Churches are all over the map when it comes to baptism, from the denominations who minimize the importance of it all the way to those who say it’s necessary for salvation. So, in today’s edition of “What does the Bible say about…,” I’d like to share a little on what the Bible has to say about baptism. As you might imagine, the Bible has a lot to say about it, and so today, I’m only going to cover the basics.
The Backstory on Baptism
Christian baptism is one of two sacraments (or ordinances as some call it) that Jesus instituted for the Church. Just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I’ve commanded you. And surely I’m with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) So these instructions specify that the Church has three responsibilities:
- Teach Jesus’s word.
- Make disciples.
- Baptize those disciples.
These things are to be done everywhere—we get that from when it says all nations—and for as long as we’re here on earth till the end of the age. So, if for no other reason, baptism has importance because Jesus said to do it. He commanded it.
But did you know that baptism was practiced before the founding of the Church? It was. Jews, in the Old Testament of ancient times, would baptize proselytes to signify the convert’s cleansed nature. And then there was John the Baptist, who used baptism to prepare the way for the Lord, requiring everyone—not just Gentiles—to be baptized because everyone needed repentance. However, John’s baptism (signifying repentance) is not the same as Christian baptism as seen in Acts 18 or Acts 19. Christian baptism has a much deeper significance.
The Christian Baptism
Christian baptism is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is what makes it a Christian baptism. When we’re saved, we’re baptized by the Spirit into the body of Christ, which is the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:13 says, “We were all baptized by one spirit so as to form one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, we were all given one spirit to drink.”
Baptism by water is a reenactment of the baptism by the Spirit. So, Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, as GotQuestions.org puts it (and as I agree), a person says wordlessly, I confess faith in Christ. Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification.
Christian baptism illustrates, in dramatic style, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, it also illustrates our death to sin and our new life in Christ. As the sinner confesses that Jesus is Lord, he dies to sin. (That’s in Romans 6. In fact, read that in the Message Bible, and it makes this really clear.) Then, they’re raised to a brand new life (Colossians 2:12).
Being submerged in the water represents death to sin, and emerging from the water represents the cleansed, holy life or the new life to follow salvation. Romans 6:4 puts it this way, “we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
So, very simply put, baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer’s life. It’s like a wedding ring. It doesn’t make me married to my wife, but it does represent to other people an outside symbol that I am married. In other words, it’s an outward symbol of an inward commitment. Baptism is just like this.
Must You Be Baptized to Be Saved?
Christian baptism is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation. And although baptism is closely associated with salvation, it’s not required for salvation. The Bible says in numerous places that the order of events is just like this:
- You put your trust in Jesus.
- You’re baptized.
This sequence is seen, for example, in Acts 2:41. Those who accepted Peter’s message were then baptized. It’s never the other way around.
However, we do see salvation without baptism mentioned quite a bit. Perhaps the most talked-about would be the thief on the cross, to whom Jesus said in Luke 23:43, “…Truly I say to you, today you’ll be with me in paradise.” Now, the thief obviously had no time or opportunity to come down from the cross and get baptized, yet Jesus made it crystal clear that the man would be in heaven.
A new believer in Jesus Christ should desire to be baptized as soon as possible. Why not? Would you be ashamed? Let’s hope not, as Jesus said, “if you deny me before men, I’ll deny before the Father.” (Matthew 10:33) A truly saved person would be proud of—and excited about—baptism.
Another example found in Acts 8, Philip speaks the Good News about Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, and it says that “as they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “look, here’s water. What could possibly stand in the way of me being baptized?” (verses 35-36). So right away, they stopped the chariot, and Philip baptized him.
So, baptism illustrates the believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Everywhere the gospel is preached, and people are drawn to faith in Christ, they are to be baptized.
Well, I know that’s not a lot on the very important topic of baptism, but it’s a start—a good foundation on which to build. For more information on baptism, you can go to GotQuestions.org or Crosswalk.com, and most especially the Word of God. You’ll see that this is really pretty straightforward.
Until next time. Peace.
~Pastor Rob
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