Why I Cannot Practice Water Baptism!
PASTOR CLARENCE E. KRAMER
PASTOR CLARENCE E. KRAMER
Why I Cannot Practice Water Baptism!
A Sermon Delivered November 15, 1959
By’ PASTOR CLARENCE E. KRAMER
At Berean Church Holland, Michigan
and over WJBL, 1260 K.C.
Whenever someone teaches a doctrine that is contrary to
popular opinion, most people automatically reject it without thinking it
through. This is especially true in the matter of water baptism. Christendom
has always practiced water baptism, though in many differing modes and for many
different reasons” Some teach that water baptism actually contributes to one’s
salvation while others teach that baptism is only a witness of some inward
transformation. But though most baptizes differ among themselves as to the
significance of the ceremony, yet they all band together to reject the
sufficiency of the one divine baptism by which the Holy Spirit places the
believing sinner Into Jesus Christ.
A remark often heard is: “How can you say that the whole
Church has been wrong all these centuries and now only you have the truth about
baptism.” Let us first remember that we do not know if all believers practiced
water baptism even though. the church as a whole did; and don’t forget there Is
a difference between all believers. and the religious hierarchy of Christendom. But further, is it so
strange that most have been misled regarding this truth? it will not be so
strange to the one who knows the tragic history of Israel And Martin Luther
must have been faced with the same problem when he, a mere ‘monk, challenged
the entire church of Rome on the question of Justification by faith. Truth has
never been popular, and spirituality is not usually found with the majority.
Rather than look around us to see what others believe, lest we be found
different, we should stand for God’s truth in spite of its unpopularity and the
church’s indifference to it.
Now, we believe that the one basis of fellowship among all
believers is the blood of Jesus Christ witch saved us from our sins. Our
relationship with the blessed Son of God is what relates us to each other. I
love every Christian not because they all agree with me doctrinally but because
they all love my Lord, and we are brethren in Him. Water baptism should never
be made a basis of Christian fellowship, unless, of course, water baptism makes
us children of God, which no true evangelical, Bible believing Christian
teaches or believes.
As for me, I cannot practice water baptism because: 1. WATER
BAPTISM IS AN OLD TESTAMENT ORDINANCE (Hebrews. 9:10).
In Hebrews 9:10 we read, regarding Israel’s worship under
the law:
“W1Iich stood only in meats and drinks, and divert washings
and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”
The Greek Word for “washings” in this verse is baptism or baptisms. This incidentally shows that
water baptism in the Bible is a ceremonial purification aid not a symbol of
death and burial. There were no immersions under the old covenant or law. John
the Baptist’s disciples had a dispute with the Jews In John 3:25 about purifying, not burying.
This first covenant (now the old covenant)”had also
ordinances of divine service and a worldly
sanctuary” (Hebrews 9:1). The religious worship of Israel under the law
consisted in “meats and drinks and divers baptisms.” So water baptism was a
part of the law worship and not a “New Testament” ordinance as so many try to
make it. One need only read Exodus and Leviticus to find there the numerous
ablutions and purification ceremonies. In Leviticus alone there are some twenty
references to washings or baptisms. The laver, an important piece in the
Tabernacle furniture, was used to wash or baptize the hands and feet of the
officiating priest.
Then we read, in Hebrews 9:10, that the various regulations
of the law, including baptisms, were “carnal ordinances” (the “and” after
“washings” is not in the original). Water baptism as a ceremonial cleansing was
a physical ceremony, a shadow of good things to come (Hebrews 10:1) which never
could “make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience”
(Hebrews 9:9). It would be interesting to contrast this passage with First
Peter 3:21 where the baptism which “doth also now save us” is a baptism that
does meet the demand of “a good conscience toward God,” something which a water
ceremony could never do. This baptism is the antitype of Noah’s baptism and
must surely refer to the death baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ who experienced
God’s wrath for us on Calvary. We are safe from God’s wrath being in Christ the
same way that Noah was safe from God’s wrath while’ in the ark.
We also read in Hebrews 9:10 that water baptism was “imposed
on them until …. “Here was law. it was not left up to the believer’s
conscience; nothing was ever’ said about it not being absolutely necessary. It
was “imposed,” but only temporarily. Like the law covenant itself which was
“added because of transgressions, till the seed should come” (Galatians 3:18)
water baptism was a temporary institution.
Many fine Bible believing
Christians who are sure that believers today are not under the law,
still insist that believers ought to be under the water. But the water is part
of the law. Whatever we do with the law we must do with the water, and since
the believer is not under the law he should not be under the water!
Further, I cannot practice water baptism because:
II. WATER BAPTISM IS NOT A PART OF THE PAULINE REVELATION
(First Corinthians 1:14-17
The important question regarding water baptism is not
whether or not it is taught in Scripture. It very plainly is, and for that
reason I believe in water baptism. But is water baptism to be practiced today?
This is the vital issue. Though God’s Word does teach water baptism, it also
teaches the need for blood sacrifices, circumcision and speaking in tongues. I
believe in these things too. But are they to be practiced today?
How can we know what is to be practiced today and what is
not? By what principle of Bible study can we rule out some things that do not
seem to fit, and hold on to others? The key to this important problem is in the
Word itself. God has dealt with men in various ways under differing programs.
God is now dealing with men in grace, and this dispensation of grace under
which we live was first revealed to the Apostle Paul who made it known to us in
his epistles (see Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:24-27; Romans 16:25), This is
why we must be “Pauline.” Some things once commanded by God are now strictly
forbidden (compare Genesis 17:9-14 and Galatians 5:2-3). The Word of God which
is specifically addressed to us today is that revelation committed by the
glorified Lord to the Apostle Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13).
Pauline truth is our guide, and all truth must be taught in the light of this
revelation
Now what does Paul command in regard to water baptism?
Absolutely nothing! There is not one command in the Pauline epistles to the
effect that members of the Body of Christ should practice water baptism. Paul
himself says he was not sent to baptize (Read First Corinthians 1:17 again).
True, he did baptize some, as he also spoke in tongues, but water baptism was
not a part of that particular revelation he received from the Lord for us. He
was not sent to baptize and neither are we.
Now if Paul was working under the same commission as Peter
(and the one most believers today are trying to obey) he could never have said:
“Christ sent me not to baptize.”. Peter
was sent out under the commission of Mathew 28:19-20 and Mark 16:15-17. Under
that commission, Peter and the circumcision apostles were told to baptize all
nations and he that believed and was baptized would be saved. Furthermore,
miraculous signs would follow those who believed. Read the commission in
Matthew and Mark again and see all it commands. This “great” commission’
definitely required water baptism.
But Paul was not sent to baptize and hence could not have
been working under that commission. What was his commission? It was a new
commission for the new dispensation of grace which he received from the Lord in
glory (Galatians 1:11-12: Ephesians 3:1-3). Water baptism is not included in
this commission or in the program for this d1spensatlon. (see Second
Corinthians 5:18-20)
Finally, I cannot practice water baptism because:
III. THE “ONE BAPTISM” IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT
MAKES US ONE WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Ephesians and first Corinthians
Paul does say a great deal about baptism but it is not water
baptism. In Ephesians as part of the unity of the Spirit the one baptism. The
following verses w1l1 show what this one baptism is:
Romans 6:4-4 Know ye
not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into
his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
First Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized
into Christ have put on Christ.
Colossians 2:11-12
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of
Christ. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
It is Quite obvious a simple reading of these important
passages that the one baptism that is common to every believer, irrespective of
denomination, is the baptism into Christ and His Body. This baptism occurs the
very moment one believes the gospel. If this baptism is by water then water
baptism saves, for it is a baptism into Christ.
But it is only God who can save and only the Holy Spirit who
can put anyone into Christ. In Romans 6:3-4 we are told that those who have
been baptized into Christ (by the Holy Spirit) have been baptized into His
death. It is in His death that we died to sin (Verse 2). Since we died with Him
we were also buried with Him by means of that baptism into His death; buried,
not in water but in His tomb. And when He arose we arose with Him to new life.
This is not symbolic language for water could never
symbolize crucifixion, burial in a rock tomb or resurrection to new life. This is all a spiritual reality which we are
to reckon true by faith. This baptism into Christ transforms the life and
breaks the power of the sin nature. Could water ever do this? Only God can, and
God did, by making us one with Christ through this divine baptism.
This divine baptism, then, presents a spiritual obligation.
Because we have been baptized into Christ and thus have died to sin and are now
alive unto God, we are commanded to “reckon” ourselves “to be dead indeed unto
sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans. 6:11). Our
baptism into Christ is the only true basis for Christian living. We died to sin
only in Him and are alive spiritually only in Him. Put water here and we miss
the whole lesson God would teach us. Yea, we miss the power to live pleasing to
Him!
Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the
only begotten Son of God
is the object of the
faith; the only faith
that saves is His
faith.
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