Overlooked Scriptures No. 3: “Jesus baptized no one.”

“The Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples)….” (John 4:1-2)

Baptism has bumfuzzled God’s people from the first.

Where did the practice originate?  Answer: Evidently from the Old Testament practice of drenching a newly ordained priest (Leviticus 8:6). Later, some say, the “pouring” was given to proselytes coming into the Jewish faith from the world.  So, when John the Baptist arrived and began calling people to wade into the Jordan for a dip (which is the literal meaning of “baptize”), while people thought he was strange, no one seems to have questioned the practice.  Oddly, he was baptizing Jews, not Gentiles and not proselytes.

When our Lord was baptized, it signaled His coming out, His going public, His announcing to the world His identity.  That moment, in my thinking, was the first time Satan knew beyond a doubt who the Messiah was. He knew the Lord was there somewhere, for he could read Scripture. But Jesus had done no miracles and singled Himself out in no way that would cause the enemy to identify Him.  But Satan was on the alert.  He listened to John preach and knew to be expecting the Christ.  And then one day, Jesus of Nazareth walked into the water and the heavens opened and a voice from the sky shook the landscape.

And that’s when Satan knew.

Then, when Jesus began preaching, His disciples baptized those wishing to go public in their faith.

Yet, He Himself baptized no one.

What are we to make of that?

In the first chapter of I Corinthians, Paul sends greetings to various members of that congregation which he had birthed.  He was not happy to learn that they had broken into divisions in his absence, with some following Peter and some Apollos and some following Paul.  Another group refused to be divisive, they said, and pulled off into a separate clique which was “of Christ.”  Then, Paul says, “I thank God I baptized none of you” (I Corinthians 1:14).  He thinks a moment, and adds, “Except for this one….and that one…and maybe another.”  But other than those, no one.

And then Paul left us with this memorable statement: “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (I Corinthians 1:17).

I wonder if we have given that sentence the importance it deserves.

Our Lord Jesus baptized no one.  And, Paul makes a point of emphasizing that he wasn’t big into it, himself.  Because “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

I was visiting in the home of a couple who had started coming to our church.  They said complimentary things about the services and my preaching, and then the wife said, “But we won’t be joining your church. We belong to (denomination) which preaches one must be baptized in order to be saved. And you don’t believe that.”

I assured her she was correct, that in spite of our name being “Baptist” we do not believe baptism to be an essential requirement for salvation.  She cited a scripture or two.  And I said, “Are you interested in hearing my answer? I don’t want to argue. So, if you’d rather not discuss it, I’ll not bore you with it.”

She was interested. .

I said, “First, Scripture says ‘for by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body’ (I Corinthians 12:13).  So, the baptism that puts us into Christ is of the Spirit, not of water.” (see note at the end)

:Second, let me ask you a question.  Do you believe that the gospel and only the gospel is necessary for people to be saved?”

She did.

I said, “Now, be sure of that. The gospel of Jesus Christ and only the gospel is essential to be saved.”

Yes. She was sure.

I showed her the line in I Corinthians where Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

“Baptism is important. But it is not part of the gospel.  Baptism takes place after one is saved.”

They joined my church and this was never again an issue for them.

It’s amazing what knowing the scriptures does to faulty doctrine.

Should a follower of Christ be baptized? You bet. It’s a command of our Lord in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

Baptism for the new believer is when he/she goes public, declaring their identification with the Lord Jesus.  They will not try to be the Lord’s secret agent, His undercover apostle, but are declaring to the world that “Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.”  As it comes second in the Great Commission–after becoming a disciple–it precedes the learning/obedience involved in “all the things I commanded you.”

Let there be none among us calling ourselves followers of Jesus who are unwilling to go public in that faith.  Jesus said, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light! What you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops! And do not fear…” (Matthew 10:27ff.)

Note:  In his commentary on I Corinthians 12:13, John MacArthur says, “There cannot be any believer who has not been Spirit baptized, nor can there be more than one Spirit baptism or the whole point of unity in the Body of Christ is convoluted… At salvation, all believers not only become full members of Christ’s body, the church, but the Holy Spirit is placed within each of them.  There is no need (or divine provision) for any such thing as a second blessing, a triumphalistic experience of a deeper life, or a formula for instantly increased spirituality.  Christ’s salvation provision is perfect and He calls only for obedience and trust in what has already been given (Hebrews 10:14).”

7 thoughts on “Overlooked Scriptures No. 3: “Jesus baptized no one.”

  1. What are your thoughts about this? My son, who is now 11, asked me when he was 7 if he had to be baptized to go to Heaven. I told him that the most important thing is no allow Jesus into your heart, however, there was a thief on a cross, to whom Jesus said he would join him in Heaven, and the thief wasn’t baptized. My son, is incredibly shy, he does not like any attention from anyone and is very very quiet in public. It is my prayer that one day he will be brave and come forward to be baptized. It is my belief by the fruit of his actions and the conversations that we have had that he is saved. When he was seven, he and I prayed “the prayer” before bedtime one night. He often asks me to pray with him before he falls asleep, he knows scripture, and has the kindest most compassionate heart. I have told him about Jesus in the temple when he was about 13, and that it is important to let others know by coming forward what is in our hearts. He has not been allowed to partake of the Lord’s Supper service, but, I don’t want to misguide him. Words of wisdom to impart?

  2. Matthew 3:15 “Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.'” Righteousness is simply ‘doing the right thing’. Jesus asked us to be baptized because it is the right thing to do. Instead of arguing about baptism we should do what Jesus asked us to do.

  3. Baptism is important because Jesus say unless a man be born of the water and Spirit he will not enter the kingdom of God. Also not all believers received the Holy Spirit after being saved. Looking closely at the scriptures, Paul asked them if they received the Holy Spirit since they believe and they said No……Acts 19:2-6. Seeing that they needed to get baptized in Jesus name then receive the Holy Spirit, and even when they were baptized again Paul had to lay his hand on them to receive the Holy Spirit. Also when the apostles were in the uppermost room they had to tarry until the Holy Spirit came even tho they already believed. They continued in one accord in PRAYER and SUPPLICATION(asking/petition/request). Also 1 Peter 3:21, ‘And the water is a picture of baptism, which now SAVES you………………Now how do one received the Holy Spirit? Jesus gave us the answer. ASKING THROUGH PRAYER. Luke 11:13. I’d recommend reading the entire chapter. Look at the parables, Jesus used these parables to show us how we should asked, In CONSISTENCY/TENACITY. I believe when Paul said that Jesus did not send him to baptized but preached the gospel, he was say not saying that baptism does not save. He was however saying that preaching was his responsibility and maybe it is the responsibility of someone else in the faith to baptized new converts. Looking at an example would be when the chose Stephen to serve tables in Acts 6:1-6.

        • Hi Joe!

          Those of us who believe in God’s work in baptism, along with His work in faith, repentance, confession and living in Christ do not abandon our belief in Scripture, as you stated. We simply believe it all.

          In Judaism, ceremonial washing was routine and even though it happened in a public place, was not meant as a personal testimony for the benefit of others; rather, it was between the person and God. Christian baptism is an interesting and mysterious practice, done once to accept Christ’s sacrifice that He gave once for all. So we do not need continual ceremonial washing and continual sacrifices made. Praise God for giving us Jesus!

          Believing all scripture means that we must accept that baptism is for the remission of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you do not believe that (and Peter’s statement that “baptism now saves you,”), you must ignore and disbelieve those scriptures, for there is no explaining them away. Other scriptures exist that don’t mention belief or faith or confessing Christ or prayer or repentance, yet it is clear when we believe all of scripture, that all these things are part of the spiritual and physical experiences of a person who is coming to Christ. None of those elements could be ignored by one who has just realized his need for Christ to save him.

          We are often accused of believing that the water itself saves or that the obedience is what saves. We do not believe anything other than believing fully in every scripture, even when it is mysterious. God saves through Christ. Was it His sinless life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his sending the Holy Spirit later on the Day of Pentecost that completed the divine requirements for salvation to be offered to us? Since all are scriptural, we don’t have to make a new creed. We just believe it all!

          Some say that baptism is a “work” and therefore must not be a part of salvation. We don’t understand how that can be so, since scripture says we must confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, which is also a physical act. And we must repent, which contains action and not just a change of heart. A true change of heart makes a difference in how a person lives! Would God really “owe” me salvation if I’m baptized in water but lacking in genuine faith and repentance? No. The person who is convinced that Christ is Lord is eager to let Him do whatever He wills. In baptism, that person does nothing but submit. God does all the work!

          This is not meant as a rebuke. Just some more food for thought.

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