Baptism

Salvation is by grace through faith alone, Ephesians 2:8-9.

How does Scripture speak of baptism?

We will begin with the word “baptism.” “The basic verb is GK. báptō, meaning “dip in or under,” also “dye.” In the NT, this word occurs only rarely and always with its literal sense, as in Lk. 16:24. It never has the sense “baptize.”

The form baptízō is the term which, in different constructions, is employed in the NT for “baptize.” This verb can have varied but related senses as “immerse, sink, drown, go under, sink into, and bathe.” The range of meaning adds to its suitability for an act which itself has different connotations and can be given, in the context of the gospel, such a richly diversified significance.

The noun for baptism is báptisma, which occurs only in the NT, only in the singular, and only for baptism. The term seems to denote not only the external act but also the inner meaning and force. Thus, the baptism denoted may be that of the Spirit as well as water, and even the baptism of the cross (W. H. T. Dau, “Baptism,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 410.)

We will now do a brief survey of these usages to gain an understanding of the World of the Text before we apply our understanding of the World in Front of the Text.

I dare say some of the confusion comes because we listen more to what others say about the text rather than what the text actually says.

Jumping into the first section of God’s Word, we will look at the Gospels' references to baptism.

Here we come upon John the Baptist in Mk. 1:4; Mt. 3:1 Jn. 1:19. He is preaching repentance, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand in Mt. 3:2. In Mk. 1:5 and Lk. 3:3 we see that water baptism is the outward act of the repentance of the heart; it is also paired with the fruit of their deeds (Lk.3:10).

John makes it clear that he is the messenger and that the Messiah is coming, who will baptize not just with water but with the Spirit and with fire (Mk. 1:7; Mt 3:11 Lk. 3:15). Here we see the sense of the word moving beyond water baptism and to include Spirit and fire.

In all four of the Gospels, we have Jesus’ water baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus' baptism is the Father’s and the Spirit’s public announcement of Jesus. This is shown by the Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove and the Father saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11 Mt. 3:16; Lk 3:21; Jn. 1:32). When Jesus’ allegiance is publicly announced through baptism, he is led into the wilderness to be tested by Satan (Mk. 1:12; Mt. 4:1; Lk. 4:1).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke record for us the baptism language in regards to Jesus' suffering on the cross. Only Jesus is going to be immersed in this suffering for all of humanity; no one else will share it with him (Mt. 20:20; Mk. 10:35; Lk. 12:50).

Matthew, Mark, and Luke record for us that Jesus was operating in his ministry by the same authority John the Baptist was baptizing with (Mt. 21:23-27; Mk. 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).

The last reference in the Gospels to baptism is the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “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.”

Jesus commands his disciples to make disciples as they go, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Acts is the next book we will look at the word baptism.

The book of Acts opens with the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the birth of the universal and local church (Acts 1:5). The Spirit’s baptism does not, however, negate water baptism because Peter tells everyone to repent and be baptized in Acts 2:37. This, of course, echoes John the Baptist's call to repentance.

In Acts 8, we observe Philip preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus, and the Samaritans believed and were baptized. The text makes a distinction between water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:14-17. Believing in Jesus is the prerequisite to baptism.

Further on in the chapter, in verses 34-39, we have Phillip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch in water. There is no mention here of the baptism of the Spirit. Believing in Jesus is the prerequisite to baptism.

Paul, in Acts 9:18, is baptized after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Cornelius, his family, and his close friends in Acts 10 are the first Gentiles to be baptized in the Spirit, and Peter then, in verse 48, sees no need to withhold water baptism.

In Act 16, we have two baptism accounts noted in the ministry to Philippi. We have Lydia and her household (verse 15), and we have the jailer and his household (verse 33).

In Acts 18:8, we have Crispus and his household baptized after believing in Jesus.

In Acts 19:1-7, we have a group who were baptized by John the Baptist. They were then baptized by Paul into Jesus' baptism and received the Holy Spirit.

As we continue our journey of observation on baptism, we now turn to Paul's letters, starting with Romans.

There is one section on baptism in Romans 6:3. It says we were baptized into Jesus and buried with him by baptism into death.

In 1 Corinthians 1, we see the church is losing focus on Jesus and focusing on who baptized them. Paul is quick to remind them that it is about following Jesus, not men.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-5, Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea… Nevertheless, with most of them, God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 12:13 is the next observation for baptism. It says, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 15:29 has a puzzling reference to baptism for the dead, a part of Paul’s argument for the resurrection of Jesus.

Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Ephesians 4:5 has our next observation: “one Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

In Colossians 2:9-12, Paul parallels baptism with the spiritual circumcision of Christ.

Now, turn your attention to the other NT letters and let’s make some observations there.

Hebrews 10:22 is an allusion to baptism, which in the context reflects the background of ceremonial law.

1 Peter 3:21 compares baptism to the eight persons who were brought safely through the waters of Noah’s flood. It is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are saved, which is an inward work of cleansing, signified by the outward sign of baptism.

In 1 John 5:6, we see that Jesus came by water and blood, meaning his baptism and his crucifixion.

Wow, we just covered a lot of ground. I am sure everyone's heads are spinning just a little. Having gone over all these occurrences, I think it is important to note that Scripture addresses more than one kind of baptism.

It would be important to identify what type of baptism is being referenced in the passage to gain an understanding.

Based on our observations, there is the water baptism of John the Baptist, the water baptism of Christ, the baptism into Moses, the baptism of the Spirit, the baptism of fire, the baptism of the cross, and the spiritual baptism of Christ.

These fit into three categories: water baptism, spiritual baptism, and judgment baptism.

When we talk about baptism, we are typically talking about water baptism.

What are the views on water baptism?

Catholic View

The Catechism declares, “Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission” (Scott Hahn, ed., Catholic Bible Dictionary (New York; London; Toronto; Sydney; Auckland: Doubleday, 2009), 91.)

Catholics conflate water baptism and spiritual baptism. Baptism, then, in the Catholic's mind, removes original sin.

Reformed View

The sacraments, and baptism as one of them, are always described to be (1) signs representing as in a picture or figure, spiritual benefits (1 Pet. 3:21), and also (2) as seals or personal tokens and attestations confirmatory of solemn promises of spiritual benefits. (W. H. T. Dau, “Baptism,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 422).

The recipients of Christian baptism are all those who make a presumably sincere profession of repentance of sin and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior, together with the children of such believing parents. (W. H. T. Dau, “Baptism,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 420.)

The reformed do not conflate the two but bring in confusion with the baptism of babies. They navigate this by saying that water baptism is the replacement for the Israelite circumcision, but there is still much confusion on that matter because then we have children who are part of the covenant people of God who have not made a confession of faith.

Baptist View

Baptism, as taught in the NT, is the picture of death and burial to sin and resurrection to new life, a picture of what has already taken place in the heart, not the means by which spiritual change is wrought. (W. H. T. Dau, “Baptism,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 417.)

So, according to Scripture, what does water baptism do?

First, water baptism is the public allegiance to Jesus and thus the church.

Second, water baptism is the outward sign of the inner work of Christ. That inner work of Christ, according to Paul, is a spiritual baptism that he references in Romans 6, 1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 3, and Colossians 2.

Why do we baptize?

First, we baptize out of obedience (Matthew 28:19).

Second, we baptize to affirm and publicly proclaim one’s belief in Jesus.

Third, we baptize to display the outward sign of Christ’s inner work.

How do we baptize?

We baptize by immersion in water to display the sign of the inner work and to follow the practice of the NT church.

Now that we have looked at what Scripture says about baptism, the muddy waters of baptism should be clearer. If you believe in Jesus and have not been baptized, then I encourage you to do so. If you have any questions, I would be happy to discuss them with you.