The Form of Baptism by B. F. Merritt

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1872

The Form of Baptism.

By B. F. Merritt

It seems to me that a child who has been taught how to learn a lesson, would readily find the required form of baptism given in the New Testament, if its mind had not been biased by hearing false teaching and seeing it administered according to man’s plan.

1. There was much water used. John baptized in the river Jordan. Matt. 3: 6. He also baptized “in Ænon near to Salem, because there was much water there.” John 3: 23. Then much water was needed. Was ever any baptized without much water? There is no record where any one was.

2. They went down into it, and came up out of it. Jesus went up out of the water. Matt. 3:16. He must, therefore, have been down in it. We read of Philip and the eunuch, that “they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip.” Acts 8: 38, 39. Was any one ever baptized without going down into the water and coming up out of it? There is no record of it. Then much water was used, and they went down into it and came up out of it. Now what was done while down in the water? Rom. 6: 4, says, “We are buried with him by baptism into death.” Therefore,

3. They were buried. “Buried with him in baptism, ye are risen with him,” Col. 2: 12. We have such words as “planted,” “risen,” and “born,” to denote with reference to the form of baptism, and they imply an immersion and coming forth—a burial and resurrection.

Was any one ever baptized without being buried? There is no account of it. Then to be baptized we must go where there is much water. We must go down into it. We must be buried. We must be raised. We must come up out of the water to walk in newness of life. This form shows the burial and resurrection of our Lord.

B. F. MERRITT.