What We (Officially) Believe About Baptism

(This is just an overview and some thoughts)

1.     It is important to note that the very term for baptism in the New Testament does not tell you anything about the mode, the substance to be used, or of the subjects who should receive it. The context in the Bible will inform you of those things, but not the actual term.

2.     The sacrament of baptism does not only signify the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and the believer’s placement into Him, but also signifies many other things about Christ’s work for His people (review yesterday’s lesson).

3.     The key idea with the baptisms in the Old and in the New Testaments is purification. Scripture is clear about how this is the essential thing in the symbol of baptism (Ezek. 36:25; John 3:25,26; Acts 22:16; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 10:22; 1 Pet. 3:21; etc.)

4.     This symbol of purification can be done by sprinkling or pouring, as well as by immersion (Lev. 14:7, Num. 8:7; Ezek. 36;25; Heb. 9:19-22; 10:22). In fact, the application of the blood of Christ to His people is in the symbol of sprinkling (Heb. 9:13,14,22; 10:22; 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:2). And the active symbol for the work of the Spirit who in-grafts our hearts to Christ is that of pouring.

5.     It must be noted however that baptism by immersion in the Old Testament was extremely rare. Further, there is nothing in the New Testament, which indicates that we must immerse. To presume this is the meaning by the term baptism fails to do justice to the word and the contexts of the verses.  For example, read Acts 8:38 and see how this verse proves too much if it is used to argue for immersion as the only way to baptize.

6.     Who are the proper recipients of baptism? First, the normal pattern in the Bible is for adult believers, primarily heads of households who had not been previously baptized in Christian baptism to receive the sacrament. It was done at the same time they made a public profession of faith (Mark 16:16; Luke 23:39-43 cp. Acts 2:28; Acts 2:41; 8:37; 16:31-34).  As a side note, in the book of Acts repentance is always linked with baptism.

7.     Baptism is also extended to the household (those people who were considered part of the family) of the one receiving the covenant sign of faith. Abraham did (Rom. 4:11; Gal 3:8,9,14), and this was connected to his faith. But God commanded him to subsequently mark his children and their seed with the same sign, with or without faith.

8.     What about children? In the Old Testament, children shared in the blessings of the covenant and were considered God’s possession (2 Chron. 20:13; Joel 2:16).

9.     Now, look at what the New Testament says about children whose father and/or mother is a believer in Christ: (a) Luke 1:41-44 cp 2 Sam. 12:22-23; (b) 1 Cor. 7:14; (c) Matthew 19:13-14 cp. Luke 18:15-17.

With what we know about circumcision as a sign-seal of the covenant of God - the same covenant of grace given to Abraham who then administered the sign-seal of circumcision (Rom. 4:13-18; Gal. 3:15-18; Heb. 6:13-18), and baptism being its counterpart as a sign-seal of the New Covenant of grace, what should we think of verses such as Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16?