Baptism Position Paper

The Practice and Purpose of Baptism

A Statement of Position from the Overseers of Friendship Church

Along with the Lord’s Supper, baptism is one of only two sacraments ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ. While the practice of baptism was not a new idea to either the Jewish or Gentile world in the New Testament era, (1) what made Jesus’ instructions unique was the direction to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

After his resurrection and shortly before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commissioned His Church with the words:

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

...“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus’ command here is to “make disciples” and then he follows through with how we are to do this. We are to baptize them, in His special way and teach them, all that He taught. This is how Jesus taught us to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and so baptism is and has always been an essential practice of the Christian Church.

Following the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Peter preached the first Christian sermon which called people to repent and believe in Jesus as the Christ. Many did, and the text says...

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41

Baptism is a symbol of salvation (Rom 6:1-5

Romans 6:1–5 (ESV)

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Baptism by itself does not save anybody from sin, only faith in Christ does. Baptism is the outward expression of the inward reality that someone has come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Baptism is an act of obedience (Mat 28:18-20)

Jesus commanded that his followers be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is for every person who believes in Christ (Acts 8:12-13)

The pattern of baptism in the Bible is always first believe and then be baptized. At Friendship Church we wait until our children are old enough to believe and understand the true meaning of baptism before we baptize them.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT BAPTISM:

Why be baptized by immersion?

We practice baptism by immersion because every baptism recorded in the Bible was by immersion, including the baptism of Jesus. This was also the only mode of baptism practiced by the Christian Church for the first 300 years.

What was the significance of my baptism as a baby?

While there are many different reasons that parents decide to baptize their baby, they are always based on a desire to do what is best for their child. Although the intentions are good, the Bible instructs us that every individual is to first trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and then be baptized.

Who should come to the baptism?

Along with your Friendship Church Family, this is an opportunity to invite family and friends from all walks of life to witness and celebrate the public declaration of your commitment to follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

If you are interested in taking this next step, contact Pastor Dan at 715 530-1211 or [e-mail]

(1) L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans publishing co., 1938), 622.

(2) The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 28:18–20.