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Examined Doctrine

John MacArthur on Baptism

1939 – 2025 · REFORMED BAPTIST / DISPENSATIONAL
READ IN A PRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°
STANCE

Believers only, on profession of faith

"Christian baptism by immersion is the solemn and beautiful testimony of a believer showing forth his faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior..."
Doctrinal Statement, "The Church"

THE POSITION

Believer's baptism by immersion — a testimony of faith already possessed, not a means of receiving it, and a sign of identification with the visible body of Christ.

SCRIPTURE
ACTS 8:36-39 · BSB

36 As they traveled along the road and came to some water, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is there to prevent me from being baptized?” 37 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing.

8 OTHERS HOLD THIS

Voddie BauchamThe Church of Eleven22 Statement of FaithJosh HowertonSecond London Baptist ConfessionGavin OrtlundJustin PetersJohn PiperCharles Haddon Spurgeon
Infants included, as a covenant signJACOBUS ARMINIUS · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · TIM KELLER · JOHN OWEN · R.C. SPROUL · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · ZWINGLI
Infants included, and effective for regenerationAQUINAS · AUGUSTINE · CHRYSOSTOM · CONSTANTINOPLE I · IRENAEUS · LUTHER · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · NICAEA I · WESLEY
See all 29 figures on baptism →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Pastor of Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, from 1969 until his death in July 2025. Expositional preaching, hard cessationism, dispensational premillennialism. Researched from the church's own Doctrinal Statement, covering all 15 loci in one document.

15 OF 16 POSITIONS QUOTED
Everything John MacArthur holds →
Cite this page

"John MacArthur on Baptism", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/macarthur/baptism (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/macarthur/baptism).

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