The Significance of Baptism in Christianity: Meaning and History, Study notes of Church History

Download The Significance of Baptism in Christianity: Meaning and History and more Study notes Church History in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Believer’s Baptism Before ascending into heaven, the risen Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His church in Matthew 28:18-20 with the following statement of purpose: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Obedience to that single command, to make disciples, requires the church to baptize new converts and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded. Thus, the ordinance of baptism is the ritual that provides entry into the church. Since only someone who is baptized may become a member of a local church, it’s important to understand what the Bible teaches about baptism. Defining Baptism The word baptize is first used in the New Testament in Matthew 3:1-17 in association with the ministry of John the Baptist. John’s baptism was based on the religious symbolism of Gentile proselyte baptism, whereby a Gentile sought to associate himself with the Jewish community. Gentile proselytes submitted to a ritual washing (a full- body, ceremonial bath) called proselyte baptism. The ritual testified to the defilement of being a Gentile; his sin and ignorance needed to be washed away so he could receive a new identity and enter into new life in the Jewish community. Proselyte baptism provided John the Baptist with the conceptual imagery for his baptism ministry. John called all people to repent of their sins, Jew and Gentile alike, to prepare themselves for the Messiah’s arrival (cf. Acts 19:4). His baptism symbolized disassociation with the former life, which meant, like a Gentile proselyte, a person had to acknowledge his sin and defilement, his need for cleansing. John the Baptist baptized those who humbled themselves by immersing them in water. The word baptize comes from the Greek verb baptizō, which originally referred to the sinking of a ship, or to drowning at sea. The concept of full immersion in water stayed with the word baptizō from the classical era into New Testament times. That’s why John baptized in the Jordan River where “water was plentiful” (John 3:23). 2 Just as proselyte baptism provided the conceptual imagery for the baptism ministry of John the Baptist, John’s baptism likewise provided the conceptual framework for Christian baptism. Christian baptism is practiced in the same manner, by full immersion in water. Luke records Philip’s baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch following his profession of faith in Christ in Acts 8:38-39: “they both went down into the water…he baptized him…they came up out of the water.” Understanding Baptism Christian baptism is an external symbol to illustrate internal spiritual realities. At its essence, the picture is of a death, burial, and resurrection, and as such it points to several realities that are true for every Christian. 1. Baptism pictures the washing away of sins and the commitment to break with the old life and pursue new life in Christ (Acts 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). 2. Baptism points to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, promised in the New Covenant (Matt. 3:11; John 1:33). 3. Baptism symbolizes the union with Christ, by the Holy Spirit, in His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27). 4. Baptism points to the incorporation of every believer into the body of Christ, uniting him with every other believer (1 Cor. 12:12-13; Eph. 4:5). Everything illustrated by water baptism happened prior to the realities symbolized. That is why the risen Lord Jesus Christ chose baptism as the professing Christian’s first act of obedience; it’s the perfect ritual to symbolize the rich truths of his conversion. Clarifying Baptism How is salvation accomplished? Salvation is wholly of God, by His grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8-9). Since sinners are dead in trespasses and sins, no spiritual life exists (Eph. 2:1-3). The sinner is therefore unable and unwilling to seek God (Rom. 8:5-8). Therefore, God must initiate and accomplish the sinner’s salvation. The work of salvation begins by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; Tit. 3:5). The Spirit causes the sinner to be born again, imparting new spiritual life that enables him to discern his true condition, repent of his sin, and seek Jesus Christ in faith.