Discussion Questions: Baptist Catechism 101

  1. What are the four ordinary means of grace?
  2. How does God make these means of grace effective?
  3. What is baptism?
  4. Who is to receive baptism?
  5. How is baptism to be applied (how is it to be done)?
  6. What are those who are baptized to then do?
  7. What does it mean for a church to be orderly?
  8. Is it possible for a disorderly church to be a true church?
Posted in Study Guides, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Baptist Catechism 101

Week Of September 7th, 2025

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > 2 Sam 4‐5, 1 Cor 15Ezek 13John 14
MONDAY > 2 Sam 61 Cor 16Ezek 14John 15
TUESDAY > 2 Sam 72 Cor 1Ezek 15John 16
WEDNESDAY > 2 Sam 8‐9, 2 Cor 2Ezek 16John 17
THURSDAY > 2 Sam 102 Cor 3Ezek 17John 18
FRIDAY > 2 Sam 112 Cor 4Ezek 18John 19
SATURDAY > 2 Sam 122 Cor 5Ezek 19John 20

MEMORY VERSE(S)
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:42 ESV)

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #101:
Q. What is the duty of those who are rightly baptized?
A. It is the duty of those who are rightly baptized to give up (join) themselves to some visible and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of September 7th, 2025

Week Of August 31st, 2025

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > 1 Sam 271 Cor 8Ezek 6John 7
MONDAY > 1 Sam 281 Cor 9Ezek 7John 8
TUESDAY > 1 Sam 29‐30, 1 Cor 10Ezek 8John 9
WEDNESDAY > 1 Sam 311 Cor 11Ezek 9John 10
THURSDAY > 2 Sam 11 Cor 12Ezek 10John 11
FRIDAY > 2 Sam 21 Cor 13Ezek 11John 12
SATURDAY > 2 Sam 31 Cor 14Ezek 12John 13

MEMORY VERSE(S)
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV)

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #100:
Q. How is Baptism rightly administered?
A. Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of August 31st, 2025

Sermon: First Suffering, Then Glory, Luke 22:35-38

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Luke 22:35-38

“And he said to them, ‘When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘Nothing.’ He said to them, ‘But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.’ And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough.’” (Luke 22:35–38, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church, but without the benefit of proofreading.

Sermon

This passage that is open before us today has been interpreted and applied in some interesting ways throughout the history of the church. The difficult interpretive question is this: How are we to understand Christ’s words about obtaining swords? “He said to them, ‘But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.’” Why did Christ tell his disciples to procure a sword, even if it required them to sell their cloak to obtain it? A little later in the passage, we read, “And they [the disciples] said [to Jesus], ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough.’” What is the meaning of the two swords? Are they to be taken literally, or do they symbolize something? And what did Jesus mean when he said, it is enough

You may know that some have interpreted the swords in an allegorical way. When Christ said, “And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one”, they think that Christ was speaking of a spiritual sword, namely, the word of God. And when it comes to the two short swords that the disciples pointed to, they interpret them to symbolize two aspects of the word of God. Some believe the two swords symbolize the Old and New Testaments. Others believe they symbolize the law and the gospel. Perhaps you have heard that some Roman Catholics view the swords as symbolic of the two-fold power and authority that they believe Christ has given to the church – power over things spiritual and power over things civil or political. 

I do not agree with these allegorical interpretations. It seems to me that when Christ told his disciples that they would need swords in the future, it was a warning that times of difficulty were soon to come. They would need swords for self-defense. And it seems to me that when the disciples said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords”, and Jesus replied, “it is enough”, he meant, the two short swords are enough – they will be sufficient for you as a band of disciples. In other words, Jesus was not commanding his disciples to arm themselves for physical combat or war (two short swords would not be sufficient for that). Instead, he was warning that difficulties were soon to come and that they would be wise to carry short swords for self-defence. In those days, when people would travel, they would carry a moneybag (with money in it), a knapsack (or a traveler’s bag), and a sword for self-defence. 

I do believe that this interpretation fits very well with the context, which I hope to demonstrate shortly. 

Christ Warned His Disciples Of Difficult Days Ahead

Why would Jesus need to warn his disciples of the difficult days ahead? 

The need for this instruction becomes clear when we recall that the disciples were arguing amongst themselves over who was to be regarded as the greatest in Christ’s kingdom. Clearly, at this point, they were oblivious to the difficulty that was soon to descend upon them. Clearly, they had high hopes and big dreams concerning the arrival of the Messiah’s kingdom. They must have thought that the kingdom would soon come in glory and that they would soon experience glorious and pleasant things on earth. But here Christ warns them that the glory would be delayed. First, there would be difficulty.

Look with me at verse 35: “And he said to them, ‘When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘Nothing.’” What is Jesus referring to here? He is reminding his disciples of the manner in which he previously sent them out to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. In the past, he sent them out to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom without natural provision or protection. God and Christ provided for them and protected them in unusual or supernatural ways. No doubt, this was a time of testing and training for the disciples. They learned to depend upon God as they went about their work.  

Luke tells us about this unusual mission in chapter 9, verses 1-6, of his Gospel. There we read, “And [Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.’ And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere” (Luke 9:1–6, ESV). In Luke 10:1-12, we are told that Jesus sent seventy of his disciples out in much the same way. To them, Jesus said, “Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” 

Here in Luke 22:35, Jesus reminds his disciples of that mission and the manner in which he sent them out. But in verse 36, he clarifies that this will not be the norm in the future. “He said to them, ‘But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one’” (Luke 22:36, ESV). This is very important teaching from Jesus that we would do well to consider. 

I’m afraid that some Christians will read the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (and even the Book of the Acts of the Apostles), and expect that everything described there will be the common experience of all Christians living in every time and place. The thought is this: If Jesus sent the twelve, and later the seventy, out with no money, staff, bag, food, or change of clothes, then this is to be the manner in which all Christians live in all times and places. We can press this further: If the twelve and the seventy cast out demons and healed the sick, so should we. If the twelve and the seventy left houses and families to follow Jesus, we must do the same. But this is not true. The text that is open before us today helps us to see that not everything we read about in the Gospels (and even the book of Acts) is to be regarded as normative for the New Covenant people of God. Some things are! But some things are not. The reason is simple and clear. The Gospels and the book of Acts tell us about a very special and unique time in the history of redemption. These books of the Bible tell us about the earthly ministry of the Messiah, the Son of God incarnate, and the work of his special emissaries—his Apostles and other eyewitnesses of his life, death, and resurrection. 

It is true, for a time, Christ sent his disciples out to preach the gospel of the kingdom and to cast out demons, and commanded them to have no concern for their provision or protection. But here he clarifies that this manner of going is not to be regarded as normative: “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one’”, Christ says (Luke 22:36, ESV).

Why have I said that this teaching from Jesus is important to consider? Because it helps to keep us from fanaticism or reckless and foolish living. Stated positively, this text helps us to see that Christians are to walk in wisdom and make use of common earthly means as they seek to obey Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.

This teaching gets really practical, really quick. 

What would you say to a professing Christian who says, I’m not going to get a job. Instead, I’m going to walk by faith just like the Apostles did when Jesus sent them out without provision. I hope you would say what the Apostle said: ”If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10, ESV).

Or what would you say to the aspiring missionary who says, I will not raise support or bother securing the backing of a local church. I will simply go just like the Apostles did when Jesus sent them out without provision. I hope you would say what the Apostle said: Brother, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:14–15, ESV). Were not Paul and Barnabus sent from Antioch? Did Paul not carry a moneybag filled by the generous support of the churches he served? 

Or what would you say to the congregation that failed to provide an adequate living for their minister whom they have set apart for full-time ministry, saying, but shouldn’t this minister of ours (along with his wife and children) walk by faith just as the Apostles did when Jesus sent them out without provision. I hope you would say what the Apostle has said: “‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer deserves his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:18, ESV). 

Another way to say this is that these disciples of Jesus were, in some respects, about to experience a major transition from the extraordinary to the ordinary. The days of the earthly ministry of the Messiah were extraordinary. But soon (after his death, burial, and resurrection), some things would return to normal.  

To illustrate this, we may compare Israel’s experience in the days of Moses with their experience after settling in the land of Canaan. When God redeemed them from bondage in Egypt through Moses, many miracles were performed through him. Once in the wilderness, God sustained them miraculously. They drank water from the rock. They ate manna from heaven. They followed the cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. After the conquest, however, things settled. Life became more ordinary for the Hebrews.     

As I say this, I do not mean to deny that God is able to work in supernatural ways during these more ordinary days, and sometimes does. And neither am I claiming that there is nothing to learn from those passages wherein Luke tells us of the sending out of the twelve and seventy without provision. No doubt, it is a valid point of application to say, we must learn to walk by faith and trust in God for provision and protection. But this passage that is open before us does help us to see that not everything experienced by the disciples of Jesus in the days of his earthly ministry is to be regarded as normative for us. “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one’”, Christ says (Luke 22:36, ESV).

I promise, I do read commentators other than J.C.Ryle when preparing my sermons. I quote him often, though, one, because I often agree with him, and two, because I like the way he puts things. Listen to what he says about this passage: 

The general drift of this verse is to teach that from the time of Christ’s ascension into heaven, the disciples must not expect such a constant miraculous interposition of God on their behalf, as would make them independent of the use of means. On the contrary they must diligently employ all lawful and reasonable means for their support and protection. They were to work with their own hands, as St Paul did at tent making. They were to have regular gatherings of money for the support of those that [lacked] as the Corinthians had. They were not to despise their rights as subjects and citizens, but to use them in their own defence, as St Paul did before Lysias, and Festus, and at Philippi. The general purport of the verse appears to be a caution against the indolent [lazy] and fanatical [extreme] notion that diligence in the use of means is ‘carnal,’ and an unlawful dependence on an arm of flesh. To my own mind the whole verse supplies an unanswerable argument against the strange notions maintained by some in the present day, who tell us that making provision for our families is wrong, — and insuring our lives is wrong, — and collecting money for religious societie: is wrong, — and studying for the work of the ministry is wrong, — and taking part in civi government is wrong, — and supporting police, standing armies, and courts of law is wrong. I respect the conscientiousness of those who maintain these opinions. But I am utterly unable to reconcile them with our Lord’s language in this place.” (Ryle, Expository Thoughts On Luke, 311) 

When Christ instructed his disciples to procure a sword, even if it required them to sell their cloak to get one, I take this to mean, just as travelers would commonly travel with moneybags, travel bags, and swords for defence, the disciples of Jesus would be wise to do the same in the future, for the uncommon and special protections afforded to them during the days of Christ’s earthly ministry were soon coming to an end. Christ would still be with them! But in the New Covenant era, disciples of Jesus will be expected to make use of common means for their provision and protection. 

When Christ mentioned the need for a sword of defense, it was also, no doubt, an ominous warning that troubles were on the horizon. The disciples of Jesus assumed that Christ’s kingdom would soon come in glory and that they would sit on thrones ruling and reigning with him. Here, Jesus essentially says, Not so fast. You will not immediately be living as rulers in a settled kingdom (that day will come, but not yet! Instead, you will live as sojourners on the earth—as travelers in need of moneybags, knapsacks, and swords. And the trouble you face will be such that you would rather have a sword for defence than a cloak to keep you warm as you sleep at night. If you know anything about the trials and tribulations that the disciples of Jesus endured after Christ’s ascension, you will agree that this is true.

Christ Warned His Disciples That He Would Experience The Difficulty First

So you can see, Christ warned his disciples that difficult days were ahead. And he also warned them that he himself would experience the difficulty first. Look with me at verse 37: “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment” (Luke 22:37, ESV).

What Scripture was Christ referring to when he said, “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’”?  He was referring to the famous Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53. We read it earlier. It is truly a marvelous text of Scripture. About 700 years before Jesus the Messiah was born in this world, it was revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Prophet Isaiah that the Messiah would suffer, die, and be raised to atone for the sins of his people. Every time I read this text, I’m amazed at how clearly the gospel of Jesus Christ is revealed in it. Hear it again: 

“Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt…” 

Clearly, this prophecy revealed that the Messiah, though pure and undefiled, would experience sorrows, suffering, and death. It also reveals that his death would be an atoning death — a death that removed the guilt and stain of sin. But it also reveals that the Messiah would be raised from the dead to bring salvation to many. In verse 10, we read, 

“he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:10–12, ESV)

Notice that Christ quoted a line from the very end of this prophecy, saying, “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment” (Luke 22:37, ESV). By quoting a line from the end of this prophecy, he was urging his disciples to consider the whole thing. 

When Christ said, “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me”, he was reminding his disciples of something he had told them many times before — a little detail they seemed to always forget — the Messiah, though perfectly pure and unstained by sin, would have to suffer and die the death of a sinner to atone for sins, and then enter into glory. 

First, suffering, then glory. That would be the pattern. It was the pattern for Christ, and it would be the pattern for his disciples, too. First, suffering, then glory. This was not the first time Christ had spoken plainly about his suffering. In Luke 18:31, we read, “And taking the twelve, he said to them, ‘See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise’” (Luke 18:31–33, ESV). That’s clear, would you agree? And yet the disciples had no place in their minds for suffering—not for Jesus and not for them. They only thought about the glory, and so they argued about who would be the greatest. This time, Jesus took them straight to the Old Testament text that speaks most clearly about the sufferings of the Messiah—Isaiah 53—saying, “For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment” (Luke 22:37, ESV).     

In verse 38, the disciples respond to Jesus by pointing to a pair of short swords in the room and saying, “And they said, ‘Look, Lord, here are two swords.’ And he said to them, ‘It is enough’” (Luke 22:38, ESV). As I said previously, I take the words of Jesus to mean, those will be sufficient. And why would the two small swords be sufficient?  Because Christ did not intend for his disciples to fight as if a small army or militia. The sword that he encouraged them to procure was a sword of self-defence, not of a soldier. By saying this, I do not mean to suggest that disciples of Jesus must never serve as soldiers under the authority of civil magistrates. Instead, I mean that disciples of Jesus are not called to bear arms and to wage warfare as disciples of Jesus. The church is not an army. The kingdom of God will not advance by the sword. It will advance by the preaching of the word and the working of the Spirit. 

This point is proven by what happened later that night as the disciples of Jesus were tempted to use the sword to defend Jesus from enduring the suffering that Isaiah 53 predicted. It was while they were in the garden of Gethsemane that “there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?’ And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, ‘Lord, shall we strike with the sword?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him” (Luke 22:47–51, ESV). The sword that Jesus urged his disciples to procure was a common sword of self-defence, not a sword for warfare, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4, ESV).

Conclusion

I’ll conclude with a few brief suggestions for application. 

One, this text encourages us not to despise the common and mundane things of this life as if they are somehow lacking or unrelated to Christ and his glorious kingdom. Sometimes we may be tempted to look back on the lives of the Apostles as they walked with Jesus on earth or as they furthered his kingdom in the days after his ascension, and think, Why am I not experiencing such exciting and glorious things in my walk with Jesus? Well, those were unusual times, brothers and sisters. Be grateful for the time in which we live, and seek to honor the Lord even in the mundane things.  

Two, do not assume that living responsibly and with wisdom is opposed to walking by faith. Yes, it may be that God will sometimes call you to take a leap of faith, that is to say, to obey his revealed will even though it is difficult and to trust that he will provide. But more often than not, God will call you to trust and obey him as you live responsibly in this world, for his glory, honor, and praise. Work diligently, brothers and sisters. Give generously, save, and invest. Make wise plans, saying, Lord willing, I will do this or that thing. Get an education or certification. Make progress in your career. Maintain and manage your home. Be prepared to protect yourself and those you love. Though these are earthly cares and concerns, they are not necessarily unspiritual. Do them to the glory of God, brothers and sisters. Do them, never losing sight of our mission to further God’s eternal kingdom on earth.       

Three, please do not forget this pattern: first suffering, then glory. Do not despise the trials and tribulations of life, brothers and sisters. Do not act as if the sufferings of this life are for nothing, for we know that  “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18, ESV)

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Luke 22:35-38, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Sermon: First Suffering, Then Glory, Luke 22:35-38

Discussion Questions: Luke 22:35-38

  1. What did the bickering of the disciples over the question of greatness reveal about their expectations for the inauguration of Christ’s kingdom? Were they expecting to suffer in this inaugurated kingdom or to enter glory? Discuss.
  2. When Christ said, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36, ESV), what was he revealing about life in his inaugurated kingdom? How does it compare to the disciples’ previous experience with Jesus? How does it compare with life in glory?
  3. How does the command to take moneybags, knapsacks, and swords with us on our Christian journey help to guard us from fanatical and unwise living?  
  4. Why is it important for disciples of Jesus to recognize this pattern: first suffering, then glory? How does this pattern relate to Jesus? How does this pattern relate to us?
  5. Read Isaiah 53 and observe the “first suffering, then glory” pattern there?
Posted in Study Guides, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Luke 22:35-38

Catechetical Sermon: How Is Baptism Rightly Administered?, Baptist Catechism 100

Baptist Catechism 100

Q. 100. How is baptism rightly administered?

A. Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the party in water, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, according to Christ’s institution, and the practice of the apostles, and not by sprinkling or pouring of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of man. (Matt. 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38,39)

Scripture Reading: Acts 8:26-40

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’ And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.” (Acts 8:26–40, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

*****

The question before us today is, “How is baptism rightly administered?“ In other words, how is a baptism properly done?

You know, in some traditions, baptisms are administered by the pouring or sprinkling of water. And the question is, is this proper?

Our catechism is quite direct, isn’t it?  At the end, it says, “not by sprinkling or pouring of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of man.” In our opinion, this practice of sprinkling, pouring, or dipping some part of the body into the baptismal water is not from Christ, but is the tradition of man. 

Where did this tradition come from?  Well, I have not studied that question in detail, but I wonder if it did not develop along with the tradition of applying the sign of baptism to infants and to those on their deathbeds. Sprinkling, pouring, or dipping only a part of the body in water in situations like these would certainly be more convenient. 

However the tradition developed, we are saying that it is not from Scripture, which means that it is not from God. It is the tradition of man, and it is to be rejected. 

Notice again that the question is “How is baptism rightly administered?“ In other words, what is the correct way to do it? 

As is usually the case, it is helpful to compare our catechism with our confession to gain a fuller understanding of the doctrine being presented. Our confession teaches in chapters 28 and 29 that those who have faith in Christ are the only proper subjects of baptism; never should those who do not profess faith be baptized, and this includes infants. Infant baptisms are invalid baptisms, therefore. Water is always to be used. And those baptized are to be baptized in the name of the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—by one who is qualified and called to administer the sacrament, according to the commission of Christ (2LCF 28.2). A baptism that lacks these things should be considered invalid. But our confession says in 29.4 that “Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.” In other words, the right way to baptize is by immersion, or the dipping of the person in water. But what about those who have been baptized as believers, with water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by one who is qualified and called to administer the sacrament, but by sprinkling, pouring, or dipping a part of the body into the water? What should we think of a baptism like this? Is it valid?

This is a question that comes up from time to time even today, but it was a very common question for the Particular Baptists living in the 17th century. They had to wrestle with the question, Should we receive the baptisms of those who were baptized as believers, but by sprinkling. Many thought yes. Though their baptisms were improperly done, they were to be considered valid.  And that is why 29.4 of our confession says that “Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.” Due means proper.

Would we consider an infant baptism valid? No, never. For that one was not baptized upon profession of faith. The one who was baptized as an infant was not really baptized. They should be baptized properly as a believer now, and thus say to God and to the world, Jesus is Lord. 

Would we consider a Roman Catholic, Mormon, or a Jehovah’s Witness baptism to be valid? No, never. For those are different religions with different conceptions of sin and salvation. In the case of Mormon and JW doctrine, their view of God and Christ is fundamentally different, too. Those who were baptized in these religions were not baptized into Christ’s church, but into something else. 

Would we consider the baptism of one who was sprinkled with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon profession of faith, let’s say,  in a Reformed or Presbyterian church, to be valid? Yes, I think we would. Our view would be that it was improperly done, but may be regarded as valid. 

So why do we say that “[b]aptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the party in water, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” Why is this the right way to do it?

The answer is rather straight forwrad. One, this is what the word “baptism” means – to immerse or submerge. Two, this is what Christ taught. And three, this is what the Apostles did. In other words, baptism by immersion is what we find in scripture. 

Read the New Testament and see. Baptisms were performed in bodies of water —  rivers, lakes, and such. People “went down into the water” to be baptized, and they were brought up again. 

The passage that I read from Acts 8 regarding Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch is a good example. Philip preached the gospel to him from Isaiah the prophet. The Ethiopian believed. And after believing he said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”  

If ever there was a time for baptism by sprinkling or pouring, it was here, for they were in an arid region. But baptism was made possible by the body of water. It was large enough for them to go down into it and to come up out of it again. Read the New Testament and see that this is always the case. It is always baptism by immersion that is described. 

Add to this the symbolism of baptism. Baptism signifies cleansing. It signifies our union with Christ in his death and resurrection. Through immersion, the whole body is washed. Through immersion, our death in Christ, and our resurrection in Christ are signified as we go under the water and come up again. Baptism by pouring or sprinkling doesn’t quite capture this, does it?

*****

Conclusion

And this is why we say, “Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the party in water, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, according to Christ’s institution, and the practice of the apostles, and not by sprinkling or pouring of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of man. (Matt. 3:16; John 3:23; Acts 8:38,39)

Posted in Sermons, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Catechetical Sermon: How Is Baptism Rightly Administered?, Baptist Catechism 100

Discussion Questions: Baptist Catechism 100

  1. How is a person to be baptized? What is to be done to the person? What is to be said?
  2. Why is immersion the proper way to baptize?
  3. What symbolism is lost when baptisms are done by sprinkling or pouring water? See Romans 6. 
  4. If a person was baptized upon profession of faith by a minister of the gospel in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but by pouring or sprinkling, may we regard their baptism as valid, though improperly done? 
Posted in Study Guides, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Baptist Catechism 100

Week Of August 24th, 2025

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > 1 Sam 191 Cor 1Lam 4Luke 24
MONDAY > 1 Sam 201 Cor 2Lam 5John 1
TUESDAY > 1 Sam 21‐22, 1 Cor 3Ezek 1John 2
WEDNESDAY > 1 Sam 231 Cor 4Ezek 2John 3
THURSDAY > 1 Sam 241 Cor 5Ezek 3John 4
FRIDAY > 1 Sam 251 Cor 6Ezek 4John 5
SATURDAY > 1 Sam 261 Cor 7Ezek 5John 6

MEMORY VERSE(S)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19, ESV).
“Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8, ESV).

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #98-99:
Q. To whom is Baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ; and to none other.
Q. Are the infants of such as are professing believers to be baptized?
A. The infants of such as are professing believers are not to be baptized; because there is neither command nor example in the Holy Scriptures, or certain consequence from them, to baptize such.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of August 24th, 2025


"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)

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