“What Doth Hinder Me to Be Baptized?” (Part 2)

by Micky Galloway

Again, this question is asked by the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36. This man had been properly taught by Philip the evangelist. The eunuch’s understanding led him to ask the question with some urgency, “Behold, (here is) water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Often when this question is asked, the thing that hinders is teaching. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them (those who were taught, mg) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19 KJV). One who is untaught that is baptized is not converted. Likewise, one who is morally upright and is not yet baptized is not converted because he has not been taught of the necessity of baptism to the forgiveness of sins.

The reception of sprinkling for immersion has hindered many from scriptural baptism. The word “baptize” is defined: “baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet)” (Strong), “consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, ‘to dip’)” (Vine). How then did baptism by sprinkling come to be accepted? Sprinkling was initially called clinical baptism because it had earlier been used for the sick and elderly. Sprinkling evolved from pouring water over one who was sick. The first recorded case of baptism by pouring was that of Novation in 251 A.D. Sprinkling was accepted by the Catholic church in 1311 A.D. “The Council of Ravenna, 1311, legalized the baptism of sprinkling, but the practice of ‘clinical’ or bedside baptism had long been in use and had spread from the sick room to the churches” (Johnson’s Universal Cyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 488). Scriptural baptism requires much water, “And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized” (John 3:23). The eunuch “went down into the water” and “came up out of the water” (Acts 8:38-39). Baptism is described as a burial. “We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

The reception of infant baptism has hindered many from scriptural baptism. Many, having received something called baptism when they were an infant, go through life believing they have been scripturally baptized. On the history of infant baptism, note the following quotes. “Babies deceased without baptism. On the fate of these little ones, some doctors expressed themselves too rigorously. Others with too great indulgence. St. Augustine (followed by St. Gregory the Great, St. Anselm, Gregory of Rimini, the torturer of infants, Bossuet, Berti) taught that they are damned, although punished with very light suffering” (Dictionary of Dogmatic Theology, Parente, Piolanti and Garofalo, page 27). “Marriage is not the cause of the sin which is transmitted in the natural birth, and atoned for in the new birth; but the voluntary transgression of the first man is the cause of original sin” (Augustine 354-430 A.D., Quoted in The Teachings of the Church Fathers, Edited by John R. Willis, page 276). They believe that the infant is born into this world guilty of sin. They think that the baby is inherently totally depraved. However, Christ taught, “Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4). Does it seem that the Lord taught that children are born totally depraved? Christ also instructed the apostles, “Go teach all nations, baptizing them…,” i.e., the “taught” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is an obedience of faith, deliberately chosen as a result of learning our lost condition, and submitting our will to the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “Repent, and be baptized…” is commanded of sinners (Acts 2:38). It calls upon them to regret and truly turn from their past ways, to embrace life as “new creatures” (Romans 6:3-4). Therefore, one cannot be sprinkled as an infant and be baptized scripturally.