas' place. One of the prerequisites was that he had been baptized by John the Baptist.
Acts 1:21-22 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Additionally, John Clark Ridpath, a Methodist by denomination, and considered by some to be the greatest historian the religious world has known, is on record as saying, "all Christians were then Baptists," speaking of the first century, A.D.
6. Baptists are the only group that did not come from Catholicism or some other pagan religious group.
All Protestants came out of the Catholic religion. The various denominations of Protestants were mostly started by Catholic priests, who protested certain doctrines decreed by the Vatican, between the years 1517 and 1648. Baptists have always been in existence from the days of John the Baptist and Jesus' disciples. Learn more about that here.
In conclusion, I care not for the boasting that some do for being a Baptist. Those that do so are boasting about a denomination. I am not doing that. I am merely determined to be what God wants me to be. I take no pride in anything I do. I am humbled and grateful for my salvation and just want to be what God wants me to be. The Scriptures make it plain that God wanted His people to be called Baptists. He didn't say, start a denomination, He gave a command and we are to fulfill that command. That identifies us as Baptists, and of that I am not ashamed.
A Parting Shot
It occurred to me, I ought to make one more important point; not another point of why I am a Baptist, but a reason I would never give as to why I am a Baptist.
Why I Would Never Be a Baptist.
Because my parents were. This is how the devil gets control of so many people in the world. People do not make as many choices as they ought to because they are lazy minded when it comes to spiritual issues. They are content to bear the label their parents had.
Most Muslims are Muslim because their parents were. Most Buddhists are Buddhist because their parents were. Most Catholics are Catholic because their parents were. This is foolish in light of Romans 14:12:
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
See my article on "Don't Follow the Crowd" for more on this.
Take responsibility for your own life, your own soul, your own eternal destiny.
God will bless you according to your faith in Him and His Word!
"He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."
- Jesus, in John 12:48 -
- Jesus, in John 12:48 -
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