Is Baptism A Necessary Part Of The Gospel? Part Two

Following Jesus Without Denominationalism

Is Baptism A Necessary Part Of The Gospel? Part Two

As we continue this lesson allow me to expand on the point that baptism is integral to the gospel. I am encouraged to see a return to this emphasis. I am excited to see that many people are beginning to carefully restudy the biblical evidence concerning baptism, and returning to what was taught for nearly 1500 years. For example, G.R. Beasley-Murray, Principal of Spurgeon's College in London, later Senior Professor at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY, wrote a modern classic, Baptism In The New Testament. He gives chapters which thoroughly discuss baptism in the Gospels, in Acts, in Paul's writings, and in other apostolic writings. In his introduction, Beasley-Murray said:

"This book is intended to offer a Baptist contribution to the discussions on baptism that are taking place throughout the Christian world." "But the indefinite article should be observed; the impression must not be given that my interpretations are characteristic of Baptist thought generally. At most it can be claimed that they represent a trend gaining momentum among Baptists in Europe." "I have striven to interpret the evidence of the New Testament as a Christian scholar, rather than as a member of a particular Christian Confession." -- G. R. Beasley-Murray, Baptism In The New Testament, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962, pp. v-vi.

From his chapter on baptism in Acts, Beasley-Murray said: "Consequently, baptism is regarded in Acts as the occasion and means of receiving the blessings conferred by the Lord of the Kingdom. Admittedly, this way of reading the evidence is not characteristic of our thinking, but the intention of the author is tolerably clear." (Ibid., p. 102). "Whatever the relationship between baptism and the gift of the Spirit elsewhere in Acts, there appears to be no doubt as to the intention of Acts 2:38; the penitent believer baptized in the name of Jesus Christ may expect to receive at once the Holy Spirit, even as he is assured of the immediate forgiveness of his sins." (Ibid., p. 108).

Some concluding statements from his chapter on baptism in Acts, Beasley-Murray said::

"In light of the foregoing exposition of the New Testament representations of baptism, the idea that baptism is a purely symbolic rite must be pronounced not alone unsatisfactory but out of harmony with the New Testament itself. Admittedly, such a judgment runs counter to the popular tradition of the Denomination to which the writer belongs..."

"The extent and nature of the grace which the New Testament writers declare to be present in baptism is astonishing for any who come to the study freshly with an open mind."

"...the 'grace' available to man in baptism is said by the New Testament writers to include the following elements:

forgiveness of sin, Ac 2.38 and cleansing from sins, Ac 22.16, 2 Co 6.11; union with Christ, Ga 3.27, and particularly union with Him in his death and resurrection, Ro. 6.3ff, Co 2.11f, with all that implies of release from sin's power, as well as guilt, and the sharing of the risen life of the Redeemer, Ro 6.1-11; participation in Christ's sonship, Ga 3.26f; consecration to God, 1 Co 6.11, hence membership in the Church, the Body of Christ, 1 Co 12.13, Ga 3.27-29; possession of the Spirit, Ac 2.38, 1 Co 6.11, 12.13, and therefore the new life in the Spirit, i.e., regeneration, Ti 3.5, Jn 3.5; grace to live according to the will of God, Ro 6.1ff, Co 3.1ff; deliverance from the evil powers that rule this world, Co 1.13; the inheritance of the Kingdom of God, Jn 3.5, and the pledge of the resurrection of the body, Ep 1.3f, 4.30. -- Ibid., pp. 263-264 (No scripture text has been inserted by this teacher in order to keep the quotes of the originator as they originally appear. I leave it to the reader as a student to open their own Bibles. JMN)

One cannot and should not preach the Gospel without teaching the command to be baptized. Peter proclaimed the command to be baptized in the first gospel sermon - Ac 2:36-38. Philip, when he preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, must have proclaimed baptism in his message about Jesus, in view of the question raised: "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" - Ac 8:35-36. Indeed, Beasley-Murray stated the following conclusion in a chapter entitled "Baptismal Reform and Church Relationships":

"First, there ought to be a greater endeavor to make baptism integral to the gospel."
"It is taken as axiomatic amongst us [Baptists] that the proclamation of the Gospel consists of making the redemptive acts of God in Christ known and calling for faith in Christ as the due response; baptism is then a proper subject for exposition in the enquirers' class, along with instruction as to the nature of the Church, of worship, of Christian obligation in the Church and to the world, etc."
"Peter's response, however, to the cry of his conscience stricken hearers on the Day of Pentecost was not "Repent and believe", but "Repent and BE BAPTIZED"! (Ac 2.38).
"Naturally faith was presumed in repentance, but Peter's answer told the Jews how to become Christians: faith and repentance are to be expressed in baptism, and SO they are to come to the Lord."
"Baptism is here a part of the proclamation of Christ. In an Apostolic sermon it comes as its logical conclusion."
"An effort ought to be made to restore this note in our [Baptist] preaching." -- Ibid., p. 393

I could not say it better myself, other than to add that an effort ought to be made to restore this note in EVERYONE'S preaching! Let's be sure to follow the example of apostolic preaching (cf. Ac 2:36-38)... Calling upon people not only to believe in Jesus and repent of their sins, but to climax their response to the gospel by submitting to the Lord's command to be baptized for the remission of their sins. For then we can be assured that we will receive all those blessings the Bible ascribes to the act of baptism (see Beasley-Murray's summary above), by virtue of God's gracious working! Dear friend, have you responded to the saving call of our Lord's wonderful gospel? "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Ac 22:16


God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
Even though you can't see God, It doesn't stop you from believing
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