Is Baptism a Command?

It is important to understand that baptism had been around for a long time before the apostles started to preach baptism into Jesus.  Obviously, John the baptist baptised people.  That’s why he was called ‘John the baptist’.

But baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is different.  It was not preached until after his resurrection.   It is part of the new covenant, which was established with his blood when he died on the cross, and the promise of eternal life came with his resurrection from the dead.

The difference between these two ‘baptisms’ is highlighted in Acts chapter 19, when Paul encounters a group of twelve men described as ‘disciples’ and asks them  “‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed’?  They answered  ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit’.  So Paul asked ’Then what baptism did you receive’?  ‘John’s baptism’. They replied.   Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.  He told people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus’.  On hearing this, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.  There were about twelve men in all.” (Acts 19:1-7)  These men had already received John’s baptism, but Paul made them aware of more.  And, “On hearing this, they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.” 

​

Before the crucifixion, the message preached by John the Baptist, was a message of repentance.  The Lord Jesus and his apostles also preached repentance and the approach of God’s kingdom.  However, this message was only preached to the Jews; as it is written; “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near’” (Matt. 4:17)

He also told his disciples; “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.  Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.  As you go, preach this message. ‘The kingdom of heaven is near’.”  (Matt. 10:5-7).  The disciples were not allowed to preach to Gentiles or Samaritans because the old covenant was still in effect.  They were still under Old testament law and could only preach to the Jews.  

This all changed after the resurrection.  The old covenant restrictions were removed and Jesus told them; “ Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation, whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”  (Mark 16:15,16). 

And again, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”   (Matt. 28:18).

This was a crucial moment in the history of mankind; Jesus Christ had been crucified and raised from the dead.  The old covenant laws had been set aside and Jesus was telling his apostles how to take the new covenant to the world!

What he told the apostles is not complicated!  1) Preach the good news  2) baptise those who believe  3) teach them to obey my commands. 

This baptism is clearly a part of the new covenant of grace, and was not preached before the resurrection.  

When we are baptised, we take part in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, through which we are saved - this was obviously not possible before his death and resurrection.  For anyone who takes Christ at his word, this scripture should be enough.  For if we believe Christ, then we should be more than willing to do as he says.  We should do it with joy and with some urgency.... “Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved”.   Why would anyone want to question this?

These were Christ’s commands to the apostles.  This was how the new covenant would be taken to mankind.  It is crucial for us then, to listen to what the apostles actually preached.  For Jesus prayed about the apostles with these words, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  My prayer is not for them alone, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.” (John 17: 16-20)

​