The Meaning of Baptism

In much of the so-called evangelical church there is a general neglect of baptism, both in practice and understanding.  There are even some denominations that have gone so far as to do away with what Christ commanded.  In many others, baptism has been reduced to little more than an initiation ritual into church membership.   It has become almost completely detached from salvation in both doctrine and practice.  It has become largely optional.

Yet does this square with the New Testament?  Certainly, salvation is by faith through grace, but the early Church did not have the cavalier attitude toward baptism that prevails today.  Certainly none was accepted as a disciple of the Lord Jesus and admitted to the Lord's Supper who was not baptized.  Yet today, to have the same attitude would be widely condemned as intolerant, unloving, and legalistic.

Baptism did not begin with John the Baptist.  In fact, it was the final act of conversion of the Gentle becoming a Jew.  All male converts had to be circumcised, but all converts, male and female, had to be baptized.  This is why the Jewish authorities sent a delegation down to John to find out why he was baptizing.   You see, John was baptizing Jews!  He was in effect, saying, Jews needed to be converted also, it was not enough to be born Jewish according to the flesh.  John was calling the best of the Jews a "brood of vipers" and asking "how shall you enter the kingdom of heaven?"  John used baptism as a symbol and act of repentance, a turning away from dead religion and a plea to God to make them new and holy.   And "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

So what did the Jews of Jesus' day believe about the proselyte and Jewish baptism?
[see Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era- George Foot Moore ]

1. During times when it was difficult to be a Jew, proselytes were often highly regarded because they had left their gods, their nations, their families, indeed they lives to join themselves to the God of Israel
2. The proselyte has entered into the Covenant
3. The proselyte has become equally a 'son of the Covenant' with the one born a Jew
4. At the moment of reception his is legal status (before God) is like that of a new born child
5. The proselyte takes upon himself the 'yoke' of the commandment
6. The proselyte not only become a member of the Jewish 'church' but has been naturalized into citizenship in the Jewish nation

For the Jews, baptism of a gentile proselyte symbolized a new birth."  He has past from darkness to light and from death to life.  He had entered into the Covenant of God and had begun a new life.  It also marked his death to his old life.  He was no longer a gentile.  He was now dead to his past.  It was likely that his family would disown him since he had publicly rejected their gods, their values, and their culture.  Even if they did not disown them, through baptism he had largely disowned them.  They could never again occupy the place they once held in his life.

What then is Baptism?

• Baptism as a testimony of faith
• Baptism as a declaration of allegiance to Christ (sacramentum)
• Baptism as an act of acceptance by the Church of Jesus Christ
• Baptism as a public betrothal to Christ

Baptism is a public testimony to faith.  It is the normal God ordained means by which we testify to the Church and the world that we believe Jesus Christ has redeemed us from our sin and given us new life in Him. 

Baptism is a public declaration of allegiance to Christ.  The Roman soldiers took an oath of allegiance which was called a sacramentum.  It is probable that the early Church began to call baptism a sacrament because it was seen as a pledge of a allegiance to Christ and to Him alone.

Those who have been baptized are regarded as members of the Church, the body of Christ. (At least until they prove that they have not been regenerated)  All who have publicly confessed Christ Jesus through baptism must be regarded as members of the Body.   Membership in the Church is not determined by rules and regulations, nor by having a "spiritual experience", but by one's commitment to Jesus.  Those who do not confess Him are not His.

Finally, and most importantly, baptism is the official public betrothal or marriage to Jesus Christ.  A marriage is not a personal affair.  God has ordained that baptism is means by which we publicly declare our vows "to love, honor, and obey" Christ.  In baptism we declare to the world that we now belong to another.   In an earthly marriage, the bride leaves her father and mother and cleaves to her husband.  She is no longer under the authority of her parents, but under her bridegroom.  She leaves her old life, her childhood, and her family behind to begin a new life united with her husband.  All her possessions and all her debts become his.   And his, hers.  The two become one flesh.  So it is with us in Christ.

Is baptism required for salvation?  One could as well ask if a wedding is required for a marriage.  The Church has always held that there is also baptism by blood.  That is, if one seals his commitment to Christ by dying as a martyr, that is counted as baptism.  Or in the case where one cannot be baptized, as with the thief of the cross, water baptism is not required by God.   But if one knows that Jesus commands us to be baptized, and we refuse, how then can we be regarded as His disciples?  Our refusal to be properly baptized demonstrates our unwillingness to follow and obey Him.  Can a woman who refuses to marry a man be rightly regarded as his wife?

Jesus commanded, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit..."  Please understand that in the "name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" is not merely some magic formula we are to utter.  It signifies that the person doing the baptizing is doing it with the full authority of God Himself.  It is the analog to the minister saying, "by the authority of the state of ..., I now pronounce you man and wife."  The moment that is said by an authorized agent with the intent to marry, to a couple meeting the requirements for marriage and in the presence of witnesses, the marriage is recognized by the state.   When a person, understanding what he is doing, willingly submits to baptism into Christ, at that moment, the fact is recorded in Heaven.  Baptism is no more a mere symbol than a wedding is a mere symbol.  It is entering into a binding covenant.

Three final points:

1. First of all, the word baptize means "immerse, dip, or submerge."   It does not mean sprinkle or pour!  The Jewish practice involved a mikvah (a pool) where a person is completely submerged.  If you were sprinkled as a baby, you were NOT BAPTIZED.
2. As should be apparent from the above discussion.  The candidate must be of an age to understand what he is doing and freely consent to it.  A marriage requires that both be of age.  Infants and young children cannot be baptized!
3. Finally, without faith, baptism does nothing.  Marriage with Christ must be freely and willingly entered in to.

This is not an exhaustive exposition on baptism.  We could delve deeper into the biblical images of death and rebirth, the image of Israel passing through the sea, and others.  But my plea is not simply for deeper understanding.  We must return to a renewed emphasis on the practice of the Apostles.  We must come to understand and live according to the covenant we have made with our Bridegroom.  We must start to act and live as if we truly belonged to Him (as we really do!).

see fellowship