Baptism
Do we need to talk about baptism?
Water baptism is the celebration of a new beginning. For centuries, transformed men
and women have been declaring their love for Jesus by being baptized. Baptism is also
a moment of celebration and a personal statement of our faith. It is an expression of
our faith in Christ's victory over sin and death and our participation in that victory
through faith in Him.
Unfortunately, baptism is also a highly confusing aspect of our Christian heritage.
Over the centuries, the meaning of baptism and the role of baptism in a person’s
salvation has been discussed. Depending upon your church background, you may
have multiple questions.
- Is baptism for children, or is it for adults?
- Should I be baptized more than once in life?
- Must I be baptized to be saved?
- How must I be baptized?
- Where should baptism occur?
The English word "baptize" comes from the Greek verb baptisma. The noun form of
the word baptisma refers to the process of "immersion” Literally the word means "to
dip" or "to immerse". The earliest time we can find this term is in ancient descriptions
about the process of dyeing cloth. Fabric was "baptized into” the dye and took on a new
color. As you can see from this definition someone who is baptized is immersed
completely under water.
In the New Testament John the Baptist clearly viewed water baptism as an act of
identification. For him, baptism indicated a willingness to identify oneself as being a
sinner and to repent from sinful behavior. John's ministry of baptism polarized the
people of Israel into two camps. Those who were willing to repent identified
themselves through baptism. Those who refused to be baptized identified themselves
as the proud, unwilling to repent.
Johns baptism separated the repentant from the unrepentant and he used water to do
so. Jesus understood Johns "baptism" to be a rite of identification as well. By coming to
John to be baptized, Jesus sought to identify with the repentant people, whom he
came to save.
So, through baptism we identify ourselves with all other followers of Jesus. We declare
that we are entering Christ's body; the Church.(Acts 2:38-41; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
Water baptism also illustrates the truth that affects our transformation. It is a resembling
symbol of Jesus' death and resurrection. As people are submerged into the water, they
illustrate that they lay down their old life; they are now buried with Christ. As they
come out of the water of baptism they illustrate their resurrection to walk in a
newness of life (Romans 6:1-10).
Does baptism save me?
No one receives the gift of salvation as a result of being baptized. Salvation is by grace,
it is accepted through faith, and based on the blood of Jesus Christ. It cannot be a
result of any work, even the work of baptism (Ephesians 1: 3-14). Baptism is purely a
public announcement of what has already occurred in the inner person. It is not
required for salvation. It is not the baptism that saves, but it is "the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand with angels,
authorities and powers in submission to him" (1 Peter 3:21-22).However, having said
this we need to notice that Baptism is commanded by Jesus Christ in the great
Commission.
Finally, water baptism is a celebration of joy for the whole church because we witness
someone’s transformation in Christ. As Baptists we believe that this moment is an
important milestone of commitment. The one who is baptized proclaims the
resurrection power of Jesus Christ in his life. Therefore we celebrate baptism
cheerfully. The Bible tells us that after being baptized by Phillip, the Ethiopian
eunuch. . . "went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:39. It is our hope for you that God will
reward your faith with the same rejoicing spirit.
Water baptism is the celebration of a new beginning. For centuries, transformed men
and women have been declaring their love for Jesus by being baptized. Baptism is also
a moment of celebration and a personal statement of our faith. It is an expression of
our faith in Christ's victory over sin and death and our participation in that victory
through faith in Him.
Unfortunately, baptism is also a highly confusing aspect of our Christian heritage.
Over the centuries, the meaning of baptism and the role of baptism in a person’s
salvation has been discussed. Depending upon your church background, you may
have multiple questions.
- Is baptism for children, or is it for adults?
- Should I be baptized more than once in life?
- Must I be baptized to be saved?
- How must I be baptized?
- Where should baptism occur?
The English word "baptize" comes from the Greek verb baptisma. The noun form of
the word baptisma refers to the process of "immersion” Literally the word means "to
dip" or "to immerse". The earliest time we can find this term is in ancient descriptions
about the process of dyeing cloth. Fabric was "baptized into” the dye and took on a new
color. As you can see from this definition someone who is baptized is immersed
completely under water.
In the New Testament John the Baptist clearly viewed water baptism as an act of
identification. For him, baptism indicated a willingness to identify oneself as being a
sinner and to repent from sinful behavior. John's ministry of baptism polarized the
people of Israel into two camps. Those who were willing to repent identified
themselves through baptism. Those who refused to be baptized identified themselves
as the proud, unwilling to repent.
Johns baptism separated the repentant from the unrepentant and he used water to do
so. Jesus understood Johns "baptism" to be a rite of identification as well. By coming to
John to be baptized, Jesus sought to identify with the repentant people, whom he
came to save.
So, through baptism we identify ourselves with all other followers of Jesus. We declare
that we are entering Christ's body; the Church.(Acts 2:38-41; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
Water baptism also illustrates the truth that affects our transformation. It is a resembling
symbol of Jesus' death and resurrection. As people are submerged into the water, they
illustrate that they lay down their old life; they are now buried with Christ. As they
come out of the water of baptism they illustrate their resurrection to walk in a
newness of life (Romans 6:1-10).
Does baptism save me?
No one receives the gift of salvation as a result of being baptized. Salvation is by grace,
it is accepted through faith, and based on the blood of Jesus Christ. It cannot be a
result of any work, even the work of baptism (Ephesians 1: 3-14). Baptism is purely a
public announcement of what has already occurred in the inner person. It is not
required for salvation. It is not the baptism that saves, but it is "the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand with angels,
authorities and powers in submission to him" (1 Peter 3:21-22).However, having said
this we need to notice that Baptism is commanded by Jesus Christ in the great
Commission.
Finally, water baptism is a celebration of joy for the whole church because we witness
someone’s transformation in Christ. As Baptists we believe that this moment is an
important milestone of commitment. The one who is baptized proclaims the
resurrection power of Jesus Christ in his life. Therefore we celebrate baptism
cheerfully. The Bible tells us that after being baptized by Phillip, the Ethiopian
eunuch. . . "went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:39. It is our hope for you that God will
reward your faith with the same rejoicing spirit.
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