The Truth About Your Baptism

You’re having a delightful conversation with a new acquaintance at work. Your exchange reveals that you have a lot in common. You’re both Christians. Even though you have different church backgrounds, you share many of the same values. You both agree that the Bible is God’s inspired, infallible Word. You both trust Jesus as the only way to heaven. You both hold to a high standard of morality. You recognize that God has blessed you both in so many ways.

But then you come to a subject that reveals some differences between the two of you. The subject is Baptism. The teaching of Baptism is one among a number of doctrines that clearly reveals that not all churches are the same. Your friend views Baptism as merely an “outward sign of an inward faith.” In other words, after a person repents and believes in Jesus, then he is baptized. This point of view sees Baptism only as our act of obedience to Jesus’ command in the Great Commission. It is something that people do to show that they are followers of the Lord.

But you have been taught differently. What you’ve learned from God’s Word is that in Baptism, God is the actor, not man. Baptism is not a law or demand, but a gift of God to bring us into his family. It is a Gospel word! In the Lutheran Church, we hold that Baptism is a “Means of Grace.” That is, God brings us forgiveness and eternal life through Baptism. In Baptism, the Holy Spirit is given to us to bring faith and to strengthen faith.

It wouldn’t surprise me if most of us have friends or even family members who view Baptism as an “outward sign of an inward faith.” In this season after the Epiphany, though—a season of revealing and shining forth the Gospel of Jesus—may we see anew that the truth about your baptism is that God Is the One acting through It to bring us forgiveness and the assurance of salvation.

Our text this morning brings us to the River Jordan where “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (v 4). So let’s talk a moment about the truth of John’s baptism.

John worked under an immediate call from God like the prophets of old. That is, just as Luke states in 3:2 that “the word of God came” to him. John’s preaching and work were ordered by a direct revelation from God, like that of Isiah, Jeremiah, or any of the Old Testament prophets. John did not dream up this idea of baptism of repentance, it was given to him directly by God.

This is Jesus responding to the Jerusalem religious leaders who questioned His authority. From Mark 11 we read: “And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.”” (Mark 11:27–30, ESV) Jesus, the Word of God made flesh (Jn. 1), testifies that John’s baptism was from God and was not something that John designed and implemented on his own.

Another interesting truth is where God had John doing his work and baptizing people. This wild region is basically inhabitable due to the extreme ruggedness and excessive heat. However, God takes the people away from their ordinary occupations and interests in order to fix their minds and hearts on their spiritual condition and great message of salvation. It also brought to their memory the forty years of desert wanderings of ancient Israel when their unbelief had shut them out of the promised land for so long a time.

Basically, the truth about John’s baptism is that it was directly given to John to do, but in it, God is doing the acting, it is God’s work to bring about the forgiveness of sins and the salvation He declares in it.

So, why did Jesus need to be baptized by John? We all hold that Jesus was perfect, that is, He never sinned. So, why does Jesus need a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins? The view that, by being baptized by John, Jesus only showed His willing obedience, and that Jesus submitted to it, makes the baptism nothing but a formality and misapprehends what John’s baptism really was. It was not Law but Gospel. It was not a demand to obey but a gift of grace to accept and retain as such. Jesus was baptized by John because He regarded this as the right was in which to begin His great ministry. Jesus, the sinless one, the very Son of God, chose to put Himself by the side of all the sinful ones, for whom this Sacrament of John’s was ordained. Therefore, Jesus connects Himself with all of John’s baptisms, for it is only through Jesus’ mediation that makes these baptisms truly efficacious for sinners. Thus, joining Himself to all these baptisms of John, Jesus signifies that He is now ready to take upon Himself the sinful load of all these sinners, that is, to assume His role as Savior of the world. Note that it is only after Jesus’ baptism that He is called the Lamb of God which directly connects Jesus with His salvific work on the cross. Jesus came with the sins of others and had them washed away, the others had their own sins removed. This results in a double removal of the same sins.

Another way of looking at the truth of Jesus’ baptism is that Jesus came to John just as the others did, to enroll Himself among the servants of the new kingdom and to submit to the “same ritual” cleansing as the rest. This changes the King Himself into one of His servants. Also, that Jesus’ baptism would sanctify the water for the sacrament which He Himself would after ordain for all the world.

When I was in the Seminary, one of my last year’s classes was a doctrine class wherein I wrote a paper on the baptism of Jesus. I really wish I could find that paper. The professor of the class pointed me to one eye-witness testimony of a man from Syria who was present at the baptism of Jesus. I don’t remember the name of the man nor the article I read, but it was very enlightening. He wrote that when Jesus went into the water during the baptism, that the water in the Jordan River ignited in flame. Perhaps he was a mystic or a charismatic believer, but this is what he records as seeing. What we know about fire in the Scriptures is that it is refining, cleansing, sanctifying. Gives a bit of credence to the theological understanding that Jesus’ baptism sanctified all waters to be a lavish flood and washing away of sins.

So, what does all this mean for you? Let’s talk about the truth of your own baptism. Regardless who baptized you, where you were baptized, or the mode of which you were baptized, it has nothing to do with your work. You did not baptize yourself, it was something done to you. You are a very passive agent in all this.

We have absolutely no scriptural evidence of the mode of baptism being commanded. That is, how much water and how it is applied. You would think that if God had commanded a full immersion, that the Holy Spirit would have made that absolutely clear, if such a thing was so vital. There is nothing even grammatical in the original text to indicate a full immersion baptism occurred. Mark here indicates that Jesus “came up out of the water...” (v. 10). Mark’s use of the preposition ek, which is translated properly as “out of” only indicates that Jesus was in the water, it does not place Jesus “under” the water. Jesus simply stepped out (ek) of the water onto the bank and walked away from (apo) the water up the bank.

Therefore, the mode in which you were baptized is of little concern at all. It is not how much water was used to baptize you, or how it was applied, but the fact that the external sign, or physical element, the ‘water’, needs to be there. We can’t use anything else but water. Water is the external element that we can see, feel, touch, taste and experience. But that water needs to be connected with the Word of God. What makes your baptism efficacious is the faith in the Word of God connected with the physical element, water, and the act of having this done to a person.

Wrapped up in your baptism are the promises of God connected to it. So, let’s take a look at God’s Word that gives us His promises connected with Baptism.

We’ll start with the command of Jesus as He instituted Baptism that promises to make disciples. Matthew records this for us, “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.” (Mt. 28:19-20). He is telling His disciples, who are already baptized, to be the agents of the Means of Grace and enlarge His kingdom through Baptism and training in discipleship.

Most importantly, is Jesus’ own words that Peter reiterates in his epistle. Mark records Jesus saying, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (16:16). And again in 1 Peter 3:21, “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.” Therefore, the promise of God is that faith and baptism saves. Faith in what God is doing in baptism and that He is accomplishing what He promises to do in and through it.

God’s Word is very clear that baptism brings forgiveness of sins, it washes away sin, it cleanses us and takes away guilt. Hear the Word of the Lord:

“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 2:38, ESV).

“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His name.’” (Acts 22:16, ESV).

“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11, ESV).

“...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,” (Ephesians 5:26, ESV).

“..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,” (Titus 3:5, ESV).

“...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22, ESV).

Your baptism crucifies the “Old Man”, buries him, and causes the baptized one to be raised up as a new creation. Paul addresses this in his letter to the church in Rome, and the Colossians, “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. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:3–6, ESV). And again, Paul writes, “In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11–12, ESV).

Therefore, as Scripture assures us of our salvation through faith in Christ and these promises of Holy Scripture that we were baptized into His death and raised with Him in His resurrection, Baptism causes us to be born from above and renews us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus speaking with Nicodemus, says, “...“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5, ESV). St. Paul states, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (Galatians 4:4–7, ESV).

And as we are baptized into Christ and have received adoption as sons and daughters of God, the promises of God are true that your baptism makes you a member of Christ’s Body, that is the 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.” (1 Corinthians 12:13, ESV).

Another very important truth about your baptism is that through it we receive the Holy Spirit who begins His work of sanctifying us, making us holy and continued comfort and strength in Christ Jesus. “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.”” (Acts 2:38–39, 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 12:13, ESV).

“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, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,” (Titus 3:5–6, ESV).

And finally, another scriptural truth about your baptism is that it makes us heirs of the promise of Abraham and clothes us with Christ. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Galatians 3:27–29, ESV)

The Biblical truth about your baptism is that God is working on your behalf for your salvation in Christ Jesus, and through Him we are beloved children of God. It’s not something that we do, but everything that God does for us through His Son to redeem us and restore the broken relationship that our sin has caused. God loves you that much that He grants to you all His benefits and all His righteousness so you can be His child and live under Him in blessed righteousness and peace. To God be all glory and praise this day and always as we daily remember all God has done for us in our own Baptism.

In the name of Jesus and for His eternal glory. Amen.