What’s the Point of Baptism?

Intro

RBC was founded on a desire to honor Christ

Our view on Baptism is a pursuit to honor Christ

We should seek to understand not only what Baptism is, but WHY we believe what we believe about Baptism.

Theological Triage

Holding a confession actually means something

1689 on Baptism, Covenant and Church Membership

Chapter 29

Meaning of Baptism

Proper Subjects of Baptism

Historical Background

Historically the church has baptized babies

Historically the church has also worshipped and prayed to Mary

Two time periods are important when studying the origins of believer’s baptism

Apostalic period - 300 AD

No clear instructions or examples of baptizing babies exist in NT or early church writings

Didache - first century church manual, taught fasting 1-2 days prior and evaluation before baptism

Justin Martyr - 155-157 in his first apology

As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water.

17th century Particular Baptists

Chapter 7 - God’s Covenant

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century VII. God’s Covenant

7:2 Since humanity brought itself under the curse of the law by its fall, it pleased the Lord to make a covenant of grace. In this covenant He freely offers to sinners life and salvation through Jesus Christ. On their part He requires faith in Him, that they may be saved,3 and promises to give His Holy Spirit to all who are ordained to eternal life, to make them willing and able to believe.

7:3 This covenant is revealed in the gospel. It was revealed first of all to Adam in the promise of salvation through the seed of the woman. After that, it was revealed step by step until the full revelation of it was completed in the New Testament.6 This covenant is based on the eternal covenant transaction between the Father and the Son concerning the redemption of the elect. Only through the grace of this covenant have those saved from among the descendants of fallen Adam obtained life and blessed immortality. Humanity is now utterly incapable of being accepted by God on the same terms on which Adam was accepted in his state of innocence.8

We start here because we are convicted to baptize believers alone based on our understanding of Covenant Theology

Chapter 7 establishes a COG revealed first to Adam then “STEP BY STEP” (progressive revelation)

ONLY THROUGH THIS COG CAN ONE FIND SALVATION

Baptists and Presbyterians differ on definition of COG

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter VII. Of God’s Covenant with Man

V. This covenant was differently administered in the time of the law, and in the time of the gospel: under the law it was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances delivered to the people of the Jews, all fore-signifying Christ to come,k which were for that time sufficient and efficacious, through the operation of the Spirit, to instruct and build up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah, by whom they had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation; and is called the Old Testament.m

VI. Under the gospel, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the word, and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s supper;o which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles;q and is called the New Testament. There are not therefore two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations.s

Paedo view of COG: COG revealed at , COG realized through and administered in other OT covenants with the NC being a new/different administration of the same COG

Baptist view of COG: COG promised at , revealed through further steps until fully revealed in New Covenant with Christ

Paedo view of entering COG: Physical birth to believing parents and Regeneration (upon election)

Matthew 10:35–36 ESV

35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

Matt 10:35-36

Paedo view of entering COG: Physical birth to believing parents and Regeneration (upon election)

Baptist view of entering COG: Regeneration (upon faith)

John 3:5–7 ESV

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Paedo view of benefits of COG: SOME members of COG inherit all benefits (eternal life, church membersip, ordinances). OTHER members of COG inherit SOME benefits (church membership, ordinances).

Paedo view of benefits of COG: SOME members of COG inherit all benefits (eternal life, church membersip, ordinances). OTHER members of COG inherit SOME benefits (church membership, ordinances).

Baptist view of benefits of COG: All members of COG inherit all benefits of COG (eternal life, church membership, ordinances)

Paedo view of church membersip: Regenerate people AND their unregenerate children are members of the Church

Baptist view of church membership: Only regenerate people are members of the Church (only regenerate people are members of the COG)

*MENTION SERMON ON *

Genesis 17:7 ESV

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.

genesis 1

*MENTION SERMON ON *

Galatians 4:21–31 ESV

21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

Galatians 4:22–31 ESV

22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

From this passage Presbys see one mixed group of descendants

Baptists see not one mixed group, but two distinct groups of descendants

One receiving only physical blessings

The other receiving physical AND spiritual blessings

This reveals the dual nature of the Abrahamic covenant

The promised COG (seed) with his believing descendants (elect)

**INCUBATOR ILLUSTRATION**

The covenant of circumcision with his physical descendants

Genesis 17:7–14 ESV

7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.” 9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, 13 both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

genesis 17:7-

Galatians 3:16 ESV

16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.

Romans 9:8 ESV

8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

CONTEXT

One group of descendants proceeded from Abraham by natural means and the other was according to a promise. One was Ishmael born to Hagar, a slave woman, the other Isaac born to Sarah, a free woman.

The slave woman and her son preceded the free woman and her son in time of conception and birth.

In time, the son of the slave woman (Ishmael) who was born of the flesh and not the promise, would persecute the son of the free woman (Issac). Because of this Hagar and Ishmael are cast out of the family and Isaac remains to be the heir.

TYPOLOGY

A Discourse of the Covenants that God Made with Men before the Law Chap. VIII: Of the Mutual Respect of the Promises Made to Abraham

Hagar was a Type of mount Sinai, and the Legal Covenant there established; and Ishmael was a Type of the carnal Seed of Abraham, as under that Covenant: Sarah was a Type of the New-Jerusalem, or of the Gospel-Church founded on the Covenant of Grace; And Isaac, a Type of the true Members of that Church, who are born of the Spirit; being converted by the power of the Holy Ghost, for the fulfilling of the Promise of the Father, unto Jesus Christ the Mediator: And, the Ejection of Hagar and Ishmael was to foreshew the Abrogation of the Sinai-Covenant, and dissolving of the Jewish Church-state; that so the Inheritance of spiritual Blessings might be clearly devolved upon the Children of God by Faith in Jesus Christ.

This exegesis reveals:

Two distinct groups of descendants (one of the flesh, one of the promise)

The dissolving of the Jewish church-state (along with circumcision)

The revelation of a new Gospel-Church founded on the COG

All OT saints saved through retroactive COG

This exegesis clearly shows two distinct groups of descendants. Not one mixed group, which leads us to the question of: Why does this matter? To answer this we need to look at what the confession says about Church Membership

Chapter 26 - The Church

1689

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century XXVI. The Church

26:1 The catholic—that is, universal—church may be called invisible with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace. It consists of the full number of the elect who have been, are, or will be gathered into one under Christ her head. The church is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

26:2 All people throughout the world who profess the faith of the gospel and obedience to God through Christ in keeping with the gospel are and may be called visible saints, as long as they do not destroy their own profession by any foundational errors or unholy living. All locala congregations ought to be made up of these.

WCF

The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter XXV. Of the Church

THE catholic or universal church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

II. The visible church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel, (not confined to one nation, as before under the law,) consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children; and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ;d the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.f

Because Presbys see the OC and NC as different administrations of the COG and one mixed group of descendants from Abraham they bring their children into church membership and baptize them

Because Baptists understand the COG not to be realized in the OC, but existing in the form of a promise and see two distinct groups of descendants we only admit believers into church membership baptizing them upon profession of their faith

Chapter 29 - Baptism

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century XXIX. Baptism

29:1 Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ. To those baptized it is a sign of their fellowship with Him in His death and resurrection, of their being grafted into Him, of remission of sins,2 and of submitting themselves to God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of life.

29:2 Those who personally profess repentance toward God and faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.

29:3 The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, in which the individual is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

29:4 Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary for this ordinance to be administered properly.

How essential is Baptism?

Not essential to salvation, but very essential to Christian life.

Ordained by Jesus

Baptized into the Bride of Christ

As a means of grace

How should we view our children?

Not as members of the church

Not as if salvation is on the horizon

Be obedient to God’s word by living out by teaching them diligently and sharing the Gospel

Our children do have a benefit to being born to believers, but proximity to the church does not = membership in the church

Dangers of both views on baptism:

Presby

Step toward sacramentalism

Step toward baptismal regeneration

Baptists

Withholding baptism in pursuit of a “pure church”

Discipleship

Church Discipline

Downplaying baptism as not essential at all