Baptism came to be the overlooked stepchild in the kingdom (apologies to stepchildren out there). For so long it had been the focus of stormy arguments about salvation by grace and not works. Yet, as people have turned to scripture for the teachings of Jesus about baptism the arguments are subsiding and the beauty, majesty and power of baptism is being seen in churches, beaches and rivers all over the kingdom.
Here is my list of some truths that are becoming commonly accepted among Christians as the truths God has revealed to us. The baptism I focus on in this article is the Great Commission baptism of Matthew 28:19-20 and Mark 15:15-16. There are other baptisms in the New Testament (fire, suffering, Holy Spirit) but its water baptism common to all believers in the early church that I speak of here.
Baptism in the New Testament was only ever immersion in water. There is NO reputable Greek scholar or theologian who denies that the original word for baptism in the New Testament ALWAYS referred to an immersion. The context supplies what the immersion is in. And for every new believer that immersion was in water.
Baptism is a reenactment of and participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Check out Romans 6:3-5 and Colossians 2:12. Isn’t it just like God to place such awesome symmetry to an apparently ridiculous dunking in water? Our lowering into the water is like Jesus dying and being entombed. Our raising out the water is like Jesus being raised from the dead. The significance doesn’t end there. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the very centre of the power of God to save us.
Baptism is closely associated with the beginning of a believer’s walk with Jesus. In the Book Acts, the Holy Spirit’s record of the history of the early church, the longest time between a person coming to faith and their baptism is 3 days. That was when God forced Paul to wait in blindness after He came to faith in Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18).
Baptism is closely associated with the most wonderful blessings from God. Here is a quick list. Forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, 22:16), getting into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27), salvation (Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21), receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38, 5:32), entering the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). As an act of faith, baptism is such a significant part of the beginning of our life in Christ.
Baptism was the common experience of Jesus, His disciples and apostles and all of the early church. When Paul wanted to refer to two experiences in Christ that every Christian is connected to, he quoted the death of Jesus and our baptism in Jesus name (1 Corinthians 1:13). His argument there was that we should be united in Jesus, not preacher loyalties, because Jesus died for us and we were all baptized in the name of Jesus.
Baptism is for adults. Baptism is to always be preceded by faith in Christ. Only adults are capable of such faith. There is no need for the baptism of infants as they are in the kingdom of God by their physical birth and innocence. Dedicate them, name them, praise God for them, but don’t call it baptism. Such is a distortion of the express purpose, point and beauty of baptism.
Baptism is about relationship not ritual. It is not a magical ritual any more than a wedding is. Baptism is an expression of a person’s desire for a close walk with Jesus. Some have called it the believer’s wedding ceremony and I like that analogy even though it is not a biblical one.
