False Teacher Warning: John MacArthur

Regarding false teachers and the need to warn, see Matthew 7:15-20; Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:20; Colossians 1:28; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 9-11.

In this short 2-minute video linked below, listen carefully to the question asked at the beginning which proves that water baptism is essential, because God plainly and repeatedly said so. Please read the rebuttal to MacArthur’s answer below after watching the video.

Please think objectively. Did MacArthur’s response really prove anything? He tried to explain away all those plain verses, to no avail. He did not explain what all those passages actually mean (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:20-21), but cited Romans 6, as if that negates all those passages. Romans 6 actually teaches exactly the same thing they do. MacArthur tries to make Romans 6 a “spiritual baptism,” as if that is some other type of baptism than the Great Commission’s water baptism for all people to be saved, but where is his proof? He gives none. The listener is supposed to simply take his word for it. Jesus did not command some mysterious spiritual baptism for the salvation of all people, but water baptism, a baptism administered by His followers upon penitent believers until the end of the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38; 8:35-39; 22:16, etc.).

When MacArthur says there is both a spiritual baptism and then a subsequent water baptism (two separate baptisms), does he realize he is contradicting the apostle Paul who said that there is only “one baptism” remaining? Paul taught that the “one baptism” is “the washing of water” for sanctification and spiritual cleansing (Eph. 4:5; 5:26). MacArthur says water baptism is simply the “public declaration” of some mysterious “spiritual baptism” that allegedly saves, but the Bible never teaches that water baptism is simply a public declaration made by someone who is already saved. In the Bible, lost people were commanded to be baptized in water to become saved.

MacArthur’s “spiritual baptism” cannot be “Holy Spirit baptism,” because that was temporary and miraculous. It was a promise to a select few in the first century A.D. miraculous period. It was never a command for all men to obey to be “in Christ” (Rom. 6:3-5; 16-18). Holy Spirit baptism was only administered by Christ, in contrast to the Great Commission’s water baptism administered by men for all nations to become saved until the end of the world (Matt. 3:11; 28:18-20). Again, God says there is “one baptism,” “the washing of water” (Eph. 4:5; 5:26), but MacArthur says there are two baptisms. Who will you believe?

MacArthur misquotes First Peter 3:21, saying it is not a washing of the body that saves, but a spiritual immersion that saves. Is water baptism involved in our salvation, or some mysterious “spiritual baptism” not supported by the Scriptures? Whatever Peter is discussing is what saves, and Peter is clearly discussing “water…baptism” (direct quote), not some kind of spiritual baptism! Here is the Truth: Water baptism is not to wash away “the filth of the flesh” (1 Pet. 3:21), but to “wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16; cf. Heb. 10:22), and therefore water baptism is how we appeal to God for a good conscience (1 Pet. 3:21). Please note: MacArthur says water baptism does NOT save, but Peter said “water…baptism doth also now save us…” Who will you believe?

Friends, please don’t be gullible like Eve! God said, “Thou shalt surely die,” and Satan said, “Thou shalt NOT surely die.” Eve believed Satan and brought death into the world. To us God says, “water…baptism doth also now save us” (1 Pet. 3:20-21), but Satan says, “water…baptism doth NOT save.” Who will you believe? God says, “be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16), but Satan says, “baptism does NOT wash away thy sins.” God says to “repent and be baptized…for the remission [forgiveness] of sins” (Acts 2:38), but Satan says, “baptism is NOT for the forgiveness of sins.” “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Cor. 11:14-15; cf. 11:3-4).

Friends, I love you, but if you choose to believe Satan, you are without excuse, like the Jews of Jesus’ day who loved their traditions more than Truth: “And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9). Do the following words describe you? Jesus said, “my word hath no place in you…Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word…He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:43, 47; cf. 1 John 4:1-6). If you cannot hear what God is saying above, something is terribly wrong. If you don’t understand how these Scriptures regarding water baptism harmonize with other parts of the Bible, I will be glad to help. Contact me. I have also sent this information to John MacArthur and told him he is welcome to discuss this with me.