Baptism

“Why all this talk about baptism?” someone asks. “If it is only a symbol then what difference does it make whether you are sprinkled or immersed?” Someone else says, “I was sprinkled as an infant and have always thought that was adequate. Why should I have to do it again?” Others will push the point even farther and ask, “If baptism doesn’t save you then why worry about it?”

These and many other questions about baptism are sincerely asked by those coming into the church. Hopefully the following comments will answer many of them. In these paragraphs we will discuss the mode, the candidate and meaning of baptism.

HOW SHOULD I BE BAPTIZED?

First of all, what is the form or the mode of baptism? We believe that the proper mode of baptism is immersion. The Greek word for baptism is “baptizo.” According to the Greek dictionaries the word literally means to dip, to sink, to submerge, to immerse, or to bury.

We believe that Jesus was immersed. The Bible says in Mark 1:9 that “Jesus...was baptized by John IN the Jordan. “The preposition “in” comes from the Greek word “eis” meaning “in” or “into.” In Mark 1:10 it says that Jesus “came up straightway OUT of the water.” The preposition “ek” means “out” or “out from within.” So it is clear, Jesus went INTO the water and CAME UP OUT OF the water.

For the first 1200 years of Christian history immersion was the universally accepted mode of baptism. Many of the great churches built during those years, including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, have large pools in which they immersed their people. Even the Reformation heroes like Martin Luther, John Calvin and John Wesley agreed that the accepted New Testament practice was immersion.

WHO IS TO BE BAPTIZED?

Who is the proper subject for baptism? Who is to be baptized? All 12 year-old children? All people who have reached the age of 18? All adults that are 25? All people who have been brought up in Christian homes? All infants?

According to the Scriptures the proper candidate for baptism is someone who has REPENTED OF SIN. Peter exhorted the people at Pentecost to ‘Repent...and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Throughout the New Testament baptism and repentance are linked together.

Repentance means to have a change of mind. It means to make a U-turn or to do an about face. You were going down the road of destruction, death and hell; but you repented, you turned around, changed your direction, changed your mind.

Closely connected to repentance is FAITH OR BELIEF. The proper candidate for baptism has not simply repented of sin, but he or she has put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Baptism is for believers. The Ethiopian Eunuch asked Phillip, “What doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Phillip replied, “IF THOU BELIEVEST...THOU MAYEST.” Belief precedes baptism.

WHAT ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM?

Since baptism is for those who have repented and believed, we do not practice infant immersion. An infant cannot repent. An infant cannot believe. Hence, we practice “believer’s baptism.” Infant immersion began in the early centuries (by the year 200 A.D.) because of the development and distortion of two doctrines. One is called “baptismal regeneration” which says that baptism actually washed away one’s sins, or regenerated the person. The other distortion had to do with the doctrine of “original sin.” The church came to believe that an infant was born, not only with original sin, but also with original guilt which meant that an infant was guilty before God, and God would hold him accountable for his sin. Thus, if the child died, he was doomed for hell. Since the church believed that baptism actually saved the candidate, they began to do the next logical thing, they baptized babies believing that the rite saved the child if it were to die.

This idea is called THE SACRAMENTAL VIEW of baptism. A sacrament is thought to be a channel through which God bestows grace upon the candidate. We have never been sacramentalists. We don’t call baptism a sacrament. We understand that the Bible teaches baptism to be a symbol. Thus we use the term “ORDINANCE” to describe the rite. An ordinance is something that has been ordained or decreed by God. Jesus commanded us to be baptized as a symbol of what has happened in the life of someone who has reached the age of accountability and consequently is old enough to repent and believe.

Many mainline protestant denominations modified their teaching from a sacramental view to a symbolical one. They have continued to sprinkle infants, but they have poured new content into its meaning. Some consider it to be an act of dedication for the parents. Others see it as a sort of down payment on the infant’s salvation. They say that the infant is baptized THAT HE MAY BE SAVED rather then to save him. And then others believe infants are children of God because of their innocence and the faith of parents. We believe that a child is innocent and if the child dies he is received into the eternal presence of God.

It helps to remember that when most mainline denominations were founded (in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries), baptism was not a major issue and in most instances it was not even a minor one. Denominations like the Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians began because of issues totally unrelated to baptism. Hence, they kept the rite of infant sprinkling, but poured out new meaning into it.

ONLY A SYMBOL?

When we say that baptism is a symbol and not a sacrament we don’t mean to imply that it is “ONLY a symbol” or “JUST a symbol.” These phrases are demeaning and suggest that the rite is a mere form that lacks much real meaning. Instead of saying it is “ONLY a symbol” we say that it is “INDEED A SYMBOL and one that is packed with spiritual significance.” It is not just an external rite, but a spiritual event.

It is not uncommon for a person to look back on their baptism and say, “it was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. I’ll never forget it.” And that is the way it ought to be, for the Holy Spirit uses baptism to enrich and bless the life of the candidate and the congregation. Baptism edifies both.

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

And after he brought them out, He said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. Acts 16:30-33

WHAT DOES BAPTISM ACTUALLY MEAN?

- First of all baptism is a PUBLIC DECLARATION OF FAITH. It is a pronouncement of belief. It is like preaching a sermon. It is a public way of saying to both the saved and lost in the congregation, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” Baptism does not CAUSE our redemption, but it does DECLARE our salvation.

- The most obvious element in baptismal symbolism is CLEANSING OF SIN. Acts 22:16 says, “...be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.” This is why immersion is so significant; it is a complete bath in which every part of the body is washed. (cd. Acts 2:38)

- The submerging of the baptized beneath the water and rising again out of it indicates OUR IDENTITY WITH CHRIST who died, was buried, and rose again for the salvation of the world. “We were buried with Him as dead” (Romans 6:4). The symbolism is that of being laid in the grave of Christ. It also represents our coming alive again with Christ from the grave.” ...as Christ was raised from the dead...so we too...” (Romans 6:4). Our identity and union with Christ is pictured in baptism.

- You are baptized “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT” (Matthew 28:19-20). To baptize in the “name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38, 8:16) or in the name of the triune God is basically one in the same. We use the name of the Trinity since it was our Lord’s commission to his disciples and to his church.

The phrase “in the name of” means both to call on the character and power of the one named and it means to become dedicated to or to become the “possession of” the Lord Jesus Christ.

BAPTISM HAS A THREE-DiRECTIONAL LOOK

BAPTISM RELATED TO THE PAST. “We WERE buried with HIM through baptism to death” (Romans 6:4). Baptism shows that we have participated in the death and resurrection of Christ. We WERE baptized WITH HIM and risen WITH Him, past tense.

BAPTISM RELATES TO THE PRESENT. This brings us to the practical implications of the act, the ethics of baptism. In baptism the believer renounces his sinful life and condemns it to the grave in order that he might “walk in the new way of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism is to effect one’s present life as he seeks to live in faith and obedience to the Lord.

BAPTISM HAS A FUTURE DIMENSION AS WELL. Romans 6:8 embraces the future. “If we died with Christ we believe that WE SHALL ALSO LIVE WITH HIM.” If we had a part in His death and resurrection then we shall have a part in the glory of His return. Baptism looks forward in hope of the future coming of Christ just as surely as it looks backward in faith.

Those New Testament converts would never have thought of not being baptized. Theirs was what we call “conversion baptism.” That does not mean that it saved them, but simply that baptism was closely related to their conversion.

SHOULD I OBEY?

The above are just some of the meanings of baptism as taught in the Scriptures BUT THE BASIC REASON FOR BAPTISM IS THAT OUR LORD COMMANDED IT. Had He not given us any meaning or reason whatsoever we would do it simply because He told us to. Thus when we baptize converts we say, “In OBEDIENCE to His divine command I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, told the servants at the wedding in Cana, “Do what He says.” That is a good word for those awaiting or contemplating baptism. “Do what He says.”

WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Please call the church office at 515.987.9595 to schedule your baptism or register during any weekend service by filling out the Communication Card in the Worship Program and checking Baptism.