4 Essential Elements for Biblical Baptism

In the New Testament public confession of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord was not demonstrated by walking an aisle to the front of the room at the time of invitation. Public confession in Christ was by Baptism. Indeed, an “unbaptized believer” is an anomaly in light of the New Testament. So, it’s essential that we understand this Christian ordinance.

Biblical baptism consists of the following elements.

1. Right Member: Baptism requires a confessing believer. This rules out any and all infant baptism since an infant is incapable of exercising faith.

2. Right Meaning: Baptism requires conscious identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. Again, it is a volitional act that a believer willingly and joyfully takes. This rules out infant baptism and salvific baptism.

3. Right Mode: The word baptism comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which always means to dunk or submerge. It never means to sprinkle, dip or pour. Thus, sprinkling is not baptism.

4. Right Administrator: Baptism should always take place under the authorization of a faithful gospel church. This would rule out any church that has a theology that believes salvation is by works or that baptism has a saving effect.

One cannot become a member of a Baptist Church without these essential elements of biblical believer’s baptism. An excellent source I would commend to you is the sermon by John MacArthur on baptism entitled “Case for Believer’s Baptism: The Credo Baptist Position.” It was preached at a Ligonier Conference in 1998 and can be accessed at GRACE TO YOU.