Why get dunked?

Books have been written about the practice of Christian baptism. Some say it applies only to those who believe in Jesus. Others see it as including infants in the new covenant. Many consider it as a ritual for joining a church. Most can find New Testament verses that support their views, yet ‘proof-texting’ is unreliable without considering all that the Bible says about a topic such as this one.

This morning I discovered something I’d not thought of before. Prior to Christ, the Israelites practiced baptism to accept proselytes who had repented and been circumcised. Some also used it to remove ceremonial impurities. However, I see basically three different descriptions of baptism in the NT.

1)       The baptism of repentance depicting another baptism to come:

“Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:4–12)

2)       The baptism of Jesus as an example to us as fulfilling righteousness:

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13–17)

3)       The baptism of believers to indicate faith and repentance from sin:

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.’ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation.’ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:38–41)

This baptism also symbolizes death to sin and being raised to new life:

“And you . . . having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3)

And this baptism also indicates the filling of the Holy Spirit who has changed us from the inside out, and continues to fill us because He is our life:

“John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5)

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1–4)

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, this is another point of theology where I refuse to argue, not because I’m totally certain that my views on baptism are perfect, but that I trust You to change my thinking as needed as I study Your Word. I do know for certain that when I believed in You, You wanted me to be baptized and this happened many years ago. I also know for certain that You thrill me to tears every time someone else is baptized. Thank You for the privilege of being part of Your family and of being able to witness new believers as they declare their faith in You.

Assumptions

Assumptions bother me. When I say something and someone assumes that I meant something else, I become frustrated, sometimes angry. This also applies to media sources when they interpret others with, I think this is what he means or What he really meant was . . .

I’m even more bothered when someone says, It seems to me . . . or I think this says . . . regarding the Bible. I know — I have done it myself, partly to keep the conversation open or to encourage others to speak about their understanding, yet this practice can lead to some very strained interpretations of what God says, and poor understandings of how to live the Christian life.

Today’s devotional reading from, Donald Fortner’s “Grace for Today” is about infant baptism. That tradition seems foreign to me, but seems foreign is not the right way to approach the Bible. The death of Christ for my sin seems unreal at times too.

A couple years ago, I received a Master’s degree from a seminary whose denominational beliefs include infant baptism. Only a few of the professors mentioned or defended it. Today seemed a good day to go beyond what ‘seems’ right and see what the Bible says.

It didn’t take long to find support for Fortner’s statements. The New Testament is clear that those baptized must have saving faith in Christ Jesus. This is a first step in obedience and a public declaration of faith that depicts that they have died with Christ and risen again to new life in Him.

“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:3–14)

Some denominations practice infant baptism because they believe this is how someone is saved, but this is not taught in the Bible.

Others do not believe in baptismal regeneration yet focus on God’s covenants thinking that a child is brought into the covenant family by baptism, applying this only to infants with at least one believing parent. They teach baptism is the anti-type of circumcision, and since circumcision was practiced on infants, therefore, baptism should be practiced upon infants. However, if this is true, then only male infants should be baptized, because only male infants were circumcised. Further, the anti-type of circumcision is never said to be baptism. Rather, it is the circumcision of the heart. Also, the Bible does not mention a “covenant of grace” assumed by these denominations.

Some use baptism as a requirement of church membership. A baptized infant may or may not believe when older, but remain members resulting in churches that include unregenerate, unbelieving people. This is a serious problem.

As I read statements on both sides of the issue, I noticed that those who are for infant baptism use the words: seems like, appears, makes sense, and other assumption terminology.

Far be it from me to assume reasons behind such thinking except that I know how much I would love to have an iron-clad, visible ritual that would guarantee my children belong to God. My church practices child dedication, but there is no biblical example or guarantee with that either. Parents are to prayerfully trust and obey God, relying on His wisdom, grace, mercy and power to do with our children as pleases Him.

All that said, how can this theology study be a devotional? Only this: God speaks to me about being careful with making assumptions myself, and about accepting whatever my church, or any church, says is true; it may not be. I need to check it carefully using the Word of God.

“And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures . . .  (only to be chased out of town to Berea where he did the same thing) . . . Now these Jews (in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:2 &11)

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, so many times You make it clear that I’m not to assume, suppose, or try to figure out for myself what You teach or want from me. I must use the Bible to teach, but also check all teaching that I receive against Your Word. I know that applications may differ, but what You say and what You mean must first be thoroughly explored. Forgive my laziness; I too often jump to conclusions because I assume that I know what You mean.

Baptizo = to immerse — signifying a change

Today’s dissertation on baptism at first seems to have little practicality for anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and has already been baptized. I know the biblical teaching about this important sacrament and agree with Fortner in what he writes about it.

However, the Bible does confuse people with statements like this one made by Peter in the beginning of the early church. He said:

“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

For many, this sounds like baptism is just as important as or equal to repentance. For that reason, reading the entire Bible is important. Knowing the history of those times is also helpful.

For one thing, claiming to believe in Jesus Christ was not socially acceptable nor did anyone do it to gain some sort of advantage such as some do today. In those days, if you were a Christian, the temptation was to keep it to yourself. After all, it was not long before severe persecution began, including being thrown to the lions or burned at the stake. Those commands to repent and believe included baptism because it was a public declaration of faith.

Paul often clarified that those who believe are not saved by baptism nor does baptism make them more special in the eyes of God. He personally was not involved in administering this sacrament because, “Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)

While baptism has no saving efficacy, it is important because the Lord commands it. Most would say it is the first step of obedience. It is a public declaration, yet also a visible demonstration. I have been buried with Christ — signified by going under the water, and raised to new life — typified by rising out of it.

Baptism is sometimes treated as a meaningless ritual, as is the sacrament of the Lord’s supper, but neither are meaningless. Both depict what Jesus has done and continue to do in our lives. That which baptism typifies is summed up in this verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I know the meaning of baptism and its value, yet it is good to be reminded that I died and rose to new life, and that my life now is by faith, not by works and certainly not by baptism. It is also good to be reminded that You gave Yourself for me because You love me. I sometimes chuckle that I have been ‘dunked’ because believing in You and being changed from a life of sin gives me so much joy!

Baptism

In the early church, new believers were baptized immediately upon their confession of faith. However, these days some are not baptized until years after their conversion. Perhaps this is the reason there are many extremes of how baptism is interpreted.

Another reason is taking a verse like this one as the only verse for understanding baptism: “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16) These words sound as if baptism is essential for salvation.

Others spiritualize this practice by saying it is a mere symbol and not at all necessary. For this interpretation, they might rely on this passage:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” (Romans 6:1–5)

As today’s devotional reading says, we tend to extremes. Some consider baptism a means of salvation and others make baptism an insignificant thing, even neglecting it entirely. The problem is that both extremes are not taking into consideration all that the Scriptures say about this matter.

I agree with Fortner that baptism does not save anyone. Salvation is through the blood of Christ shed for our sin; forgiveness is a gift by grace through faith, not because of anything we do or any ritual we perform. I also agree that baptism is important. It demonstrates that I am obeying Jesus and have yielded my life to Him. It also proclaims to the world that I have died with Christ, have been buried with Him, and have risen to newness of life. It is a public confession of faith and “the answer of a good conscience toward God.”

Baptism is a good thing to ponder and remember as well. When I was baptized, I not only declared my faith in Jesus, but also that I had turned from a life of sin and self, from living in the world and from the devil’s hold on me. Baptism declared that I would now be living as a forgiven person with a life made new by the presence of the Living Christ in my heart. From that time on, I would live in the power of His righteousness, rejecting my old life, the ways of the world, and the lies of my enemy. In that declaration, I also knew that this new life was possible only because of the One who died to save me. Because of Jesus Christ, the old had passed away and all things became new.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I was baptized many years ago. However, this devotional reading reminded me of that day and of Your amazing grace. I AM a new creation because of You. Thinking about it and what You have done eases the stresses of each day and strengthens me for the challenges of both the tasks and the temptations that will be thrown at me. Thank You. I bless Your holy name!