Baptism, Father

Ephesians 4:5-6 “5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

As we’ve been on this journey through these verses, I want to come back to the fact that all of these aspects of our faith - One body, One Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One Father - all of these aspects of our faith are “unifying”.

He says in verse 3 that we are to be “diligent” to “keep” the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

So the context of all of these things are Unity. These are unifying aspects of our faith. These things (when taken according to the Word) are never to divide, or cause confusion, or cause a riff in the Church.

That is the context in which we look into these 7 particular aspects.

So, it is with that in mind that we come to “one baptism”.

First of all, I don’t believe that “baptism” here refers to the mode of baptism, but to the unifying aspect of the baptism of the Spirit.

We will discuss the method of baptism in a little while as I can’t pass up the opportunity to expound on that a little bit.

Tonight I want to address the command of Baptism, the confusion of Baptism, and the Covenant of Baptism.

The Command of Baptism

Let’s look at how Baptism is presented in the Bible.

Probably the most important verse when we refer to the command of Baptism is:

Matthew 28:19 “19 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,”

It’s pretty clear here that Jesus thinks Baptism is important. Here’s another place where we find Baptism is important to Jesus:

Matthew 3:13-17 “13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.””

If Jesus knew that it was important enough for HIM to be baptized by John the Baptist, then it surely must be something significant.

One more:

Acts 2:38 “38 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.”

It is commanded in the Bible that we should be baptized. This isn’t some obscure thing that we as a Baptist denomination have decided to focus on and build around. It is important.

The Confusion of Baptism

Baptism is a part of the Christian faith that is commonly debated and discussed. It is something that should be a “unifying” aspect of our faith, but unfortunately it has become a point of contention between believers.

I’ll show you one example of this. The Westminster Confession of Faith is one of the documents that I often refer when explaining a certain doctrinal issue in the church. It is often very solid and it is more “reformed” which is the camp I would fall into.

But in this Westminster Confession of Faith we read the following points about baptism (page 44)

The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter XXVIII—Of Baptism

Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, (Matt. 28:19) not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; (1 Cor. 12:13) but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, (Rom. 4:11, Col. 2:11–12) of his ingrafting into Christ, (Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:5) of regeneration, (Tit. 3:5) of remission of sins, (Mark 1:4) and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3–4) Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world. (Matt. 28:19–20)

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto. (Matt. 3:11, John 1:33, Matt. 28:19–20)

3. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person. (Heb. 9:10, 19–22, Acts 2:41, Acts 16:33, Mark 7:4)

4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, (Mark 16:15–16, Acts 8:37–38) but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. (Gen. 17:7–8, Gal. 3:9, 14, Col. 2:11–12, Acts 2:38–39, Rom. 4:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:14, Matt. 28:19, Mark 10:13–16, Luke 18:15)

5. Although it be a great sin to condemn or neglect this ordinance, (Luke 7:30, Exod. 4:24–26) yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it: (Rom. 4:11, Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47) or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated. (Acts 8:13, 23)

6. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; (John 3:5, 8) yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His appointed time. (Gal. 3:27, Tit. 3:5, Eph. 5:25–26, Acts 2:38, 41)

7. The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. (Tit. 3:5)

So, clearly we can see that views on baptism, even in the same theological camp can differ tremendously.

I want to make it clear here right up front that our view of baptism isn’t a “non-negotiable” in my opinion. I believe there are others in the Christian faith that have a different view about baptism that are believers as well. Misguided maybe, but still believers...

There are camps of people that believe that somehow you are regenerated when you are baptized, that somehow the water transforms you. Some camps believe that baptism is essential to salvation, that you aren’t a Christian if you aren’t baptized.

Just a quick argument against sprinkling or something other than immersion.

Mark 1:10 “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.” ‘

Acts 8:36-38 “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.”

What do we believe about baptism?

A Catechism, with Proofs Question 75: What is Baptism?

75. Q. What is Baptism?

A. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19), to be to the person baptised a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death, and burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12), of his being ingrafted into him (Gal. 3:27), of remission of sins (Mk. 1:4; Acts 22:16), and of his giving up himself to God through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4–5).

A Catechism, with Proofs Question 76: To Whom is Baptism to Be Administered?

76. Q. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is to be administered to all those who actually profess repentance towards God (Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:6; Mk. 16:16; Acts 8:12, 36–37; Acts 10:47–48), and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and to none other.

A Catechism, with Proofs Question 77: Are the Infants of Such as are Professing to Be Baptised?

77. Q. Are the infants of such as are professing to be baptised?

A. The infants of such as are professing believers are not to be baptised, because there is neither command nor example in the Holy Scriptures for their baptism (Exod. 23:13; Prov. 30:6).

A Catechism, with Proofs Question 78: How is Baptism Rightly Administered?

78. Q. How is baptism rightly administered?

A. Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in water (Matt. 3:16; Jn. 3:23), in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, according to Christ’s institution, and the practice of the apostles (Matt. 28:19–20), and not by sprinkling or pouring of water, or dipping some part of the body, after the tradition of men (Jn. 4:1–2; Acts 8:38–39).

A Catechism, with Proofs Question 79: What is the Duty of Such as are Rightly Baptized?

79. Q. What is the duty of such as are rightly baptized?

A. It is the duty of such as are rightly baptized, to give up themselves to some particular and orderly Church of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:47; 9:26; 1 Pet. 2:5), that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless (Lk. 1:6).

The Covenant of Baptism

1 Corinthians 12:13 “13 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.”

Galatians 3:27 “27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 6:3-4 “3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.”