The Necessity of Baptism

Introduction

Good Christians disagree about baptism and we as a church and a denomination welcome good faith disagreements about baptism.

Our denominational position on baptism

Baptism is not the means of salvation

Though they [baptism and the Lord’s supper] are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the church in genuine faith, these ordinances confirm and nourish the believer. (EFCA/Redeemer Statement of Faith)

Baptism is essential/necessary

“The Lord Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper…” (EFCA/Redeemer Statement of Faith)

“We affirm the ordinance of baptism as a biblical/theological essential.” (EFCA Theological FAQ)

When we say that Baptism is essential, we are not saying that baptism causes our salvation but that it is necessary to respond to our salvation with baptism.

Obedience does not save, but obedience is not optional.

Taxes

The Mode and Timing of baptism are not essential

“We recognize that the interpretations of Scripture on the relevant points regarding the two positions on baptism differ with one another and are in some ways incompatible.” (Evangelical Convictions)

“Both sides (evangelical credobaptism and evangelical infant baptism) hold that Scripture speaks to the matter, but each side holds a view that excludes the other. However, we do not believe that our differing views on this matter (among others) should prevent our unity in the gospel in full local church fellowship.” (Evangelical Convictions)

Unity does not demand silence

“With this position, we do not want to portray that the Scriptures are unclear or baptism does not matter. Instead, we state that there are some significant differences, which we neither deny nor conceal, but as godly evangelicals with a strong commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture can affirm these positions, and we “allow” either/both.” (EFCA Theological FAQ)

With that foundation, I am going to present a “believer’s baptism” perspective on baptism this morning. I’m not going to present it as a debate between believers baptism and infant baptism, but will instead assume the position that our church practices.

An invitation to baptism

Be baptized to (publically) proclaim Christ’s grace

The New Testament pattern directly connects baptism with conversion

This is done so concretely that baptism can be used as shorthand for the moment of conversion

Acts 2:38 “38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 22:14–16 “14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’”

Wedding

This is so pervasive that the NT authors assume baptism of all Christians

Baptism is so closely connected with our conversion because it visibly demonstrates so much of the invisible aspects of our salvation

We are washed from our sins

We are united with Christ in death

We are raised with him in life

Your conversion is personal but it is not private.

Matthew 10:32–33 “32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”

Romans 10:9 “9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Baptism is the visible proclamation of that conversion, and the Bible does not make it optional.

Baptism itself doesn’t save anybody, since the thief on the cross went to heaven without it and Simon the magician went to hell with it. (Bobby Jamieson)

Often times it is asked, “If you say that baptism is essential, are you saying that I am not saved if I am not baptized?” Let me propose a better question, “isn’t the one who refuses to proclaim their death, burial, and resurrection with Christ through the means he ordained in a sense saying they are not a believer?”

Be baptized to confirm Christ's promises

Baptism is a sign of our salvation, but the church has historically also called it a seal – marking us as his.

Cattle brand

Paul uses past baptism to motivate us towards godliness.

Romans 6:3–4 “3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 “9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

Our baptism is something we can look back on for comfort. It gives us something tangible to make visible our invisible faith.

I sinned today, but praise God I am washed clean from that sin just like I was washed clean in my baptism!

This temptation is so powerful, but praise God I died with Christ and was buried with him in baptism!

My body is failing and death is coming, but praise God for the new life I have in Christ because I was raised with him in baptism!

Be baptized to join Christ's people

Acts 2:38–41 NIV

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

In the book of Acts baptism as a public display of faith brings people into the community of the church.

Constituting the Jerusalem church at Pentecost

Displaying the inclusion of Gentiles in the church

Consider the seriousness of baptism in a hostile culture – no longer is faith a matter for the “thought police” now it’s on display.

The church is made up of believers in Jesus. Since we cannot see hearts how do we know if someone is a believer in Jesus –because they participate in a public ceremony demonstrating that they have new life in Christ!

As we witness the baptism of these four young people, we are participating in their baptism

We are affirming their faith.

They are saying, “I have new life in Christ!” We are responding “Yes! You do!”

We are welcoming them into our church family.

We are joining with them to praise God for the visible evidence of their salvation.

We are being reminded of our salvation as signified by our baptism.

Be baptized to obey Christ's command

Matthew 28:18–20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

If making disciples entails baptizing and teaching them to obey, being a disciple entails being baptized and learning to obey. Rejecting baptism is a rejection of discipleship.