A Final Word on Baptism

Colossians 2:8-12

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

C

hurches will inevitably sink to the lowest common denominator permitted by the membership. This is true both in avowed doctrine and in practise of the Faith. Whenever a church begins to be guided by how some within the membership feel about revealed truth, it has already begun to sink into the morass of human imagination. Whenever members begin to be more concerned about how outsiders view them than about whether they are pleasing to God, that congregation already has Ichabod writ large above the doors. Whenever a church chooses to follow a policy of appeasement toward the disobedient instead of insisting upon biblical standards, that church shall shortly find itself adrift with the flotsam and jetsam awash on the sea of time.

The issue of baptism is a linchpin for all church doctrine. A right understanding of baptism will keep a church from straying on other vital truths. Acceptance of an improper baptism will lead that congregation into ever-greater error. Membership in the church and our understanding of salvation are intimately associated with our submission to baptism as taught in the Word of God. If we choose to make this vital church ordinance optional, or should we choose to permit any mode we wish to be called baptism, then we must know that we have begun the process of disintegration as a Baptist church. Worse yet, that issue will be only the first of many issues to challenge us. Having yielded on this preliminary issue, we will find it increasingly easy to make concessions on other issues which will seem increasingly less important than before.

Don’t Let Yourselves be Seduced into Accepting Hollow and Deceptive Philosophy [v. 8]. If we will honour God, we dare not determine the manner in which we serve the Lord Christ according to our own concepts of service. Inevitably, sinful people develop their own ideas of how they wish to serve God. Consequently, we are confronted with the spectacle of supposed Christians who cannot worship unless they have stained glass, unless they have a steeple, unless they have a building, unless a particular music is employed, unless a particular version of the Bible is used, unless…

I read of a Catholic priest imprisoned during the dark days of the Third Reich. That priest bemoaned the fact that he could not practise his faith; he had none of the accoutrements necessary to conduct the Mass. I would not hold to a Faith which could not be practised in the quietness of my heart and quietly in the presence of the Living God. I would not tolerate a Faith which did not permit me to worship, for the Living God is not constrained by man's evil designs. Any worship which depends upon what man can build with his hands or invent with his mind is unworthy of the Risen Son of God.

Perhaps we of this day are not so very different from that Roman Catholic priest. As you heard in the message this morning, I am deeply concerned that the churches of this day are characterised as doctrinally deficient, are led by emotion instead of the will of God, and are willing to trivialise truth. In short, I charge that far too many of our churches reflect cultural realities instead of revealing the presence of God’s Holy Spirit. I contend that in no small measure this condition is due to a lack of convictions among those individuals who are most responsible to hold biblical convictions.

Christians ministers should know the bases for the Christian Faith before they are set apart to Holy Service. Baptist pastors should never be set apart to the Baptist ministry if they cannot articulate and defend what it means to be Baptist. I fear that too many of my fellow ministers occupying Baptist pulpits hold preferences instead of holding convictions. Consequently, our churches are untaught and members within our churches have become complacent concerning the foundational teachings of the Word of God. Almost without thinking of the consequences we begin to lower our concept of God and we cease to consider it important to adhere strictly to what He has revealed in His Word.

This is not a new phenomenon, for similar infections plagued the churches of the New Testament. In writing the Church at Colosse, Paul invested considerable time warning of false teachers. He first addressed theological errors then threatening the churches, and he next focused on practical errors which would destroy the churches. Consequently and as a significant aside—theological errors always lead to practical errors and practical errors tolerated among the people of God will inevitably lead to theological errors. You live by what you believe. All else is mere religious talk. Should we compromise with error at any point, it will be but a matter of time until error begins to assume ever-greater proportions in the midst of our efforts to serve Christ.

The first chapter of this letter was devoted to combating Gnosticism, a philosophy which exalted human concepts of the Godhead. Embracing that error would depreciate the glory of Christ the Lord and exalt man’s effort. Turning from that error, Paul then confronted legalism. These Gentile Christians had no need to conform to Jewish rules and regulations, such as circumcision. Whatever may have been required by the law was fulfilled in Christ. It is while addressing these legalistic concepts that the Apostle points to our baptism and instructs us as to the meaning of that sacred act of submission.

Before I focus on this vital issue of baptism, permit me to again address the frightful issue of how we may avoid capture by hollow and deceptive philosophies. Man’s sophistries will always lead us into theological error. We can neither know God nor know what is pleasing to God unless He reveals to us both Himself and that which is pleasing to Him. Consequently, the Word of God is a revelation of the mind of God so that we can know with certainty what is pleasing to God. Accordingly, we submit to that Word, embracing it fully, or we resist the Word. It matters little whether we accept none of the Word or make occasional exceptions to those aspects of the Word which we find disturbing—we cannot please God through sitting in judgement on His Word.

It is philosophy and empty deception which leads us to imagine that we know better then God on an issue. We Canadians pride ourselves on our tolerance. We are uncomfortable in taking a stand. We want to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard. However, we are under no obligation to permit error to be heard nor even to listen to that which is opposed to the revealed will of God. It is foolishness of the gravest sort to think that we can adjust the Word of God to suit our suppositions (though we nevertheless try).

Paul warned against embracing error in the encyclical we call the Ephesian letter. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil [Ephesians 5:6-16].

However well intentioned our motive and however innocuous an error may at first appear, should we embrace error we are certain to displease God and to open the door to yet greater error. It is precisely because we have been born into the Kingdom of God that we dare not permit ourselves to return to that position which impels us to substitute our thoughts for the revealed will of God. Even if such were not the case for all Christians, it is assuredly the responsibility of a pastor to resist error—even seemingly inoffensive and harmless error.

Here is the apostolic teaching to the Pastor given through Paul’s first letter to Timothy. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith [1 Timothy 6:20, 21].

Christ is the Basis for Our Faith and Practise [vv. 9, 10]. Most “evangelicals” readily give lip service to this truth. We confess Christ as the basis for our faith and practise. However, we are terribly inconsistent in applying this truth in life. We are trained more through our associations and by our culture than by what God says. Though we avow convictions, few of us know what we believe. That which we think we believe is too readily jettisoned if we should be challenged or if it appears that we may offend some other individual. However, if Christ is the basis for our faith and practise, we will adopt certain convictions and those convictions cannot be traded for temporary peace.

Though Paul’s emphasis primarily provides a warning against surrender to error (in particular philosophical error and legalism), he appeals to the baptism the Colossian Christians had received. This should not be surprising. You may remember that I stated that baptism was a linchpin for all faith and practise. Your faith, and how that faith is lived out in daily life, is more intimately related to your baptism than you might believe. Your baptism states that you are either submitted to Christ or to human philosophy.

Have you thought of this fact? Had God wished infants to be baptised He would have arranged for His Son to be baptised at the time of His presentation in the Temple. Surely you realise that we are to follow Christ’s example in this. He was identified with sinful man through His baptism that we might identify with Him in ours. If He meant to demonstrate cleansing, surely He would have asked John to bathe Him. Since He requested an immersion, we should be very careful not to attempt to alter the imagery.

Some, even within our own congregation, are prepared to argue that we will hold the line in our own church. We will only baptise by immersion, and the baptism we perform will be restricted to those who have believed. These same people don’t want us to be offensive toward others so they insist that we must be arbitrary about how others baptise. It is the ultimate cynicism. Such a position says that we don’t want to judge others, so they can do as they wish; yet, we understand Scripture to speak clearly to us. Such a view adopts the contemporary philosophy which teaches that everyone wins. “I’m okay; you’re okay.” This is the way we do it, but you can do anything you wish. What this actually says is that we have no conviction on this issue.

While we do not tell others how to baptise, we are honour bound by the Word of God to both understand what God has said and to then do what He commands. If baptism is restricted to individuals of mature understanding, then those baptisms we accept which are presented to us from other congregations must reflect that same truth. The truth did not change simply because someone else wishes it to be different. If baptism pictures death, burial and resurrection of Christ and our own identification with Him as we confess that our old nature was dead but that we are raised up to a new life in Him, then we cannot change that imagery simply because someone else holds a differing opinion.

If other communions hold views which differ from ours, we applaud the fact that they do voice their views, but their views must not serve as reason for us to surrender our own belief and conviction. If we intend to accept other modes, on what basis will we accept them? If we are convinced by the Word of God that baptism is an identification with Christ in the Gospel—His death, burial and resurrection—how does pouring demonstrate that truth? How does sprinkling reveal that truth? What shall we say about those who come to us from among the Society of Friends who claim a “Spirit Baptism”? Shall we accede to their request when they ask to unite with us?

If we receive these who wish to join with us and they underwent a ritual which differs from that which we have accepted as biblical, can we refuse to baptise their children by that alternate mode when they one day present themselves to confess their faith? We will have already conceded defeat on the issue because we have no conviction, but rather a fuzzy concept of what we should do. Is God unable to speak clearly to us? Does He really need us to clarify what we think He must have meant? Is He really honoured through our concession to the spirit of tolerance which marks this age?

Christ is the focus of our Faith. What is said through His Word forms our convictions and compels us to obedience. Otherwise, how can we say that He is Lord? Our Lord confronts us, asking, Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” and do not do what I say? [Luke 6:46]. If we claim that He is Master, we must explain why we are able to substitute our ideas for His clearly revealed will. I fear there is no answer to our fear of man.

When he wrote the Galatian churches, Paul rebuked them in the strongest language. You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified [Galatians 3:1]. Did you ever wonder about that verse? When was Jesus Christ portrayed as crucified before their very eyes? When was Jesus ever portrayed as crucified before your eyes? Either Paul is referring in an obscure manner to drama as a means of proclamation, or he is referring to their witness of baptism of those who submitted to Christ as Lord. While there may be a place for dramatic presentations in the Faith, this verse doesn’t support that view. It does, however, emphasise again that baptism pictures the truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

Fellow pastors have opined in my presence that if they stand firm on the teachings of Christ concerning baptism they will lose people from their church. This admission comes close to the true reason some professed Baptists wish to change the practise which has marked us throughout the ages. They are acting out of fear and not out of conviction. They feel that we must make concessions, showing ourselves to be reasonable toward others, if we hope to grow and if we hope to have stature in the community. Is the only successful church one which is full of people who draft doctrine according to their own views? Isn’t it rather true that success is defined as obedience to the Risen Son of God?

Those who would leave because they do not like our mode of baptism were never one with us. Such an action is akin to blackmail (a rather ungodly action, you will agree), for they are demanding that we do things their way or they will hurt us. If they are so easily offended by biblical convictions, they were never committed to the congregation. Those who refuse to submit to the will of congregation reveal contempt for the church. To insist that the congregation adjust itself to accommodate alternate views held by others suggests that those insisting upon accommodation believe they hold convictions even while ridiculing what the church speaks of as her convictions.

Baptism is the Beginning of our Christian Walk [vv. 11, 12]. Paul was combating legalism—the demand that Christians submit to Jewish law in order to be saved. The law demanded that males be circumcised in order to be counted as Jewish. Paul insists that those who are saved have actually been circumcised, but that it is a spiritual circumcision. This spiritual “circumcision” was done by Christ, not by man. It was in fact a crucifixion or putting off of the body, a circumcision of the heart.

The words putting off are from the noun ajpekduvsei (total breaking away from), which occurs only here in the New Testament. This putting off of the old life occurs at the moment of salvation, when a believer is buried with Christ in baptism and is then raised with Him to new life. This co-burial and co-resurrection is pictured in baptism. In baptism, the believer’s immersion portrays burial with Christ, and coming out of the water depicts the resurrection by the power of God to live a new life [Romans 6:4].

Focus on what is stated about baptism in that Romans letter which I just cited. Don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? 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.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace [Romans 6:3-14].

Baptism portrays death, burial and resurrection. This truth is foundational for all further discussion. The one baptised is confessing his or her belief that Christ died, that He was buried and that He raised again. Simultaneously, that one being baptised confesses that his or her old nature was dead in sin, but through faith in Christ that sinful nature has been buried and a new creation now exists where once death reigned. We have been buried with Him in baptism. This portrayal of the believer’s crucifixion pictures the putting off of the body and the concomitant circumcision of the heart.

This truth about circumcision by Christ is clearly demonstrated in Romans 2:28, 29. A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. No, we are not actually circumcised so that we can claim to be Jewish. Circumcision was meant to demonstrate identity with God; it was evidence of submission to the will of God as codified in the Law of Moses. We are not called to identify with Moses and his Law, but we are called to identify with Christ and His will.

You will note a similar reference concerning circumcision which is found in Ephesians 2:11-13. Remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. We are identified with Christ in that aspect which is most detestable to the lost—His death, burial and resurrection.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength [1 Corinthians 1:22-25]. That message is emptied of power when we depreciate the picture which He gave us to portray that glorious truth.

Our Lord gave us specific instructions. If we think we can adjust the Great Commission so that it no longer offends, we sin against Christ. Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” [Matthew 28:19, 20]. If we adapt this command, or if we alter any portion of this command, to fit our thinking, Christ ceases to be Lord. He has then lied when He said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been give to Him, for we then have authority to rewrite His command to fit our views and to adapt to our era.

Baptism is a Confession of Submission to Christ [vv. 11, 12]. If Christians are to openly begin our walk with Christ through accepting His baptism, then we must conclude that those who have never received that same baptism have not begun to openly walk with Him. They may be saved, but they are disobedient. For this reason, we cannot admit them to membership within our communion. Why would we receive them into our fellowship? Their very presence would threaten unity. In baptism we are submitting to Christ and to His command, confessing Him as Master and ourselves as His servants.

If professed Christians will not obey Christ in this first act, we should not expect that they would obey in greater issues which must at last be confronted. If professed Christians wishing to unite with this church resist the will of the assembly on this preliminary issue, they will resist the will of the assembly on other, greater issues. To surrender our conviction as Baptists to their will (real or perceived), is to ensure conflict which shall never be resolved until either the church expires or Christ returns.

The sinful nature [literally the body of the flesh—tou` swvmato" th`" sarkov"] was decisively put off by Christ’s death and resurrection. As a point of interest, contrast this body of the flesh with the mind of the flesh [unspiritual mind—tou` noo;" th`" sarko;"] in Colossians 2:18. The sinful nature united with the unspiritual mind is a deadening and a deadly combination. Just as our minds are made new through submission to Christ, so the body of the flesh must be destroyed, and that through voluntary submission to the mastery of the Son of God. This is nothing less than a call to humble ourselves before the command of God, instead of standing proud in the tradition of our parents.

The individual who insists upon mindlessly performing a rite without understanding of the significance of that rite needs to question what was signified in their act. When the child of God at last discovers the truth, as must be the case when they at last read the Word of God, they will seek to remedy the disobedience resulting from their error. The very fact that someone would resist correcting their past error demonstrates that they have greater loyalty to someone or something other than Christ. Their fear of family censure or their fear of the frowns of those still affiliated with the errant practise is greater than their love for Christ the Lord. Their actions serve as tacit evidence that they know little of submission either to Him as Lord or to His churches.

What people were in Adam—sinful, fallen, and corrupt—has been destroyed by Christ. Now in Christ a believer is a new creation, just as Paul states in another letter. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come [2 Corinthians 5:17]! Having a new Head, the believer has a new authority for his life—not the Law of Moses, but the life of Christ. Baptism, therefore, is evidence of submission to Christ. It is the confession that He is Head. It is the confession that He is our authority. It is proof that the one baptised has accepted His will.

Dear people, what is authoritative for our faith and practise? Is it the perception of the world about us? Is it the consensus of society? Is it how we feel about a given issue? None of these should move us nor should we permit ourselves to be swayed by either the perception of the world or how we feel. We have called ourselves Christians and we have accepted Christ as Master. His will must prevail, and His Word must be for us the final arbiter in all issues of Faith and practise. Whether or not we will obey God is not an issue which should be determined by a vote. Let God speak, and let us obey. Amen.