Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 4/13/2004

Question
There were two baptisms taught in the beginning of the New Testament.  The one by water and the other by the Holy Spirit.  

People often disagree on this:  at what point does one become saved the point of water baptism or Holy Spirit Baptism, in your opinion?

Answer
Water baptism, like a wedding ring, is a symbol of something that has already occured.  Two people have already committed themselves to each other and they wear that ring to show that committment.  Man looks on the outward, but God looks on the heart.  The wedding ring or seal that God sees between His Son and the Believer is the Holy Spirit that is given at the time of belief/salvation.  Water baptism represents that commitment and is seen by man.

What follows is from a New Members Class material that I wrote.  If you would like all seven lessons e-mail me at mavmin@earthlink.net and I will be glad to send them.


ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH:
BAPTISM

I. INTRODUCTION

Various religions have many rites or rituals that a convert must perform either to achieve their definition of salvation or to maintain that salvation.  Often these rites have secret meanings and are surrounded in mystical auras only understood by the elite or priesthood of that religion. Some call these types of rituals sacraments, which comes from the word sacred.

Baptists believe that Christ initiated only two ordinances or decrees that Christians are to observe. One is baptism and the other is the Lord's Supper. Neither of these ordinances save a soul or help that soul to maintain their salvation.  You might call them family rules.  They are acts of obedience as one born into the Lord's family or Church.  As with all the commandments of God, disobedience will affect a person's fellowship with the Lord and their spiritual growth may be hindered, but not their relationship to the Father.

II. BAPTISM

{A} Purpose and reasons.

The following Scriptures show that water baptism is an ordinance and has no sacramental properties.

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  

Romans 6:3-5
(3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were    baptized into his death?
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of    his resurrection:  

These verses are not speaking of water baptism as we see in the next one.

I Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

His Spirit baptizes us into Christ, not the water symbol of our death, burial, and resurrection to newness of life.


I Peter 3:19-21
(19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
(20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
(21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
    
Although eight souls were delivered physically from death in the water by the very water itself because the ark floated, they were not spiritually saved/delivered by that water.  They were physically saved because they had the faith to enter the ark. Their faith in God made them enter the ark, and that act of faith saved them spiritually and physically.

Peter says that in like fashion baptism saves/delivers us not by putting away (salvation) the filth of the flesh (sin), but that it is a symbol of our salvation and helps us heal/deliver our conscience for two reasons: First,  It helps us identify with Christ and our new creation; Second, it is a first act of obedience that produces blessing and emotional peace.  (answer to/benefit to a good/clean conscience.)

Save 4982 sozo (sode'-zo); from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saoz, "safe"); to save, i.e.
deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): KJV-- heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

Good 18 agathos (ag-ath-os'); a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun): KJV-- benefit, good
(-s, things), well.  Compare 2570.

Mark 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Acts 1:5   
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  (KJV)

Romans 10:9-13
(9) That 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.
(10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(11) For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
(12) 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.
(13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  


Some would be in a dilemma here; but there is no contradiction between these verses. I believe that Mark is speaking of the commitment required to truly believe the Gospel versus mere mental assent of facts. James tells us that even demons believe but that type of belief will not save them because it is only an intellectual acknowledgement of God's existence. Many hear the Word and acknowledge that it is God's Word, but do not exercise faith in it. (James 2:19; Hebrews 4:2)  

In New Testament times and currently in communist or Islamic countries, being baptized could cost you your family, job or life. It is easy to say you believe, but to show that belief when it can cost you dearly is an entirely different matter. (James 2:18)

As we have today, many were fearful to make public their faith in Christ, preferring to be silent Christians.  Jesus warned that if we were ashamed of Him here, He would be ashamed of us there. (Mark 8:38) Mark is saying, then, that true faith or belief would express itself in obedience to the commandment to be baptized.  He saw the two as being hand in hand.  Indeed, the word "and" is kai in the Greek.  Kai can also mean even.  Mark may well have been saying that he who believes even baptized shall be saved.  Not saying that there is salvation in the water, but rather a person that truly believes will be baptized gratefully identifying himself with the Lord he says he believes in.  Thus showing his faith by obedience as James declares.          

The Romans passage clearly gives a plan of salvation and the definition of how the plan works.  The word saved is the same in both passages.  Does believing and baptism or just believing save us?  It cannot be both.  Paul clearly states that salvation can be had for the asking/calling with no mention of water.  He defines of what the calling should consist:  confession of who Jesus is which will spring from a heart that believes in His resurrection. It is summarized here in the bottom line rather than detailed. If you have the truth in your heart, confession on your lips, calling upon Him, you will be saved and never be ashamed or confounded because you believed on Him.   

If I were to make a profession of faith in Jesus on Saturday night, but died before I could be baptized on Sunday morning, would my salvation be up to God. To answer yes to this question is a cop out. He clearly says that if I call upon the name of the Lord that I shall be saved. If I believe in my heart that God raised Christ from the dead, then salvation is mine by confessing Him (homologeo/same word) with my mouth the Lord Jesus. There is no mention of water here. My salvation is in believing the following record.  

I John 5:11-13
(11) And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
(12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
(13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  


The entire Word of God is the record.  What does it record?  God gives us eternal life.  How do I get eternal life?  I must have the Son.  How do I get the Son?  I believe.  These verses have no reference to water of any kind.  Where is the idea of believe and be baptized of Mark as it is sometimes taught?  Not here at all in this clear presentation of bottom line salvation!

Remember I Corinthians 12:13 tells us that the Spirit baptizes us into Christ.  Acts 1:5  differentiates between water and Spirit.  So it is possible that Mark is referring to the Spirit's baptism that will happen when you believe.  He does follow that passage with a list of the sign gifts that were given to establish the early Church. Mark 16 also helps us to militate against infant baptism, which may also be an intent of the passage since God knew pedobaptism/infant baptism would become an issue.  It would be reasonable to expect in this discussion to include in the linear logical progression that: 1. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; 2. He that believeth, but is not baptized shall be damned; 3. He that believeth not shall be damned if baptism were essential to salvation.  I would not expect Mark to be ambiguous about such a core doctrine.

I do not believe that Mark and Paul would contradict one another.  Paul spends the whole of his writings teaching that salvation is by faith and faith alone.  If it is faith plus baptism then baptism is the New Testament replacement of circumcision and Paul slapped the ones who said that the Gentiles must believe and be circumcised.  If he fought that teaching as hard as he did, he surely would have made a doctrine of believe and be baptized to be saved clear.  By the way, if baptism were the replacement of circumcision then only men would be baptized.

Ephesians 4:4-5
(4) There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of our calling;
(5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Again, Paul emphasizes the Spirit and makes it the one essential baptism, as is our faith in the only true Lord.  By the way, that would mean that the true church is the true church and maybe denominations are more like parts of the body fulfilling different functions.  Therefore all the hoopla over denominational/nondenominational tags is moot and even to the point of being silly.  For a group to claim it is not a denomination would mean that it is the only true church.  The Roman Catholic Church, the Baptist Bride groups, Apostolic Churches, Mormons, some branches of the Church of Christ, and others share this error.   

The Jews thought they were the only ones, but Jesus told them that He had sheep in another fold. We must be careful of being guilty of the same type of snobbery. We must unite around fundamental truths by being of the same mind and purpose, while at the same time not abdicating conviction. That mind is to be Christ's and His purpose is saving the lost and edifying the saints.  This is not Ecumenism.  Luther said, "Peace, if possible, but truth at any rate."  We cannot unite around error in the name of love and unity.  Christ and Belial cannot share the same table. (I Corinthians 6:15)  

I Corinthians 2:1-2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring
unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  

We would be wise to make our main thrust the same as Paul's.  Christ is the focus of everything.  His atonement is what we need and if we are baptized into His Spirit, we have it all.

I Corinthians 1:12-18
(12) Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I  of Christ.
(13) Is Christ divided?  was Paul crucified for you?  or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
(14) I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
(15) Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
(16) And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
(17) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the
           cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
(18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is
          the power of God.  

This shows the Corinthians understood the concept of identification by baptism, but abused it.  They were proud of the person who baptized them instead of who they were baptized unto.  Christ did not send Paul to baptize?  Paul was not one to do things halfway or be ambiguous.  He would have been perfectly clear if baptism was mandatory for salvation.  He was sometimes brutally clear on issues. (Galatians 5:12)  I doubt that he would have failed to define the need for baptism had it been the doctrine given to him.  He would have seen the job through to completion. If his preaching led them to Christ, he would have baptized rather than being glad that he did not.  Those folks were using baptism as a status symbol or like getting an autograph and were missing the whole point.  He did not want them to identify with him, but with Christ!!!  What did he point back to for salvation?  The preaching of the cross which is the power of God unto salvation!!!

I Corinthians 10:1-4
(1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
(2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
(3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
(4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.   

Acts 18:25
This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.

Acts 19:3-5
(3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John's baptism.
(4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  

Here again is the identification issue. They were baptized unto Moses. God gave His people to Moses and calls it a baptism.  Water?  The only ones that got wet in that baptism were the Egyptians and they died rather than received life.  The Red Sea symbolically illustrated their death to the old life of slavery and their resurrection unto a new life in Jehovah under the leadership of Moses!!!!  This was physical salvation and not a spiritual one like we have in Christ, but the issue of identification is the same.
  
We see Apollos preaching and teaching with a fervent heart the message he heard from John the Baptist.  What was that baptism?  It was identification with the message of John that Christ was on the way.  Yes, they had to repent or change their minds about their sins and in whom they trusted. Although it was not baptism unto Christ, they would have been in Paradise when Jesus got there, even if they had not heard about and received Him. They were trusting that the Messiah was coming. We are now baptized unto the message of Christ that He has come, died and rose again to save us from our sins.

Apollos was taken aside and told that Christ had come, but we do not see him being baptized again.  (Acts 18:26)  Now Peter's group of Johanine believers were baptized in the name of the Lord but that may have been at their desire to identify with Christ rather than a requirement since Apollos was not as far as we are told.  If he was baptized again, he was not taken aside and told that he was lost, only that whom he believed was coming had indeed arrived.  Sounds more like discipleship than evangelism.  Note the identification issue when Peter asked his group unto what were they baptized.  They did not say unto righteousness or deliverance, but John and his message, his baptism.


Romans 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  

Can a man be in Christ without being baptized?  Can he have the Spirit of Christ without salvation?

Acts 11:14-18
(14) Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
(15) And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
(16) Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but  ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
(17) Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
(18) When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.  

These lads were saved and sealed when the Holy Ghost entered them. Ephesians 1:13 teaches that this is the seal that proves and guarantees our redemption. When did we get that seal?  After we trusted, we were sealed.  There is no mention of water.  Note also that Ephesians 1:7 says we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins through His blood.  Hmm, where is the water requirement?

This is descriptive of the Day of Pentecost process.  These Gentiles were not baptized, but they believed in Christ.  Peter barely got preaching and Romans 10 kicked in. If one person can be saved without baptism, then all are saved without baptism.  There are not two gospels.  It is either faith alone or faith plus.  This passage is the death knell of faith plus theology.

Speaking of the day of Pentecost, when were the disciples baptized again after Christ ascended?  John baptized them, like Christ.  They received the Spirit and there is no mention of them baptizing one another after the Cross? If they could be saved first without baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost on dry land, when does the Gospel really start? If Christ had no need of baptism by John, but suffered it to fulfill righteousness then why were not the Apostles baptized after the Cross?  Because they were identified with John by water baptism, but with Christ by Spirit baptism as John predicted.

John 1:32-33
(32) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode  upon him.
(33) And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

A controversial verse is Acts 2:38.  Some interpret the “for remission of sins” as receiving remission when you are dipped.  Actually, the Greek word eis is in the accusative case.  This means on account of or on the basis of.  This means that since these folks believed and were saved they were to be baptized on the basis of their sins being remitted or on the account of them being remitted.  



We might say that I went to the store for Mom.  We did not go there to get Mom.  We went there on account of her requesting it or on the basis of her need for something from the store.  Making it to get remission would create a great many contradictions in Scripture; whereas, on the account of or on the basis of certainly aligns with Pauline doctrine.  This also helps us to believe that Mark may be speaking of Spirit baptism as well as commitment and thus remaining in harmony with the whole of scripture.

[Unto the remission of your sins]  [eis  (grk 1519) afesin  (grk 859) toon  (grk 3588) hamartioon  (grk 266) humoon  (grk 5216)].  This phrase is the subject of endless controversy as people look at it from the standpoint of sacramental or of evangelical theology.  In themselves the words can express aim or purpose for that use of [eis]  (grk 1519) does exist as in <1 Cor. 2:7> [eis]  (grk 1519) [doxan]  (grk 1391) [heemoon]  (grk 2257), "for our glory."  But then another usage exists which is just as good Greek as the use of [eis]  (grk 1519) for aim or purpose.  It is seen in <Matt. 10:41> in three examples [eis]  (grk 1519) [onoma]  (grk 3686) [profeetou]  (grk 4396), [dikaiou]  (grk 1342), [matheetou]  (grk 3101) where it cannot be purpose or aim, but rather the basis or ground, upon the basis of the name of prophet, righteous man,
disciple, because one is, etc.  It is seen again in <Matt. 12:41> about the preaching of Jonah [eis  (grk 1519) to  (grk 3588) keerugma  (grk 2782) Ioona  (grk 2495)].  They repented because of (or at) the preaching of Jonah.  The illustrations of both usages are numerous in the New Testament and the Koine generally (Robertson, Grammar, p. 592). One will decide the use here according as he believes that baptism is essential to the forgiveness of sins or not.  My view is decidedly against the idea that Peter, Paul, or anyone in the New Testament taught baptism as essential to the forgiveness of sins or the means of securing such forgiveness.  So, I understand Peter to be urging baptism upon each of them who had already turned (repented) and for it to be done in the name of Jesus Christ on the basis of the forgiveness of sins, which they had already received.  (from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Let us do one more Pauline identification issue.   

I Corinthians 15:26-32
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet.  But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else what shall they do which are BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD, if the dead rise not at all?  why are they then BAPTIZED FOR THE DEAD?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not?  let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. (Capitals for emphasis are mine)

Paul is militating against those who said that there would be no resurrection.  Note the phrase "baptized for the dead."  Acts says, "baptized for the remission of sins."  The phrasing is the same.  So, let us use the baptismal regenerationalist logic here.  If I received remission of sins in Acts by my baptism then what do I receive here?  A dead body?  Death?   

Paul is saying that if the dead do not rise then it is stupid to identify yourself with a dead man.  What good would it do you?  There is no advantage!!!  This life is it!!  Par-tay!!!!  Eat!  Drink!  Be Merry!  Why am I at risk of being imprisoned or killed every hour for a dead man?  The Christians were being baptized to identify themselves with Christ!!!!  Paul emphasized his identification with Christ by saying that because of Him he chose to die daily to his own will and lived for Christ!!   

Making the phrase say to receive makes no sense in I Corinthians 15 and causes doctrinal conflict in Acts.  Translating the phrase as on the behalf of, because of, on account of, or on the basis of makes sense in both passages and causes no doctrinal rifts.  God is not the author of confusion and by comparing scripture with scripture, we can solve seeming conflicts and find truth.

Now after all that, am I saying that we forget baptism?  What kind of Baptist would I be??? I believe it to be a valuable teaching tool and an act of obedience by the baptizer as well as the baptized, but I do not believe it to be necessary for salvation.  It is a symbol of great spiritual truth and not to be abandoned, but neither is it to be elevated beyond its purpose.

{B} The Mode or How to Be Baptized.

Now that we have discussed the reason and purpose of baptism, we need to discuss the mode of baptism.  Some folks sprinkle and others pour, but Baptists believe in immersion.  The reason is very simple.  The meaning of the word baptize leaves us no other choice.

907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of 911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism: KJV-- Baptist, baptize, wash.

It is very difficult to derive sprinkled or poured out of this. These are manmade doctrines, formulated during a time of fear over public baptism. A more private mode of baptism was needed in order to avoid arrest or death.
  
Hebrews 9:19-22
(19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
(20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
(21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
(22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  

This passage of verses is used to support sprinkling. The reference to Old Testament practices, though, are part of an explanation to the Hebrews that Christ had done the same thing with His blood. There is no reference to baptism here.

Acts 10:45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Some use this one as a reason to pour since we received the Holy Ghost when we believed.  If we are baptized by the Spirit into Christ then why not use pouring?  
( I Corinthians 12:13)  Yes, we could use pouring as a symbol of the Holy Spirit coming upon us or anointing us, but water baptism comes after we already have Him.  Then again, we could use trained doves to light on our shoulder or hover over the head of a new convert to symbolize this, but we still are not talking about water baptism.

I do not fault those in the past that were fearful for their lives and I can understand how they justified their actions.  However, to remain true to Scripture and to the symbolism of water baptism we must immerse.


Matthew 3:5-6
(5) Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
(6) And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  

Mark 1:9-10
(9) And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
(10) And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:  

John 3:22-23
(22) After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
(23) And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.  

Acts 8:35-39
(35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and          preached unto him Jesus.
(36) And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
(37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
(38) And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
(39) And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Now, all of these verses reference the need for much water. Why? If we were to be sprinkled then a quart or so would be plenty.  A bucket would be good for pouring.  However, much water was important and they mention going down into the water.They could have stood on the shore to sprinkle or pour.     

John 13:26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.  And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.  

Revelation 19:13
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  
  
We understand the word dip.  It does not equal sprinkle or pour even in our day.  The word dip in both these passages is bapto which is the root of the word baptize.  When you dip a doughnut into coffee you immerse or submerge it into the coffee.  When we bury a person we do not throw or pour a little dirt on them; we immerse them into the ground and then cover them.  

Romans 6:1-11
(1) What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
(2) God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
(3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
(4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
(6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
(7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
(8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
(9)Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
(10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
(11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Do you see the symbolism of death here? Even if someone is buried in a cave tomb the body was placed under the ground and closed off or totally dipped/immersed into the earth. Similarly, we are immersed in water, representing the death and burial of the old man, but we are raised from the water as a picture of our rebirth unto newness of life in Christ. No other mode keeps the picture of what baptism is to represent.  To be biblical and honest to the symbol we must be immersed.  Truly, it is a biblical thing and not a Baptist thing.

Martin Luther - "I would have those who are to be baptized to be entirely immersed, as the word imports and the mystery signifies."

John Calvin - "The word 'baptize' signifies to immerse.  It is certain that immersion was the practice of the ancient church."

John Wesley - "Buried with Him, alludes to baptizing by immersion according to the custom of the first church."   

May God richly bless you as you seek Him through the Word!