Baptism in the New Testament
Notes
Transcript
Handout
What is Baptism?
What is Baptism?
The Greek word “baptizo” used of baptism, naturally means to plunge, dip, or immerse something. For example, it was used of a cloth being put in die to change the color. The whole cloth would have to be immersed. So Baptism is to immerse, dip, submerge, or to make fully wet.
The same word is used in Mark 7 when the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask Him why His disciples do not wash their hands. The Bible says in verse 4 that “when they come from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. The word used for wash there is baptizo. They don’t fully eat except if they make fully wet or immerse their hands.
The verse goes on to say:
'and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches. ) 'Mark 7:4
The washing of cups, pots, copper vessels and dining couches is the same word. It is translated as "washed," but it actually means immersed or made fully wet.
So when you wash your clothes or soak them they hare baptised. When you go swimming, in the deep end, you have been baptised.
Joke about shallow end
Baptism in the Bible
Baptism in the Bible
Old Testament
Old Testament
Where does the word for baptism appear in the Old Testament?
The word, baptizo, appears in the story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5
'And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” ' 2 Kings 5:10
He is told by Elisha to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. The word used for wash is baptizo in the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew scriptures called the Septuagint. The Bible says that 'So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. ' 2 Kings 5:14
New Testament
New Testament
Where does baptism appear first in the New Testament, and what baptism is it?
In the New Testament, the word baptism first appears in the gospels with John the Baptist who was baptising people in the Jordan River. We see this Mark 1:4-11, Matthew 3:11-12, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, and Acts 19:4.
What is John’s Baptism called? (Ref: Mark 1:4-11, Matthew 3:11-12, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24, Acts 19:4)
John’s baptism is called the baptism of repentance. It is a baptism that signified the repentance of those who had received it. He came preaching
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
He was calling people to repent of their sins, and those who are baptised are those who have repented of their sins.
What was the purpose of His preaching and baptising?
For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.’ ”
John the Baptist was preparing the way for the One to come; the One who was to baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. His baptism was pointing to someone and something greater.
And Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”
John’s baptism had to do with repentance—it was a symbolic representation of changing one’s mind and going a new direction. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:6). Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival.
It was also a fulfillment of the promises of the OT, for example Malachi 3:1 ““Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”
In his preaching John points to the Messiah saying in Matthew 3:11 ““I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
He is pointing to the work of the Messiah in baptising His people with the Holy Spirit and also His work in judgement by fire. This idea is not a new idea in the NT but comes from promises in the Old Testament such as Isaiah 4:4
when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
So John’s baptism is in preparation for the coming Messiah who will baptise in Spirit and fire.
Even in the Old Testament baptism symbolised a cleansing from sins. For centuries before Christ, the Jews had used bathing in water as a ritual cleansing ceremony (see Leviticus 14:1–4, 8–9; 15:4, 6–11, 13, 16–22, 27; Numbers 19:7)
When the Pharisees refer to washing of cups and hands in Mark 7, they are referring to a ceremonial cleansing, as also seen by Jesus’s response that it’s not these things that make one clean.
Baptism is therefore an immersion that signified those who had repented - at least at the time of John the Baptist.
Baptism also has the idea of identification. Since the object dipped or immersed became totally identified with the substance in which it was placed, the idea of identification is central to the meaning of baptism.
When Jesus is baptised in the Jordan River, it is not that He had repented. He was sinless and perfectand had no need for repentance. In fact, John did not want to baptise him, saying,
John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Yet, Jesus insisted on being baptized by John the Baptist. In baptism, Jesus identifies with sinful man whom He had come to save.
Baptism and the Great Commission
Baptism and the Great Commission
He next see baptism as the great commission given to us by Jesus Christ after His resurrection and just before His ascension. He says in Matthew 28:18-20
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.”
In this passage, we see a pattern that emerges with regard to baptism. Go → make disciples → baptise → teach. The clear pattern shown here is that it is those who have become disciples that are baptised.
The word disciple means one who follows the teachings of someone. Therefore, Jesus’ disciples are those who follow His teachings and it is these that are to be baptised.
Matthew 28:18-20 is not a suggestion but a command. Most Christians are diligent about the teaching part yet many, if not most, neglect the baptising part. We, therefore, have many who have believed, Yet are not baptised, because we probably do not consider it as a command or as important to do.
Yet, the Church in the book of Acts took it very seriously.
And Peter said to them, “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.
On the day of Pentecost, after Peter has preached, the people ask him what they must do. His response is similar to that of John the Baptist. Repent and be baptised. It is those who have repented that are baptised.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Not only is baptism tied to repentance, it is also tied to faith. Those who received the word are the ones who were baptised.
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
During the first great persecution in Acts, Philip and many others went and preached in Samaria. Chapter 8 says that when those in Samaria believed, they were baptised. It was not when he started preaching to them but when they believed. Again, baptism is tied to faith in Jesus Christ.
And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.
The Ethiopian eunuch is baptised after he believes, not before.
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
In Acts 10, while at Cornelius’s house, after they have believed, Peter baptises his household. Again, baptism is after they believe, not before. It is directly tied to faith in Jesus Christ.
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
In Acts 16, while Paul and Silas are in jail, a great earthquake occurs that almost leads the jailer to take his own life, supposing that the prisoners have escaped. Paul convinces him not to do that and then proceeded to preach the gospel to Him.
Paul tells him to believe and he will be saved, and when he does, he is baptised, as shown by his rejoicing in believing.
Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
Crispus, a Jewish leader of a synagogue in Corinth was also baptised, him and his entire household. The Bible is clear that their baptism was after they
On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
In Acts 19, Paul found some disciples who had not heard of the baptism of the Spirit. They had received the baptism of repentance or the baptism of John the baptist. When Paul preached to them, expressed by the words, “on hearing this,” they were baptised.
Again, we see that their baptism is after faith in Jesus
This passage and that of Cornelius in Acts 10 are two of the main passages used by the proponents of infant baptism. So, let us analyse them.
So, the pattern we see in Scripture is that of believers being baptised. It is that where baptism comes after repentance and faith, even as that of John the Baptist did. It signifies or symbolises cleansing from evil deeds.
It is consistent with Isaiah 4:4, Ezekiel 36:25,
What about infant baptism?
What about infant baptism?
Several passages are used for infant baptism. The first comes from Acts 2 on the day of Pentecos.
And Peter said to them, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
The words, “for the promise is for you and your children” are used to suggest that they support infant baptism.
The promise in that passage is the Holy Spirit.
The passage also clearly says that those the Lord will call to Himself. It is referring to believers.
The promise was not Just for them and their children but to all.
The second is Acts 10, the story of Cornelius where he and his entire household is baptised.
The third is the jailer in Acts 16 where the jailers entire household is baptised. The proponents of infant baptism say that this shows even infants may have been baptised. A closer look at the passage shows that it does not support.
Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.
First, the call to faith is not to just him but his household.
second, they spoke the word to him and ALL Who were in his house.
And those who are baptised are those to whom the Word was spoken to and those who believed.
Another passage some try to use is the story of Lydia, also in chapter 16 where it says that she was baptised, her and her household. The claim is that her household was also baptised yet there is no mention of them being preached to or believing.
The Bible also does not say they were not preached to.
Unclear texts should always be interpreted through clear ones. The overwhelming evidence is that those who are baptised are those who have repented and believed.
What does Baptism symbolize?
What does Baptism symbolize?
Baptism is an outward confession of an inward reality of saving faith
Baptism is an outward confession of an inward reality of saving faith
Most people today make the use of altar calls and sinners prayers to identify Christians but the early church did not use that. Baptism was the way Christians made a public profession of their faith.
It is why those who believed were baptised, some almost immediately. If you have believed, then you ought to make a public profession of your faith by being baptised.
Baptism symbolizes our identification in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism symbolizes our identification in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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.
Earlier we saw that an item that is immersed into an object is identified with it, efor example, how we say that a cloth is wet when it is dipped or immersed in water.
Paul uses that symbolism to show that Christians, through baptism, identify with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection. In other words, Christians are baptised into Christ by the Holy Spirit.
It is the Spirit’s work to place a person in Christ the moment of salvation. The person who is placed into Christ is not one who has been baptised but one who has believed or received salvation. Therefore, it cannot be an infant who hasn’t believed or even an adnet who chooses without believing since this symbolism cannot apply to them.
But it is not just a symbol that identifies us with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, it also signifies and a means of our sanctification or death to sin and resurrection to newness of life. Much like how God works through the sacrament of Holy Communion that those who take it unworthily are judged and some have died as a result (1 Cor.11).
Baptism identifies one with both the local and universal Church.
Baptism identifies one with both the local and universal Church.
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.
At salvation, we are baptised into the body of Christ, becoming members of one body, His body. We are not partial members of the body but full members, fully immersed in Him along with all the others who have had the same spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Water baptism symbolizes our identification with the church which took place spiritually at the moment of saving faith.
Again, this spiritual baptism isnot something that has happened to the non-repentant or infants who have not believed. This spiritual truth only applies to those who have repented and believed.
Baptism symbolises spiritual cleansing from Sin.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
