Notes on Baptism
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Baptism
Baptism. It is well known that ablution or bathing was common in most ancient nations as a preparation for prayers and sacrifice or as expiatory of sin. In warm countries, this connection is probably even closer than in colder climates; and hence the frequency of ablution in the religious rites throughout the East. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the rite or ordinance by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship.
Baptism signifies —
1. A confession of faith in Christ;
2. A cleansing or washing of the soul from sin;
3. A death to sin and a new life in righteousness.
The mode and subjects of baptism being much-controverted subjects, each one can best study them in the works devoted to those questions. The command to baptize was co-extensive with the command to preach the gospel. All nations were to be evangelized; and they were to be made disciples, admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, by baptism. .
It appears to have been a kind of transition from the Jewish baptism to the Christian. The distinction between John's baptism and Christian baptism appears in the case of Apollos, , and of the disciples at Ephesus mentioned . We cannot but draw from this history, the inference that in Christian baptism, there was a deeper spiritual significance.
(Baptism is not a work of man, but one of many works of God. Even Belief is a work!
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. )
The Great Commission
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(KJV)
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
(KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(KJV)
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
(KJV)
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
(KJV)
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
(KJV)
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
(KJV)
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
(KJV)
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(KJV)
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
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(4) A similar question has been raised about baptism, which is first mentioned in 41. The view has been put forward that Luke has antedated its employment in the Christian Church, and that it was introduced later, probably by the Seven, in dealing with Gentiles. It is true that if 1:5 stood alone we might infer that baptism by the Spirit was intended to be a substitute for baptism by water, but other passages make clear that this was not the view of Luke. It is a pure conjecture to suppose that this verse comes from a document which held another view. Rather baptism is an inheritance from Judaism. In all religions ceremonial washings and purifications are to be found. So proselytes were commonly baptized to represent the washing away of the defilements of heathenism and the entrance into a new life. They were also styled, in virtue of their entrance within the covenant, ‘new creatures.’ The novelty of John’s baptism lay in the fact that he called on Jews, members of the covenant-people, to submit to baptism. The Kingdom of God, the new age, was at hand, and only those who were spiritually prepared would be able to enter into its privileges. Men must repent, and by expressing their repentance by the outward act of baptism would be sealed for the coming Kingdom. Another was at hand who would have power to bestow not only the water-baptism of preparation, but the baptism of the Spirit, that is of the power to share the life of the Kingdom. Many of Christ’s disciples had been baptized by John. After joining themselves to Him, they continued the practice (, ). Such baptism is to be regarded as on a level with John’s, that is preparatory for the Kingdom. Whatever difficulties surround , there is no reason to doubt that Jesus approved and enjoined the custom of baptism. At Pentecost the Spirit descended, filling the Christian community with the power of a new life. Thus its members were baptized not only with water, but with the Spirit. Their earlier baptism was completed. The first instalment of the blessing for which they had been sealed was received. The new baptism did not supplant but consummate the old. Henceforth Christian baptism is to include both, the outward sign of water-baptism and the inward grace of new power to live the life of the Spirit-filled community. There is no contradiction between them. So it is in full accord with Jewish ideas that the Apostles should from the first baptize new members. By baptism they were transferred from the old Israel, or the world, into the new Israel, the people of God. Thus they became as it were ‘proleptic’ members of the Kingdom of God.
Bicknell, E. J. (1942). The Acts of the Apostles. In C. Gore, H. L. Goudge, & A. Guillaume (Eds.), A New Commentary on Holy Scripture: Including the Apocrypha (Vol. 3, p. 335). New York: The Macmillan Company.
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Significance of baptism
Synopsis
The NT uses a variety of images to explain the meaning of baptism, such as dying and rising with Christ, sharing in his death and being cleansed from sin.
Baptism is a symbol of the death of Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ described his death as a baptism or a flood overwhelming him.
(NASB95) — 50 “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
See also ; ; ;
(NASB95) — 7 Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
(NASB95) — 1 Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life. 2 I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me.
(NASB95) — 7 Your wrath has rested upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah.
(NASB95) — 38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized.
Baptism is a symbol of the burial of Jesus Christ
Immersion in water symbolises how the old sinful life is buried with Christ.
(NASB95) — 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Dying to sin and sharing Jesus Christ’s sufferings, symbolised by baptism, is a lifelong process:
;
(NASB95) — 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
(NASB95) — 5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
Baptism is a symbol of being saved from the flood
The flood/baptism symbolises both judgment (the death of sinners and the death of Jesus Christ) and salvation (those in the ark and those in Christ passing safely through judgment).
(NASB95) — 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Baptism is the gospel equivalent of circumcision
(NASB95) — 6 Now Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of water came upon the earth. 7 Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood.
Baptism is the gospel equivalent of circumcision
The “circumcision in Christ” may refer either to his death on the cross or to baptism.
(NASB95) — 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
See also
(NASB95) — 16 “So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
Baptism recalls the exodus
In and through the exodus experience Israel was united with and obedient to Moses, as Jesus Christ’s people are to him.
(NASB95) — 1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
See also
Baptism symbolises washing from sin
Baptism symbolises washing from sin
Baptism is an outward sign of cleansing from sin and from a defiled life and conscience.
(NASB95) — 16 ‘Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’
See also ; ;
(NASB95) — 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
(NASB95) — 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
(NASB95) — 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Baptism is a symbol of putting on Christ
Baptism is seen as putting on Christ, as one might put on a coat or garment, and thus be “clothed with Christ”.
(NASB95) — 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Baptism as a symbol of unity
(NASB95) — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
See also
(NASB95) — 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
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