Denominational Baptism

by Micky Galloway

Most religious people have submitted to something that was called baptism. Therefore, when these learn about the New Testament church, they often want to come into the Lord’s church on basis of their denominational baptism. That is, “I have been baptized in the past by the Baptist church or the Mormon church, etc.” The reception of denominational baptism has hindered many from scriptural baptism. As far as I know, all denominations except the Christian Scientists and the Quakers practice something that they call baptism. Note these things wrong with denominational baptism.

It has the wrong authority (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17). Denominational councils and creeds authorize denominational baptism. Jesus never authorized it, nor did he ever command anyone to be baptized into any church begun by man. The Lord said, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Please note that He spoke in the singular. The Lord built only one church.

It usually has the wrong subject (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37; Acts 2:38). The Bible teaches that apostles were to “teach all nations” and to baptize “them.” The penitent believer who confesses his faith is a proper subject of scriptural baptism. But denominations often sprinkle infants who cannot meet the above requirements. Denominations also baptize people who think they are already saved rather than persons who desire to be saved. This is often evidenced by grouping those who have already confessed their salvation and baptizing them at an appointed baptismal ceremony.

It has the wrong confession (Acts 8:37). Persons in the New Testament confessed their faith in Christ as the only confessional requisite for baptism. The eunuch of Acts 8:37 asked, “Behold, (here is) water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy 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 both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.” But persons desiring to undergo denominational baptism often are asked to confess agreement with the denominational creed. More common is the unscriptural confession wherein one states that he believes that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned his sins. Many who now question their denominational baptism have not the faintest remembrance of what they confessed.

It usually has the wrong action (Acts 8:37; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). Scriptural baptism entails “much water” (John 3:23), and a coming “unto,” a “going down into,” and a “coming up out of the water.” In scriptural baptism, one is “buried” (Romans 6:3-4). Neither sprinkling nor pouring meets these scriptural requirements. Hence, if you submitted to sprinkling or pouring, your “baptism” was wrong.

It has the wrong purpose (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:21). These passages teach baptism to be “for the remission of sins,” to be “saved,” to have one’s sins “washed away.” Denominations usually assert they are baptizing one into that particular denomination rather than into Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4). So even though one has been baptized, if he was not baptized for the scriptural purposes, then that person’s baptism was wrong. Most denominations teach that one is baptized to show that he has been saved rather than in order to be saved. Were you so baptized? If you will remember whether you confessed that you had been saved (which you very possibly may have done), you will be able to ascertain whether your immersion was “for the remission of sins” and into the one body of Christ (cf. I Corinthians 12: 13).

It has the wrong order (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37). These verses establish the sequence of events in conversion to be hearing, faith, repentance, confession, immersion, forgiveness of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Denominationalists confuse this order. They state the sequence like this: Gift of the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith, salvation, and then baptism.

It has the wrong allegiance. Denominational baptism binds one to wear a human name, obey and endorse a human creed, belong to a human organization and to support a human program, while scriptural baptism binds one to wear a divine name, obey a divine message, belong to a divine body, and to engage in a divinely authorized program. Denominational baptism attracts people to a denominational body rather than to Christ and His Kingdom.

Things to remember:

1. One cannot be taught wrong and be baptized right (Romans 10:17; 6:17).
2. One cannot be baptized wrong and worship right (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:42).
3. One cannot worship wrong and live right (John 4:23-24).
4. One cannot live wrong and die right (Matthew 25:31-41).
5. Therefore, one cannot be baptized wrong and die right.

What about you, my friend? Have you submitted to scriptural baptism? Do not make the error of interpreting what you did years ago in the light of what you know now the Bible to teach. Many have made this mistake. One must understand what he is doing at the time he is doing it to obey the gospel scripturally from the heart (cf. Romans 6: 17-18). What hinders you to be baptized?

Luther Blackman is the source of much of this material. It was quoted and used in TRUTH MAGAZINE, April 30, 1970.