From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part one of a series

The position on baptism presented in this series is the author's personal doctrinal position, and is not part of TTW's official doctrinal statement.

Who are the proper recipients of water baptism, according to Scripture? This is a long-standing point of controversy among authentic Christians, and their positions can differ sharply.

I am frequently asked, "What is TeachingTheWord Ministries' position on the issue of water baptism?" Specifically, people ask, do we advocate the baptism of the infants of believing parents as well as of self-consciously professing believers in Christ, or do we hold to the baptism of believers only?

TTW's Position as a Ministry

My answer is always thus: As a ministry, TeachingTheWord takes no official position on this question in its doctrinal statement. We are in fellowship with true believers in Christ [note that distinction well - it will be vital as we proceed] who take both the views of this issue that I just stated. We have men on our Board of Advisors who hold both views.

I am always quick to add this vital distinction: As a ministry we absolutely do not agree with anyone who says that water baptism is necessary to save a soul (as the Church of Christ denomination and others assert), or that water baptism removes original sin (as the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox assert), or that water baptism in any way brings about union with Christ (as Federal Visionists and others assert). It is the blood of Christ, not the water of baptism, that saves a soul from Hell. Salvation is by grace through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ alone:

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, [more accurately, "through faith in His blood"] to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:21-26).

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (Romans 5:8-11).

The Author's Personal Position

I also very readily tell anyone who asks, that my personal position on the issue is that water baptism is for those who are able to self-consciously, publicly testify to faith in Christ. This article serves as a brief introduction to a series that will follow in coming days, explaining my position in some detail. Some of the articles will be longer than we normally publish, and I hope our readers will bear with them. But I believe a thorough treatment of the subject is necessary. We are going to explore some terminology that is used by those who hold different positions on this issue that may be unfamiliar to some readers, but it will serve everyone well to understand these things.

Let me also say that I am attempting to do my best not to present an inaccurate, straw-man version of the view to which I do not personally hold. This would violate the Lord's command against bearing false witness, and it would also be exceedingly unfair to true brethren in the Lord who hold a different view from mine.

I pray that this series will be instructive - and that it will cause every true believer in Christ who reads it to think seriously about this very important element of Christian doctrine, perhaps in ways that you never have before.

Next: Credobaptism Vs. Paedobaptism: What Are the Differences? Who Holds Which View, and Why?

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