Sound Doctrine, the Bible above all. by E.G - HTML preview
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CHRISTIAN BAPTISM
It is a public act of faith, in which the Christian believer confesses his faith in the waters.
Baptism is a symbol of death and resurrection with Christ (Rom.6:3-5: "Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? For we are buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we were planted together with Him in the likeness of His death, so shall we be in the likeness of His resurrection."
The word baptize, used in the formula, literally means to immerse. This interpretation is confirmed by scholars of the Greek language and ecclesiastical historians. Baptism by immersion is in keeping with the symbolic meaning of baptism, i.e., death and burial when going down into the waters and resurrection to a new life when coming out of them.
Christian baptism had a precedent in which the Jews administered proselytes (adept, convert, supporter) before they could partake of the Passover, and also, in John's baptism which was a type of water baptism for repentance of sins.
The Baptism of John.
John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, came preaching and baptizing.
John's message was:
Mark 1:4 |
"John baptized in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" |
John's baptism was not his invention, but came to him from heaven.
Christ implied the heavenly origin of this baptism:
Matthew 21:25 |
"John's baptism, where was he from? From the sky, or from men? Then they argued among themselves, saying, "If we say, from heaven, he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' And if we say of men, we fear the people; for they all have John as their prophet." |
John 1:32-34 |
"And John bore witness, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he remained upon him. And I did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water, that one said to me, "Whoever you see the Spirit descend on and who abides on him, he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." And I saw him, and have testified that this is the Son of God." |
The crowds came to be baptized by John:
Luke 3:7 |
"And he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, O brood of vipers! Who taught you to flee from the wrath to come?" |
The leaders of Israel rejected John's baptism:
Luke 7:30 |
"But the Pharisees and the interpreters of the law rejected the counsel of God concerning themselves, not being baptized by John." |
John clarified that he was not the Christ:
Luke 3:15-16 |
"When the people were waiting, all in their hearts wondering whether John was the Christ, John answered, saying to them all, 'I baptize you with water; but there comes one more powerful than I, whose strap I am not worthy to untie the strap of his shoes; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." |
The fact that Christ asked John to be baptized by him does not mean that he needed repentance, but that as the Lamb of God he identified himself completely with sinful humanity by assuming their sins as a substitute.
What is Christian baptism?
In the first place, according to the Gospel, it is part of the great commission that Jesus left to his Church:
Matthew 28:19-20 |
"Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen" |
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THEREFORE, IT IS A commandment of the Lord. It is not at all optional. It is so that I obey Him and submit to Him.
Going a little deeper, we must say that baptism is a symbolic rite through which our faith in Jesus Christ and our decision to live according to his teachings are voluntarily expressed.
A symbol ex external symbol of an internal reality that should have already occurred before we practice the rite of baptism (genuine conversion, the new birth)
All who have believed, not only in Christ, but also in Christ, have the duty to live according to our faith. Today, when laws guaranteeing religious freedom exist in most, but not all, countries, it is easy to bear public witness to our faith in Jesus Christ, and we therefore baptize, thereby manifesting our resolve to have died to an old life and been born to a new. Baptism must be understood in its proper historical, social, political and religious context in which it was instituted by the Lord as a commandment for all believers.
For many of our brothers, it meant putting their own lives at risk. Next, we will study why we should baptize Christians, but we must reflect on whether we would be willing to do so if our circumstances were similar to those of those who risked and even lost their lives to fulfill this commandment of the Lord Jesus.
Today, we risk nothing more than the possibility that some will make fun of us. Even so, the commandment is still there and has force for us. Let us therefore study the reasons that the practice of such a divine institution imposes on us.
The Apostles understood baptism as a commandment of obligatory observance and thus practiced it:
Acts 2:38 |
"Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." |
Acts 10:48 |
"And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they begged him to stay for a few days." |
Acts 22:16 |
"Now, then, why do you stop? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name." |
And this is how the believers observed it:
Acts 2:41 |
"Wherefore those who received his word were baptized; and about three thousand people were added that day." |
Acts 8:11 |
"But when they believed Philip, who preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women were baptized." |
Facts 8:36-38 |
"And as they went along the road, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, 'Here is water; What prevents me from being baptized? Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may well believe." And he answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." And he ordered the cart to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him." |
Acts 9:18 |
"And immediately they fell from his eyes like scales, and immediately he received sight; and And he arose and was baptized." |
The history of the Christian Church allows us to see clearly that baptism has been
observed since then and to the present day.
What does it symbolize?
Water baptism symbolizes the believer's new birth. In other words, we are
buried to death from sin and the old life, in the death of Christ, and raised
to walk in newness of life produced by the Holy Spirit, in the resurrection of Christ, through faith. As the apostle Paul says:
Romans 6:3-5 |
"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized?" baptized in his death? For we are buried with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we were planted together with him in the likeness of his death, so shall we be also in the likeness of his resurrection;" |
Thus, it also symbolizes our identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. As he also says:
Colossians 2:12 |
"You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him, through faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead." |
It also symbolizes entry into the family of God or church as a community of all the saints:
Acts 2:41 |
"Wherefore those who received his word were baptized; and about three thousand people were added that day." |
Baptism also symbolizes communion among all believers:
1Corinthians 12: 13, 27 |
"For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether they were free slaves; and we were all given to drink of one Spirit... You are therefore the body of Christ, and members each one in particular." |
Ephesians 4:4-5 |
"One body, and one Spirit, as you were also called in one hope of your vocation; one Lord, one faith, one baptism..." |
So, in baptism I publicly declare myself on the side of God and righteousness and against the devil and sin.
Baptism is a challenge to the powers of darkness.
Who should be baptized?
For a person to be baptized it is required that he or she have faith in Jesus Christ and in his sacrifice, the one vicar on the cross of Calvary, for our salvation. Requirement without which no one should be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ:
Acts 8:12; 36-38 |
"But when they believed Philip, who preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women were baptized." "And as they were going along the road, they came to a certain water, and the eunuch said, 'Here is water; What prevents me from being baptized? Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may well believe." And he answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." |
Repentance is the effect of believing in Jesus Christ, and therefore it is demanded
Before baptism:
Facts 2:37-38 |
"When they heard this, they were pricked in their hearts, and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers and sisters, and what shall we do? Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." |