TBC Doctrinal Class - The Ordinance of Baptism (Part 15)

2 Ordinances Statement 16 We believe That there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20). a. That baptism is to be a full immersion upon public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-38). b. That the Lord’s supper is to be observed frequently as a remembrance of the Lord’s death, and if possible using fresh grape juice and unleavened bread as the emblems of our Lord’s blood and body (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). We believe that there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20). What is an ordinance? a. a piece of artillery or military supplies b. a municipal regulation c. a prescribed religious practice or ceremony Hint: the piece of artillery is spelled ordnance. What is the di erence between an ordinance and a sacrament? “A sacrament is often thought of as being a means of God’s grace —as a worshiper performs a certain religious rite, he or she receives divine blessing, either for salvation or for sancti cation. An ordinance is usually not considered a conduit of grace but simply a practice commanded to be performed by the Lord. In other words, a sacrament, at some level, involves a supernatural work of God. An ordinance is simply an act of man in obedience to God.” fi ff bolding mine; https://www.gotquestions.org/ordinances-sacraments.html. accessed 3 September 2025 Roman Catholic View of Sacraments seven sacraments: baptism, con rmation, holy communion, confession, marriage, holy orders, and the anointing of the sick. [Sacraments] “are e cacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition, p. 293). fi ffi bolding mine; https://www.gotquestions.org/ordinances-sacraments.html. accessed 3 September 2025 Roman Catholic View of Sacraments “The [Roman Catholic] Church a rms that for believers the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd edition, , p. 292. ffi bolding mine; https://www.gotquestions.org/ordinances-sacraments.html. accessed 3 September 2025 Does scripture teach that the sacraments are necessary for salvation? Titus 3:4–7 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving 5 kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, What washing is connected to our salvation? Titus 3:4–7 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving 5 kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Are the sacraments or the ordinances the basis of our justi cation? fi fi Titus 3:4–7 (ESV) But when the goodness and loving kindness 5 of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the 6 Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that being justi ed by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. We believe that there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20). Why do we specify only 2 ordinances? A minority of churches in church history have seen 3 ordinances in the New Testament. Where is foot washing found in the New Testament? John 13:14 (ESV) If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. Why doesn’t TBC practice the ordinance of foot washing? “Ordinances are determined by three factors: they were instituted by Christ, they were taught by the apostles, and they were practiced by the early church.” https://www.gotquestions.org/ordinances-sacraments.html. accessed 3 September 2025 We believe That there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20). What is baptism? Is this biblical baptism? Photo: keskieve Public Domain What is baptism? “Baptism is a church’s act of a rming and portraying a believer’s union with Christ by immersing him or her in water, and a believer’s act of publicly committing him or herself to Christ and his people, thereby uniting a believer to the church and marking o him or her from the world.” ff ffi Bobby Jamieson, Understanding Baptism (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2016), 6. Who is to be baptised? a. That baptism is to be a full immersion upon public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-38). Who is to be baptised? Only people who have made a public profession of faith in Christ. (Acts 8:36-38). Acts 8:36–38 (ESV)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?” 38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. Some manuscripts add all or most of verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Who is to be baptised? Only disciples who • understand what it means to be baptised “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the of Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) • have been taught to do all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20) Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 20 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.” Who is to be baptised? Only disciples who • understand what it means to be baptised “into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the of Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) • have been taught to do all that Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20) • repent of their sins on the basis of receiving the Apostles’ preaching of Christ (Acts 2:38, 41) Acts 2:38 (ESV) 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. Acts 2:41 (ESV) So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Who is to be baptised? Only disciples who • understand baptism “into” the Trinity (Matthew 28:19) • have been taught to do all the Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20) • have repented of their sins on the basis of receiving the Apostles’ preaching of Christ (Acts 2:38, 41) • have believed the Gospel Acts 8:12 (ESV) 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. Are babies followers of Jesus who . . . • understand baptism “into” the Trinity (Matthew 28:19) • have been taught to do all the Christ commanded (Matthew 28:20) • have repented of their sins on the basis of receiving the Apostles’ preaching of Christ (Acts 2:38, 41) • have believed the Gospel What is the relationship of babies to sin? Psalm 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Ephesians 2:1 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins But what about the Philippian Jailer’s family? Acts 16:30–33 (ESV) Then he brought them out and said, 31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you 32 and your household.” And they spoke the word of the 33 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. If the Apostles spoke the word of the Lord to a baby in the Philippian Jailer’s home in the middle of the night, and s/he believed it, then, YES!!! Acts 16:30–33 (ESV) Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, 31 what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Why aren’t we Paedo-Baptists? Paedo-baptists: baptise babies (but only of church members in good standing) Craedo-Baptists: baptise only those who profess faith The strongest argument for baptising babies are the parallels between circumcision and baptism. (Both are signs of their respective covenants.) ff However, it is the di erences between the Old and the New Covenants that render this argument invalid. Circumcision ff • preceded faith under the Old Covenant • did not guarantee faith under the Old Covenant • only for males Deuteronomy 10:16 (ESV) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your o spring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. Baptism fl fl • follows faith under the New Covenant • follows the Holy Spirit’s work of removing the stony heart and replacing it a soft heart under the New Covenant Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your esh and give you a heart of esh. 27And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Baptism • follows faith under the New Covenant • follows the Holy Spirit’s heart transplant work under the New Covenant • for males and females Acts 8:12 (ESV) 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. Why do Christians baptise? Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 20 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.” What is the biblical basis for the church administering (i.e., regulating and performing) baptism rather than individuals? I.e., Why does our statement say “there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper”? Macro-level The ordinances are God-designed pictures of spiritual realities. The church = the custodian/guardian of those pictures. Theological argument for the church guarding baptism 1. Baptism is part or a subset of the over-arching command to make disciples. And the command to make disciples can be fully carried out only in the context of a local church. Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) Go[ing] therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Who/what sends out missionaries? ff Acts 13:1–3 (ESV) Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of 2 Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I 3 have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them o . Who/What is primarily responsible for teaching and forming disciples? fi Ephesians 4:11–12 (ESV)And he gave the apostles, the 12 prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:28 (ESV)And God has appointed in the church rst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. What is the biblical basis for the church administering (i.e., regulating and performing) baptism rather than individuals? Because 1) churches are given the responsibility to carry out the Great Commission (although individuals are responsible to witness), and 2) baptism is part of the Great Commission, therefore 3) churches are responsible to administer baptism. What is the biblical basis for the church administering (i.e., regulating and performing) baptism rather than individuals? ffi 2. Because water baptism pictures the Holy Spirit’s baptising the believer into the Body of Christ, a local church should a rm (or deny) a person’s professed union with the Body of Christ. Baptism and Union with Christ fi 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) 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 12:27–28 (ESV) Now you are the body of 28 Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church rst apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. We believe That there are two ordinances to be administered by the local church: baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 22:19-20). Why should churches administer the Lord’s Supper? I.e., Why can’t I observe communion privately or with only a sub-set of the church? fi The Lord’s Table is meant to portray communion with 1) Christ, and 2) the body of Christ—the church. 1 Corinthians 11:17–18, 20 (ESV) But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For, in the rst place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, . . . 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper 21 that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. The Lord’s Table is meant to portray communion with 1) Christ, and 2) the body of Christ—the church. If someone is not a committed part of a local church . . . 1) are they really connected to Christ’s body? 2) should they be allowed to participate in a picture (i.e., the Lord’s Table) that does not describe the spiritual reality of their life? Mode of baptism Why do Baptists believe in immersion as the biblical mode to the exclusion of sprinkling or pouring? i.e., “That baptism is to be a full immersion upon public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 8:36-38).” Arguments for immersion 1. The word baptise means “to submerge in water” in everyday contexts. Mark 7:3–4 (ESV) (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash {baptizo). And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing (baptismos)of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) Arguments for immersion 2. NT references to a su cient quantity/volume of water for baptism make sense for immersion but not for sprinkling or pouring. ffi John 3:23 (ESV) John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized. 3. References to baptism in a large body of water Mark 1:5 (ESV) And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Arguments for immersion 3. The language of going into and out of the baptismal water. Acts 8:36–38 (ESV) And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is 38 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 39 him. And when they came up out of the water . . . Arguments for immersion 3. The language of going into and out of the baptismal water. Mark 1:9–10 (ESV) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the 10 Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Arguments for immersion 4. Immersion best pictures the spiritual reality of being buried and raised with Christ. Romans 6:3–4 (ESV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into 4 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. Timing of baptism When should a church baptise someone? A. Immediately B. Only after decades of instruction C. It depends on how the pastor “feels” about the person D. When the person gives credible evidence of being a genuine disciple of Jesus E. It depends on a number of factors. Spontaneous baptisms In August 2014, the church baptized 3,347 people in two weeks. What about baptisms in Acts? fi fi “Three features characterize the baptisms in Acts: 1. The baptisms recorded all involve “ rst converts” in a historically-redemptively signi cant setting. 2. Nearly every baptism is accompanied by supernatural acts of the Holy Spirit. 3. Each baptism takes place in response to believing the Apostolic message.” Caleb Morell, “Does the Book of ActsTeach Spontaneous Baptisms?” 10 March 2020 9marks.org Spontaneous baptisms “Do your work steadily and well, so that those who come after you may not have to say that it was far more trouble to them to clear the church of those who ought never to have been admitted than it was to you to admit them.” —C.H. Spurgeon (bolding mine; The Soul-Winner, 25) Church History Argues Against Spontaneous Baptisms The Didache (96 AD) instructs baptismal candidates to fast for one or two days leading up to the baptism (Didache, 7:4). “In the fourth century, Cyril of Jerusalem required those seeking baptism and membership to complete forty lectures, a process described by one historian as ‘long and arduous.’ Caleb Morell, “Does the Book of ActsTeach Spontaneous Baptisms?” 10 March 2020 9marks.org The Great Commission Standard Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 20 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.” The Great Commission Standard The person to be baptised . . . 1. has begun as a follower/learner of Jesus (i.e., disciple) through faith and repentance 2. has doctrinal understanding of the Triune God particularly regarding God’s work of salvation 3. demonstrates a consistent (though imperfect) seriousness toward the totality of Christ’s commands