The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Is water baptism to be practiced today?

Peytonator,

Why not ask a few questions; twelve in total to be exact?

I will attempt to give answers, albeit brief due to the sheer number and the complexity of some, to your questions. But I must first preface my answers by saying that the perpetuity and practice of water baptism has been universally acknowledged for over 2000 years by all but very few (Friends/Quakers) denominations/churches/individuals in Christendom. The fact that there is much disagreement in regard to who are proper recipients and the mode goes to give even more strength to this testimony of unanimity of its universal validity. Is it feasible that with the acknowledged disagreements among the various groups they ALL find the Scriptures to teach that water baptism is to be practiced, that none understood that water baptism was to be abolished? Can it be that men such as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, Owen, Goodwin, Edwards, Whitfield, Hodge, Warfield, Strong, Dabney, Berkhof, et al totally missed the truth about water baptism, again given their differences concerning this rite?

a) This prevented anyone from boasting that they had been baptized by the Lord Himself vs. being baptized by a mere disciple of Christ. (cf. 1Cor 1:17)
b) Jesus surely didn't forbid baptism but contrariwise commanded and approved of water baptism as administered by His disciples. (cf. 4:1; 3:22) "What they (his disciples) did, he was in reality doing (through His agents)." [Hendriksen]
c) As one of baptism's significant meanings, i.e., reception into the visible church upon a profession of faith, this was to be done by those who were to oversee those admitted. This was the responsibility of the Apostles and eventual Elders appointed as undershepherds. (Eph 2:19-22; Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1Tim 5:17; Titus 1:5; 1Pet 5:1)

a) See (a) and (c) above.
b) The text itself explains why Paul rarely baptized. It was his calling, as was the case with the other Apostles, to preach the Gospel and to teach throughout their travels.

John's ministry was preparatory, i.e., to introduce the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. He had no authority nor power to send the Holy Spirit of God Who is instrumental in bringing salvation.

a) There are in fact two "baptisms" taught in Scripture; water and Spirit. We must not confuse them nor especially to dismiss one or the other. One of the inherent meanings of the former signifies the latter.
b) Grammatically, it is best to take the 'triad' as one indivisible phrase; "one Lord in whom we all believe and in whose name we have been baptised." [Scott]
c) I really like what Grosheide wrote on the matter of "one baptism":

There is only one baptism which is received by many (perhaps a number of persons simultaneously). All the members of the congregation are baptized in the same manner, and we may well assume, after or in connection with the same sermonic elucidation."

"By means of baptism the fellowship of believers with their Lord was sealed (Gal 3:27)." [Hendriksen]
Sorry, but this question would require a lengthy response and I don't consider it to be relevant to the questions already asked nor those that follow.