This post is part of a series of posts summarising chapters of the Jehovah Witnesses' booklet, "What does the Bible really Teach?", and seeking to evaluate those chapters against Scripture somewhat briefly. Those posts were introduced at the Introduction, and a contents page will be added to that entry once this run of posts has finished.
Chapter 18: Baptism and your relationship with God
Baptism is how someone shows that they want to serve God. Jesus’ example, and the meaning of the word (“dip”) shows that a small amount of water is not in view. But there are steps to qualify for baptism.
Knowledge and faith needed: You need to have a growing knowledge of God through the scriptures (which the Jehovah’s Witnesses can help you with), and have faith that it is God’s word.
Sharing Bible truth with others: As you get to know about God, you will informally want to share this. In time, you and your teacher could go and see the elders about taking part in the public preaching ministry. If agreed, you would become “an unbaptized publisher of the good news.” (177)
Repentance and conversion: We all need God’s forgiveness. Repentance is the regret we feel, which is followed by conversion (a change of direction)
Making a personal dedication: Before being baptised, you must dedicate yourself to Jehovah.
Overcoming fear of failure: Don’t worry: Dedication is not about being perfect but about living in love of God.
Symbolizing your dedication by getting baptized: Talk to the elders; provided you understand the rudiments, you will be baptised at the next available opportunity.
The meaning of your baptism: It is in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit. “This means that a baptism candidate recognises the authority of Jehovah God and of Jesus Christ… He also recognises the function and activity of God’s holy spirit or active force.” (182) “Baptism does not guarantee salvation,” (183) you need to work out your salvation.
Evaluation
Biblically, someone’s inner response as they become a follower of Jesus Christ is repent “and believe the gospel”, not the two actions of repent and convert which are both things I do. The outward response is baptism. Therefore these two responses belong together. The two responses should both be made, and as close together as possible.
Here the response is all about what we do. Faith is subsumed under the heading of “knowledge about” God. There is the need to share the truth with others, as part of the door-to-door team, before you even make a personal dedication. Then the personal dedication must precede baptism
How different this is from the biblical example. On the day of Pentecost, those who had crucified Jesus were invited to repent and be baptised and receive forgiveness. All in under an hour, they responded privately with repentance and publicly with baptism. The Philippian jailor asked what he should do to be saved, and Paul told him to believe in the Lord Jesus and accordingly he was baptised. It is ironic that the chapter started with a quotation from the Ethiopian Eunuch of Acts 8: “What is to prevent me being baptised?” The answer is: Absolutely nothing. Do it right away with no fuss or preparation.
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