Who should be baptized?

The major divisions in Christianity are caused by differences of man's opinion concerning an answer to this question.

Again we ask just one thing ... LET THE BIBLE SPEAK FOR ITSELF AND MEAN WHAT IT WAS INTENDED TO MEAN.

To get an answer to our question and for purposes of clarity we would like to look at the New Testament in four divisions.

1. Who did John the Baptist baptize?

2. Who did Christ and the disciples baptize?

3. Who was baptized in the Book of Acts?

4. What do the Epistles say about this question?

JOHN THE BAPTIST DEMANDED REPENTANCE AND FAITH BEFORE BAPTISM

The Scriptures clearly teach that John the Baptist demanded repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as conditions for baptism.

Listen to the message of John the Baptist.

"In those days came John the Baptist, pre-aching in the. wilderness of Judea, "And saying, REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND." -Matt. 3:1, 2.

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Saddacees come to his baptism, He said unto them . . . Bring forth therefore FRUITS MEET FOR REPENTANCE." -Matt. 3:8.

The baptism of John the Baptist was called the "BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE." (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3.)

"I indeed BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER UNTO REPENTANCE . . ." -Matt. 3:11.

There is an extremely important verse in Acts that is largely overlooked when speaking of the baptism of John the Baptist. Let us look at it.

"Then said Paul, John verily baptized with THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE, saying unto the people, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME AFTER HIM, THAT IS, ON CHRIST JESUS."-Acts 19:4

In this verse the Apostle Paul sums up the ministry of John the Baptist. Notice the following facts from these scriptures:

1. John the Baptist came forth, sent from God, to call the people to repentance.

2. John the Baptist instructed those who came to him that they should believe "‘on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

3. It is plainly taught that John only baptized those who repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ.

IN THE GOSPELS, CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES ONLY BAPTIZED THOSE WHO HAD REPENTED AND BELIEVED. In the manner of John the Baptist, Christ and His disciples only baptized those who had repented and believed.

"Go ye therefore, and teach (disciple) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:. . ." -Matt. 28:19.

In this great commission to the church Christ gave the divine order. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations." In this expression the word "teach" literally means to "disciple," that is, to make disciples. The disciples were to be made . . . then baptized. This is borne out in another scripture.

"When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus MADE and BAPTIZED more disciples than John."-John 4:1.

Jesus MADE THE DISCIPLES, THEN BAPTIZED THEM. Only those who had repented and believed were baptized.

"He that BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."---- Mark 16:16 Only those who had believed were baptized.

IN THE BOOK OF ACTS ONLY THOSE WHO HAD REPENTED AND BELIEVED WERE BAPTIZED

Throughout the entire Book of Acts only those who had repented and believed were baptized.

"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." -Acts 2:38

Repentance and then baptism --- this was the order preached in the Book of Acts.

"Then THEY THAT GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD WERE BAPTIZED: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." -Acts 2:41

Only those that "gladly received his word" were baptized.

"BUT WHEN THEY BELIEVED Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, THEY WERE BAPTIZED, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN." -Acts 8:12

when they believed ... they were baptized." This is the divine, God-given order.

"Then SIMON HIMSELF BELIEVED also: and WHEN HE WAS BAPTIZED, HE CONTINUED with Philip ... 11 -Acts 8:13

Simon was baptized after he had believed.

"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?

"And Philip said, IF THOU BELIEVEST WITH ALL THINE HEART, THOU MAYEST." -Acts 8:36,37

Language could not be plainer than this. In answer to the direct question, ""WHAT DOTH HINDER ME TO BE BAPTIZED?" the direct answer was, "If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest." He had to believe before he was baptized.

In Acts 16:14, 15 it tells how Lydia "attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" and then was baptized.

In Acts 16:30-33 the jailor believed and then was baptized.

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians HEARING BELIEVED, AND WERE BAPTIZED." -Acts 18:8

Hearing ... believed ... baptized, this has always been the divine order.

THE EPISTLES TEACH THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAD REPENTED AND BELIEVED WERE BAPTIZED

Romans 6:1-10, Gal. 3:26, 27, etc. all teach that only those who had repented and believed were baptized.

Who should be baptized?

John the Baptist only baptized those who had repented and believed.

Jesus and the disciples only baptized those who had repented and believed.

The apostles and early churches only baptized those who had repented and believed.

The epistles teach that only those who had repented and believed were to be baptized.

THE ESTABLISHED BIBLE FACT THAT ONLY THOSE WHO HAD REPENTED AND BELIEVED WERE BAPTIZED EXPOSES A LOT OF ERROR IN MAN'S IDEAS CONCERNING BAPTISM

For instance, since repentance and faith must come before baptism this makes infant baptism a little ridiculous. More will be said about this in a later chapter, but it is easily seen that an infant cannot meet the requirements for baptism.

Since repentance and faith must come before baptism, it is a little ridiculous to get baptized to get saved. One who has repented and believed is already saved. Another error is exposed. More will be said about this later.

THERE IS NOT ONE SINGLE INSTANCE IN ALL THE BIBLE WHERE ANY BUT THOSE WHO HAD REPENTED AND BELIEVED WERE BAPTIZED.