In Acts 19, Luke records the story of the apostle Paul's encounter with some of the disciples of John the baptizer. Upon questioning these men, Paul finds that they had been baptized into something other than what God had authorized (read carefully verses 3 and 4). They had been immersed with a good conscience into what they thought was the way of truth. However, with further instruction from Paul, these men came to realize that they had obeyed error and were baptized for the wrong reason. In verse 5, one finds their immediate response to truth: "they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus."
     Many lessons could be gleaned from this series of verses in Acts 19. However, I only wish to affirm one important point in this article ­ that one can be baptized for the wrong purpose and, consequently, remain outside of Christ, still in the midst of darkness and without hope. In my confrontations with denominational friends, I often hear these remarks regarding baptism: "I was saved before baptism;" or "I was baptized because Jesus was baptized;" or "The Bible often speaks of baptism; therefore, I was baptized because it seemed important;" or "I was baptized to be a member of the Baptist Church (or whatever one you choose);" and, finally, "I was baptized to confirm my religious experience." It is essential to realize that there is only one valid baptism in God's eyes (Eph. 4:5). Therefore, one must be careful to be immersed for the proper scriptural reasons and in just the way the Bible prescribes. In Acts 19, some were baptized into that which was not authorized, thereby making it an invalid baptism and not the "one" mentioned in Ephesians 4:5.
     True, many have been plunged into the water with a sincere attitude, but their sincerity was based upon a response to human doctrines and traditions and, therefore, not according to the truth of the Gospel. Sincerity is not enough when it comes to pleasing God. In Joshua's monumental farewell address to the nation of Israel, he exhorted his brethren to "fear the Lord, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth" (Josh. 24:14). Thus God demands more than just sincerity; He commands us to be sincerely obedient. What then would be a valid baptism in the sight of God? Let us examine the Scriptures.
     First, before approaching the waters of baptism, all persons must be convicted of their sins by having heard the Gospel. In Romans 1:16 and Hebrews 4:12, the Bible emphatically affirms that "the gospel is God's power unto salvation" and that the Gospel "is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Consequently, when the Gospel is preached and heard, it will cut to the hearts of mankind and produce biblical faith or belief (Rom. 10:17). However, faith alone will not save anyone (Jas. 2:17ff). Faith must express itself in obedience to Christ and His all-sufficient Word; Hebrews 5:9 and John 3:36 make that abundantly clear. Therefore, each believer must then repent of sins and confess that Jesus is Lord, the only begotten Son of the Father (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3,5; Matt. 10:32,33; Rom. 10:9,10, respectively). An individual having acted upon these commands may then be baptized if he or she obeys from the heart the "pattern delivered" in the sacred text.
     The "pattern," discussed in Romans 6:2-4, shows that baptism is a burial into the death of Jesus wherein one contacts His blood. Thus, it is vital to understand that the blood of Jesus can only be efficacious through a burial in water, predicated upon the believer's faith in the Lord (Rom. 6:17; 1 Pet. 3:21; Eph. 2:8). "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death (verse 3 says by baptism), then shall we be also in the likeness of His resurrection" having our sins washed away, thereby becoming a new creature ­ a Christian. Then, and only then, will the Lord add a soul to His church (Acts 2:47).
     So, I submit the question: Into what were you baptized? Did you obey from the heart? Did you follow the pattern? Did you act upon God's Word intelligently, knowingly, faithfully? Or, can you even remember? If the answer is "no" to any one of these questions, then your soul stands condemned before God this very moment! Why not follow the example in Acts 19:5? When they heard the truth, "they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus," because "there is none other name under heaven given among men, wherein we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
John W. Moore

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