Why did John the Baptist go “into all the region
around the Jordan” (Luke 3:3) River?
After “proclaiming the baptism of repentance”
(Luke 3:3), he administered that baptism to those who wanted to be
baptized in and around the Jordan River
“because there was much water there” (John
3:23).
What does “baptism” (Luke 3:3) mean?
The original Greek word βαπτισμα (baptisma)
means to be immersed or submerged.
What is the Biblical way to be baptized today?
Immersed or submerged in water, whether it be in a river, lake, ocean, church baptismal pool,
swimming pool, bathtub, inflatable pool filled with water,
etc.
What did “baptism of repentance” express?
μετανοιας (metanoias), the original Greek
word translated “of repentance,” means a
transformative change of mind, attitude and purpose (see
Repent meaning), so the baptism of repentance expressed
the decision to be transformed away from sins.
How does baptism of repentance differ from today's baptism?
Today's baptism expresses having been saved by Jesus because He
died on the cross to pay the death penalty due for our
sins, and acknowledges Him as our Lord and Savior.
Does today's baptism require
turning away from sins?
By definition, “Lord” is someone to be obeyed unconditionally. People
who continue to live in
sins against Jesus' commands in the Bible do not obey Him as their
Lord, which means He hasn't saved them, and unsaved people should
not be baptized.
Does that mean baptized Christians stop sinning altogether?
1 John 1:8 declares, “If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,” so even true
Christians don't completely stop sinning until entering heaven. But
our
relationship with sin changes. Often upon being born again
and certainly over time thereafter, there will be drastic reduction in
the frequency of sinning, and the apathy, enjoyment of and desire to
sin will be replaced by despair, confession and repentance upon sinning.
Should newborn babies be baptized?
The Bible neither instructs nor has any example of the baptism of
babies, who understand neither sin nor repentance nor
Jesus' cross.
Do babies born to Christian women
automatically inherit their mothers' faith and are therefore born as
Christians?
If so, Jesus wouldn't have said that we must be
born “again” (John 3:3), and Paul wouldn't have had to be
“persuaded” (2 Timothy 1:5) that
Timothy, who was born to a Christian mother, also had faith.
Then why do some churches insist on baptizing newborn babies?
To lock them and their parents in as members
and (future) financiers of their church. Branding anyone unsaved
and therefore hell-bound that they are already saved, bound for heaven
and therefore do not need to be
born again is an extremely consequential lie.