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Ryan Thomas

Mr. Cosmin Ritivoiu

English 102

1 February 2015

The True Method of Baptism

Throughout the centuries of Christendom baptism has always been practiced in the

Christian church. Baptism is the act of immersion in water or application of water for the

purpose of inducting someone into the church and to cleanse them of their unrighteousness. This

practice of the church is followed because Jesus Christ was baptized before he started his

ministry here on earth as our example. Jesus Christ is the founder of the Christian faith; after his

death and resurrection his disciples spread the gospel across the world. Since there were so many

new converts to the faith it was hard to control the way people worshipped God. Many of the

new converts into Christendom had their own methods of worship. Thus practices such as infant

baptism and sprinkling came into the church and eventually became more popular with the

majority of believers; that is how over time they became doctrine in many churches today.

However, Jesus was not baptized by any application of water, but he was plunged under the

water. The Seventh­day Adventist church follows the method of immersion found in the Bible.

Baptism by full immersion is the only true biblical baptism.

Baptisms are essential to church government because it is how new members are initiated

into the church. Since this is the way people are inducted into the church, the church officials

have to figure what form of baptism would be the most accepted. Baptism is a public display of a

person’s choice to follow Jesus, and has a significant impact on the new convert, so it is very

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crucial to have a positive feel towards the act of baptism. No matter which church people attend

or which beliefs people hold, baptism will always have a place in church government. Over the

years many different groups of people have molded baptism into what they want it to be. This

has happened by the means of culture and traditions that have been held by these different

groups.

There are three main ways baptism is conducted, which include the following: affusion,

aspersion, and immersion. All three are very different from each other. Each is held sacred to a

major group of Christians. However, not all of these are found in the biblical manuscripts; some

of these have been added into the doctrines of the churches that follow that particular teaching.

But all of these baptism types have biblical texts that could possibly support that type of baptism.

Affusion is one of the kinds of baptisms that has found its way into the Christian church.

Affusion is baptism by pouring water onto the subject who is being baptized. This type of

baptism became prevalent during the 10th century based on the following text.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all

flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see

visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And on my servants and on my

handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (King

James Version, Acts 2:17­18)

Some theologians interpret this text to say that baptism can happen by the method of

pouring; since the Holy Spirit was poured out to all flesh. They also use the text in Acts 10:45.

“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. (Acts)” This

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example of pouring out is also used in reference to the Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy

Ghost, but not to the baptism of a human. This is not the only method of baptism that has found

its way into the Christian church.

Aspersion baptism was also found in many Christian churches within a few hundred

years after the death of John the Revelator. Baptism by aspersion is completed by sprinkling

water on the head or body of the person being baptized. This manner of baptism was performed

merely for the sick or those in prison when immersion was not possible. Some theologians use

this text in Ezekiel in support of aspersion.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness,

and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new

spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I

will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:25­26)

Verse twenty­five states that sprinkling clean water upon someone will make them clean

from all their filthiness. Now this text is referring back to the old Levitical water cleansing.

Numbers 8:7 shows that this text in Ezekiel is not talking about baptism at all but is a way to

clean the body of impurities. This means that the sprinkling has nothing to do with baptism at all,

but just a ceremony performed to symbolize the cleaning of impurities of the body.

This type of baptism is practiced by many Catholics in the world today. However there

are also some Methodist Churches which conduct baptism by aspersion. This method of baptism

is also commonly used by Roman Catholics on Easter for recommitments and renewal of

baptismal vows. Now there is another form of baptism that has been used longer than affusion

and aspersion, this is baptism immersion.

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Immersion is the baptism that involves being completely submerged in the baptismal

water. Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist by immersion. Christ taught his disciples to

baptize by immersion. Philip, a disciple of Christ, used this mode of baptism when he baptized

the eunuch.

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. 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. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord

caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

(Acts 8:37­39)

Philip followed the example of Christ and he baptized the eunuch only after he had fully

put his belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God. His baptism was not by aspersion or affusion, it

was by full immersion. Philip stopped the chariot on the highway so that this baptism could take

place. Now there is a variant of immersion that is practiced by a few denominations; partial

immersion is the baptism in which a part of the body is dunked into the water, but never the

whole body at one time. This would include having the head or arms immersed in water, but not

at the same time. Most techniques of baptism have what seems to be biblical support to back

their claims.

Even with or without biblical support many people say that any form of baptism is better

than none at all. Early church officials from the late first or second century while supporting

baptism by immersion, evidently changed their standard to make accommodations for situations

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where immersion was difficult. According to the book, Didache which is also known as The

Teachings of the Twelve Disciples, there were a set of strict instructions for baptism.

And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into

the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you

have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do

so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the

name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and

the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two

days before. (Didache Ch. 7)

The early church was trying to find new ways that they could baptize anyone at any time.

So this rule was made to ensure that baptismal protocol was followed. This is where church

leaders stepped in and said what is acceptable and what is not. This topic has been argued about

for centuries and these ways are still being considered, each side not budging. Yet there is a

church which follows the words of God.

The Seventh­day Adventist church as a whole believes that the example that Christ gave

should be followed.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of

us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are

buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by

the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:1­4)

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Christ died for the world­ and he was buried in the tomb. Three days later he rose from

the grave and was on earth for forty days. He did all of this work so that those who chose to

follow him no longer have to walk in the way of sin and death. Nor is this grace he gives a buffer

so that the world can continue to sin. This text shows that the baptism is to be like a death to the

old self and a birth to a new life. Without that new life one cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Salvation is by faith not works, but works are a result of the new life in Christ. The Seventh­day

Adventist church has 28 Fundamental Beliefs that summarize the official church beliefs

including baptism.

By baptism we confess our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and testify

of our death to sin and of our purpose to walk in newness of life. Thus we acknowledge

Christ as Lord and Saviour, become His people, and are received as members by His

church. Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, and our

reception of the Holy Spirit. It is by immersion in water and is contingent on an

affirmation of faith in Jesus and evidence of repentance of sin. It follows instruction in

the Holy Scriptures and acceptance of their teachings. (28 Fundamental Beliefs)

This passage states that the Seventh­day Adventist church acknowledges Jesus Christ as

Lord and Savior through the act of full immersion according to the Bible. Baptism is a public and

solemn ritual proclaiming the desire of the person being baptized to surrender his or her selfish

nature and let Jesus’s perfect peace and self­sacrifice fill his or her life. The life that Jesus gives

offers forgiveness, unity, peace, and freedom to enjoy life to its fullest.

Because baptism is such an important and pivotal experience in the life of a Christian,

and because it signifies a very serious step in the Christ­human relationship, close adherence to

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the biblical example set forth by Christ himself is the first step in a lifelong journey of following

his example in all things. Although it may seem confusing to figure out which type of baptism is

the correct and true method, we need to take our stand: Notwithstanding the traditions of man,

but rather following the word of God stated in the Bible.

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Works Cited

Seventh­Day Adventist Church. (2013, January 1). Retrieved February 10, 2015

Kirby, Peter. "Historical Jesus Theories." Early Christian Writings. 2015. 9 Feb. 2015