Many American Christians believe that Baptism is merely an outward sign to the world that a person has accepted Jesus as their Savior.
Although, there is no denying that a baptism, especially if performed in a large church, is a very public profession of one’s faith, still the question needs to be asked, “Is that all there is to baptism or does scripture tell us that there is more to this “bath” than meets the eye?”
I am always amazed that American Christians emphasize the obedience of the one being baptized, yet they are almost absolutely silent regarding God’s role in baptism. Some of you reading this may be shocked to here that God actually has role in baptism. This is a tragedy because scripture tells us that God is VERY active during baptism and that HE has attached some very powerful promises to the waters of baptism.
Don’t believe me? Below you will find the “Baptism Quiz”. Each question in the quiz sites a passage of scripture then asks some questions. In order to get the questions ‘correct’ you will have to answer each question based on what the Bible says. Some may have a strong urge to add to these passages or explain away the simple meaning by regurgitating what they may have been taught by their denomination or a respected pastor. However, doing this will only cause you to get the question wrong and thus rob yourself of the powerful promises attached to baptism.
Question 1
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
• According to this text, what is the purpose of this baptism?
• How can water do such great things?
Question 2
Rom. 6:3-4 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
• According to this text, what were we baptized into when we were baptized?
• What other verb is applied to Baptism?
Question 3
Gal. 3:27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• According to this text, what were we clothed with when we were baptized?
Question 4
Col. 2:11-12 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
• According to this text, what is Baptism equated with?
• Who is doing the circumcising?
• What verbs in the text are attached to Baptism?
Question 5
Acts 8:26-39 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
• How many people were present for this Baptism?
• What was the purpose of this Baptism?
Question 6
Acts 16:25-34 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole family.
• What was the ‘time’ when this baptism occurred?
• What was the purpose of this Baptism?
Final Question
The Modern American Evangelical view of Baptism is that it is something Christians do in order to show the world that they have accepted Jesus.
• Is this what these scriptures have shown?
• If not, what have they shown?
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