What's Wrong With Denominational Baptism?

Adapted from an article by Cevil Willis
Last update 07 Feb 2021X

The word “baptism” with its various inflections occurs 126 times in the New Testament. Hence, one has to say a good deal about baptism or neglect a large portion of the Bible.

So far as I know, all denominations except the Christian Scientist and the Quakers practiced some rite that they call baptism. Most people, therefore, have submitted to some ordinance that was called baptism. When these people learn about the New Testament church, they often want to come into the church on their denominational baptism. But, if something is wrong with denominational baptism, and I think there is, these people plainly need to be told about it. This I shall attempt to do in this short piece.

Note these things wrong with denominational baptism:

1) IT MUST HAVE THE PROPER AUTHORITY (Matthew 28:18-20; Colossians 3:17).
Denominational councils and creeds authorize denominational baptism. Jesus never authorized it, nor did He ever command anyone to be baptized into any denomination. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you were not baptized into the name [authority] of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for the forgiveness of your sins, --- your “baptism was not valid! YOU WERE BAPTIZED BY THE WRONG AUTHORITY! And here is the rest of it.

2) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT SUBJECT (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38; 2:38).
The Bible teaches, and everyone agrees, that the believer who has repented of their sinful life, and who confesses their faith in Christ, is a proper subject of Scriptural baptism. But denominations often sprinkle infants who cannot meet the above requirements. Denominations also baptize people who think they are saved --- rather than persons who desire to be saved. Hence, Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded if you submitted to baptism before you were of age to properly repent, or believing you were already saved --- then your “baptism was not valid." your baptism had the wrong subject! YOU WERE NOT A PROPER SUBJECT FOR SCRIPTURAL BAPTISM!

3) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT CONFESSION (Acts 8:37).
Persons in the New Testament confessed their faith in Christ as the only confessional necessity for baptism. But persons desiring to undergo denominational baptism will be asked to confess agreement with the sectarian creed. One denomination that I know of requires a confession consisting of twenty propositions. Most common is the unscriptural confession wherein one states that he believes that God for Christ’s sake has pardoned his sins. Do you remember what you confessed when you were baptized? Many who now question their denominational baptism have not the faintest remembrance of what they confessed. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded if you submitted to baptism before you confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAD THE WRONG CONFESSION!

4) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT ACTION: (Acts 8:37; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).
Scriptural baptism entails “much water” (John 3:23), and a coming “into”, a “going down into”, and a “coming up out of the water” (Acts 8:38-39). In Scriptural baptism, one is “buried” (Romans 6:3-4). Neither sprinkling nor pouring meets these Scriptural requirements. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you submitted to sprinkling or pouring, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAD WRONG ACTION!

5) IT MUST HAVE THE CORRECT PURPOSE: (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
These passages teach baptism to be “for the remission, or forgiveness, of sins,” or “for the purpose of having our sins forgiven”, to be “saved,” to have one’s sins “washed away.” Denominations usually assert they are baptizing one into that particular denomination, rather than into Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-4). So even though one has been immersed, if they were not immersed for the Scriptural purpose of having their sins forgiven, that person’s baptism was wrong. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded. If you submitted to baptism for any other purpose than to have your sins forgiven, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM WAS FOR THE WRONG PURPOSE!

Most sectarians teach that one is baptized to show that they have been saved, rather than in order to be saved. Were you so baptized? If you will remember whether you confessed that you had been saved (which you very possibly may have done), you will be able to ascertain whether your immersion was “for the remission of sins” and into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).

6) IT MUST BE IN THE CORRECT ORDER: (Hebrews 11:6; Romans 10:17; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:37).
These verses establish the sequence of events in conversion to be: hearing, faith, repentance, confession, immersion, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sectarians confuse this order. They state the sequence like this: Gift of the Holy Spirit, repentance, faith, salvation, and then baptism. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded, if you submitted to baptism for the forgiveness of sins before you heard the gospel, or before faith, repentance or confession, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM WAS DONE IN WRONG ORDER!

7) IT MUST BE DONE FOR THE CORRECT ALLEGIANCE: (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 3:17). Sectarian baptism binds one to wear a human name, obey and endorse a human creed, belong to a human organization, and to support a human program --- while Scriptural baptism binds one who wear a divine name, obey a divine message, belong to a divine body, and to engage in a divinely authorized program. Denominational baptism attracts people to a denominational body rather than to Christ and His Kingdom. Hence, you have not done what Jesus commanded, if you submitted to baptism in allegiance to a denomination, then your “baptism was not valid!" YOUR BAPTISM HAS THE WRONG ALLEGIANCE!

Conclusion REMEMBER:
1) One cannot be taught wrong and baptized right (Romans 10:17; 6:17).
2) One cannot be baptized wrong and worship right (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:42).
3) One cannot worship wrong and live right (John 4:23-24).
4) One cannot live wrong and die right (Matthew 25:31-46).
5) Therefore, one cannot be baptized wrong and die right.

What about you, my friend? Have you submitted to Scriptural baptism? Do not make the error of interpreting what you did years ago in the light of what you now know the Bible to teach. Many have made this mistake. One must understand what they are doing at the time they are doing it to obey the gospel Scripturally from the heart. If you are not absolutely sure you were baptized in the way that Jesus commanded and teaches in His word, then please do so immediately. Your eternal salvation may be at stake!

“But God be thanked, the you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you... being then made free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18).

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruthsToU@Gmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.