I Was Not Sent to Baptize - What Exactly Did Paul Mean?

[Nebuchadnezzer]

Paul meant exactly what he said. He was sent to "make disciples", just like the 11 that Jesus commissioned in Matt 28:19,20.

He left most of the baptizing to his entourage.

As the most prolific evangelist in human history, if water baptism was a requirement for salvation, there would be no doubt that he would have immersed everyone who responded in faith to his many many preachings.

No. Paul didn't both preach and baptize because he didn't want to be followed like a cult leader.

1 Corinthians 1:13-15
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

You see Paul was fearful that if he both preached and baptized then people might mistake him for the Christ. In other words Paul wanted to be sure they were following Christ, and not him.

Today the Head Pastor both preaches and teaches the word AND baptizes. the Head Pastor today seems to do more than what Paul did, which was preach the word. The Head pastor does anointing with oil, he does baby dedications, marriages, funerals, he does it all. It is like the Head Pastor covers everything from A to Z, or covers everything from Alpha to Omega. hmmmmm. Think about it.

Paul tried to mimic Jesus who spoke and taught the Word but did not baptize.

John 4:1-2
When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),

Jesus is the Head Shepherd and Chief Overseer. And Pastors stand in as shepherds and overseers
So if Jesus didn't perform the baptisms but did his sheep, then what about head pastors today?

https://bible.org/question/should-only-pastors-baptize-people

 

[FreeGrace2]

No. Paul didn't both preach and baptize because he didn't want to be followed like a cult leader.

He was also pointing out that evangelization doesn't require water baptism.

1 Corinthians 1:13-15
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

You see Paul was fearful that if he both preached and baptized then people might mistake him for the Christ. In other words Paul wanted to be sure they were following Christ, and not him.

If he thought water baptism was necessary for salvation, he would have made that clear. What verses do you have?

Today the Head Pastor both preaches and teaches the word AND baptizes. the Head Pastor today seems to do more than what Paul did, which was preach the word. The Head pastor does anointing with oil, he does baby dedications, marriages, funerals, he does it all. It is like the Head Pastor covers everything from A to Z, or covers everything from Alpha to Omega. hmmmmm. Think about it.

I have thought about it for a long time. There are no verses that teach that water baptism saves the soul. Cornelius received the Holy Spirit on the basis of believing in Christ, which was BEFORE he was water baptized.

1 Pet 3:21 tells us that literal water is a symbol of "the baptism that saves" which is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which John the baptizer mentioned about Christ.

Mark 1:8 - I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 

[Nebuchadnezzer]

He was also pointing out that evangelization doesn't require water baptism.


If he thought water baptism was necessary for salvation, he would have made that clear. What verses do you have?

Baptism is a confession of your faith. And as a side note babies cannot make a confession.

Luke 12:8
I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

Acts 2:32
God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.

What do witnesses do? They confess what they witnessed and believed to be truth.

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Baptism is a confession that we died with Christ (died to our old ways) and have been brought to new life through Christ.

When Paul says "we", who is he referring to? He is referring to believers: all believers.

Baptism is NOT required. But faith in your heart IS required. If you have this faith in your heart you WILL want to confess your faith. You will want to make that confession through baptism. Baptism is a outward expression of an inward reality.

 

[FreeGrace2]

Baptism is a confession of your faith.

CORRECT.

And as a side note babies cannot make a confession.

I don't understand the point.

Baptism is a confession that we died with Christ (died to our old ways) and have been brought to new life through Christ.

The Greek word came to mean an identification. And a confession is an identification.

Baptism is NOT required. But faith in your heart IS required.

Amen!

 

[Wansvic]

Then what do you do with John 1:29? John the Baptist said Jesus is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Christ's sacrifice paid the penalty for the sin of all of mankind. What is obvious, however, not all of mankind takes hold of that reality. This only occurs after believing, repenting and being obedient to the God ordained command to be water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus according to the word. (Acts 2:38, 22:16)

As stated previously, the process of one's personal sins being washed away requires belief and corresponding action to what is also described in the gospel message. Jesus said this message would be preached in all nations, BEGINNING in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) And it did BEGIN on the Day of Pentecost. Everyone is to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sin. (Acts 2:38)

 

[Wansvic]

.
The so-called great commission per Matt 28:16-20 was given to the eleven
original apostles, but Paul's commission was somehow different, e.g. "Christ
sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (1Cor 1:17)

For example: at Rom 10:9 he says:

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

. . . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

. . . For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved."

And at 1Cor 15:1-4 he says:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto
you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye
are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have
believed in vain.

. . . For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried,
and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

That's it. Not one word about ritual baptism in water; whereas Peter, one of
the original eleven, typically concluded his sermons with a call to baptism;
which is curious because Paul himself was called to baptism (Acts 9:18) and
is known to have been involved in some. (Acts 19:1-8 and 1Cor 1:14-16).

It's as though Christ's commission via the original apostles was old school,
and in time, Christ's commission via Paul became the new school. I realize it
seems impossible; but I'm hard pressed to think of any other reason why
Paul's message would de-emphasize ritual baptism unless the Lord
instructed him to.

• Gal 1:11-12 . . I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached
of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught
it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
_

Peter and Paul preached the same gospel message.

Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The power of God unto salvation is for every one who believes. Believes what? The entire gospel message and is obedience to it. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all those who OBEY him. (Heb. 5:9)

 

[Wansvic]

Precious friend, yes, seems impossible because most assume Peter and
Paul had the SAME commission, which they did not. Please see:
God's Approval/TWO Different Gospels

My summary for three baptisms, showing ONLY ONE Baptism
for today, is here: #30

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
God's Simple Will!

They did have the same gospel message. Peter was used to present the gospel message including man's required obedience to both the Jews and Gentiles. Afterward Paul was sent to the Jews first. But his primary mission was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles.

Rom 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Gentile)
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

 

[Wansvic]

Baptism is NOT required. But faith in your heart IS required. If you have this faith in your heart you WILL want to confess your faith. You will want to make that confession through baptism. Baptism is a outward expression of an inward reality.

Please consider what the bible actually says about this:

James 2:20-24
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

 

[mailmandan]

Please consider what the bible actually says about this:

James 2:20-24
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but he has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

In James 2:20, "faith without works is dead" does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith or that we are saved by works. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead. Again, if someone merely says-claims they have faith, yet lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith.

In James 2:21, notice closely that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God's accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22. The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. This is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.

In James 2:22, faith made perfect or complete by works means bring to maturity, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on the merits of his works after he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6.

In James 2:23, the scripture was fulfilled in vindicating or demonstrating that Abraham believed God and was accounted as righteous. Abraham was accounted as righteous based on his faith (Genesis 15:6) not his works (Romans 4:2-3) long before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22.

In James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)

 

[GRACE_ambassador]

Precious friends, as usual, trying to apply "mail that DOES NOT belong" to
The Body Of CHRIST! NEVER works, Because James is Directly addressed
TO "The TWELVE tribes" {ch 1 vs 1} of ISRAEL! Hardly EVER is, But Must BE:

Rightly Divided (2 Timothy 2:15 KJB!) From “Things That DIFFER!”:

Romans – Philemon {KJB!}, DIRECTLY addressed TO The Body Of CHRIST! =

God's GRACE Through faith, And PEACE Love Letters
Directly TO us, The Body Of CHRIST, Today, For: Consolation,
Comfort, Edification, Enjoyment, Encouragement, And spiritual
Building Up Of All The BLOOD-Washed "members ( saints!" )
In The Body Of CHRIST!, HIS Church, Seated In Heaven!

{Start here, but remember: "ALL Scripture Is Profitable For
learning [ NOT Necessarily application ]!"} Amen?

Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
God's Simple Will!