Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Preaching Jesus Without Preaching Baptism?

The Savior, in His commission to the apostles, said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." (Matt. 28:19, 20).

Under this commission the apostles were commanded to teach and baptize, this then, being a commandment, not only to the apostles but to all succeeding generation. No apostle, or no evangelist ever preached Christ without preaching baptism. Paul preached baptism, but when he found some whom he had baptized wanting to follow him saying "I am of Paul," etc. he said, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel…" (I Cor. 1:17).

Then he explained why he did not do all the baptizing, "Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name" (I Cor. 1:15). Paul usually had some one with him to do the baptizing; but when no one else was present, he did it himself. Paul preached, "...and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). This shows while Paul did not baptize, he preached the necessity of baptism and it was so important there were others with him whose special mission it was to baptize those to whom he preached.

This certainly indicates it was necessary, in that they had special persons to do the baptizing. When they were not present to do it, he did it himself. To preach Christ is to preach Him as the ruler and representative of God, and no one can preach Christ as He is presented in the Scriptures without preaching all the teaching of Christ. Paul can only claim to be free from the blood of all men by declaring "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26, 27).

The evangelist Philip preached Christ to the man from Ethiopia, and preaching Christ included preaching baptism, because the man from Ethiopia learned that in order to be saved he must be baptized in water, and when they came to water, he requested baptism and WAS baptized, then he went on his way rejoicing (Acts 8).