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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