THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · January 15, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 3

THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM.

By John Nevins Andrews

BY ELD. J. N. ANDREWS.

The New Testament represents baptism as an ordinance which the disciples of Christ must not neglect. It is the first duty incumbent upon men after they repent. It is the act whereby those publicly espouse Christ who have already espoused him in their hearts.

When the minister of Christ has preached the gospel to men, his next duty is to baptize those who receive the message of truth from him. When the Saviour gave his commission to his disciples, he made baptism one of the conditions of salvation.

Let us now carefully examine what the Scriptures say on these points. At the close of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, the people said: “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:37, 38, 41. We read thus concerning the mission of Philip to the Samaritans: “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:5, 12.

These passages show clearly that baptism was considered the first duty after repentance. This will be further apparent from the passages which follow. After Philip had preached to the Samaritans, the Lord sent him to preach to the Ethiopian eunuch. He found him reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine 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 went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more.” Acts 8:35–39.

After Saul had been three days blind from the effect of the vision which he saw on the way to Damascus, Ananias was sent to restore his sight. “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” Acts 9:18. When Paul addressed the multitude at Jerusalem, he repeated the words which Ananias addressed to him with reference to his baptism, as follows: “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 22:16. Thus it is seen that baptism was administered without delay; and that Ananias bade Paul attend to this duty at once.

Baptism was administered only to those who repented of their sins, and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It was never administered till after those who were to be baptized had first received the word of God. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized.” Acts 2:41. Baptism was the act whereby those who had been converted, publicly espoused Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:26, 27.

Baptism is the visible dividing line between the past life of sin and the future life of obedience. When men are converted, they die to sin. Next in order they are to be buried in baptism, then to rise from that grave to walk in newness of life. Thus Paul sets forth this subject: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 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.” Rom. 6:2–4.

The great commission under which the ministers of Christ now preach the gospel is thus expressed: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:19, 20. This commission places baptism after the preaching of the word of God. Men are to be baptized after they have received the truth of God into their hearts.

The same commission is thus recorded by Mark: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15, 16. Here, again, preaching precedes the administration of baptism. These are to be baptized who have heard the word of God, and believed it. Christ says: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Baptism is therefore made by Christ one of the conditions of salvation. We may believe that the Judge will excuse those who have never had an opportunity to be baptized, and who have never had any light upon this subject; but if we suppose that he will excuse us, who have the means to understand this subject, and the opportunity to obey, if we deliberately neglect this plain duty, we deceive ourselves, and shall find in the end that our error is fatal.

Basle, Oct. 30, 1879.