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Baptism

Gregory A. Boyd and Paul R Eddy in their co-authored book, "Across the Spectrum," examine many of the issues that are hot topics of debate among Evangelical Christians today.   Among the many debates contained with their pages, that this writer finds of especial interest, is the debate and controversy over Christian water baptism.   The fact that no person can be a member of any church, with some minor exceptions such as the Quakers and the Christian Scientists, without submitting to some form of water baptism is proof that the subject is of great importance.   Boyd and Eddy point out "all Christians throughout history have agreed, on the basis of Scripture, that baptism is important."   All this withstanding, there is perhaps no teaching of the New Testament over which more controversy has raged than the subject of baptism.  
Baptism is very important to the Christian faith for a number of reasons.   God sent John the Baptist to prepare "the way of the Lord" by preaching repentance and baptism.   John baptized his converts by immersion in water.   Baptism in Scripture has always been by immersion, which means to submerge completely; to cover. When a person is baptized they will go completely down in the water.   Jesus was God manifested in flesh (1 Tim 3:16).   Therefore, He was perfect and sinless and yet, even the Lord and Savor Himself was baptized by John the Baptist.   Jesus told John the Baptist "I must be baptized to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15).   Jesus is the perfect example that all Christ should follow and strive to be like Him in word and deed.   Therefore, it would just make sense that a Christian today would follow the Biblical example of the Lord Jesus Christ by being baptized.   There are few who would argue this point concerning the importance of baptism.  
Of equal importance to the example of Jesus in baptism is the command of Jesus concerning baptism.   In the Great Commission, Jesus made it clear that He wanted His followers to...