Baptist…
The name ‘Baptist’ summarizes the biblical truths concerning both the
subjects and the mode of baptism. To speak of the ‘subjects’ of
baptism, we refer to the truth that baptism is for disciples only.
Reformed Baptists owe a great debt to the Reformed paedobaptists because
their writings have shaped, challenged, warmed, and guided them again
and again. Yet, the Bible is not silent about the issue of baptism. The
fact that baptism is for disciples only is the clear and indisputable
teaching of the Word of God. The subjects of baptism are not to be
discovered in Genesis but in the Gospels and in the Epistles. Baptism is
an ordinance of the New Covenant which must be understood in the light
of New Covenant revelation. There is not one single shred of evidence in
the pages of the Old or New Testament to support the notion that the
infants of believers are to be baptized. Every biblical command to
baptize and every biblical example of baptism, as well as every
doctrinal statement regarding the symbolic nature of baptism, proves
that it is for disciples only. The Bible is equally clear concerning the
mode of baptism. The term ‘mode’ refers to the fact that baptism is
properly and biblically administered by immersion in water. The common
Greek word for immersion or dipping is the word used in the New
Testament. The argument that the word has an occasional historic example
meaning ‘to pour’ or ‘to sprinkle’ is surely special pleading. There
are perfectly good Greek words which mean ‘to sprinkle’ and ‘to pour.’
Yet, the New Testament employs the word for immersion.
The name Baptist is also meant to convey that only those who are
converted and baptized have a right to membership in Christ’s church.
This is often referred to as a regenerate church membership. A careful
reading of the NT epistles shows that the Apostles assumed that all the
members of Christ’s churches were ‘saints,’ ‘faithful brethren,’ and
‘cleansed by Christ.’ Sadly, many Baptist churches today are more
concerned with having a ‘decisioned membership’ and a ‘baptized
membership’ rather than a regenerate membership. It is the duty of the
pastors and people of true churches to ensure, according to the best of
their ability, that no unconverted person makes his or her way into the
membership of a church.
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