The Sacraments – Baptism
The number and the form of the sacraments among Christians are quite controversial and are in part what define church denominations. A full discussion of individual denominational beliefs is beyond the scope of this blog. Therefore, let’s consider specific scriptures to differentiate what the Bible states from opinion and tradition among denominations.
The word ‘sacrament’ is not found in the Bible. The word is used to describe rites performed by the church. The number is variable but reaches at least as high as 7 in the Catholic Church. Let’s consider the two most common with the soundest biblical basis. Although the sacraments are contested among denominations and individuals, what is described in scripture leaves churches free to celebrate in faith the number and form of sacraments they believe correct.
Baptism
What baptism means
First, let’s consider the word itself. The word is βαπτιζω (baptizoo) in the Greek (the language in which the New Testament originally was written), and was an old term borrowed from the dye trade. It meant that a piece of cloth immersed in the dye became identified with the new color.
Types of baptism
In the New Testament, baptism’s use can be divided generally from two sections: the historical books and the epistles.
Historical books (the gospels and the book of Acts)
- Historical precedent – Baptism as a rite was known among the Greeks and Jews.
- Greek mystery religions practiced baptism in the entry of new members into their societies.
- Jews practiced baptism with water under undescribed conditions. It appears that baptism as a rite was performed in the gospels and Acts in several instances (Please see below).
- Specific types of baptism are mentioned in the gospels and Acts:
- John the Baptist– He administered the baptism of repentance preparing the way of Christ (Matthew 3:7). This baptism was specific to John the Baptist.
- Christ’s baptism (Matthew 3) – This was specific to Jesus and his commission to be our Savior and the associated testimony of the Holy Spirit and God.
- Baptizing by the disciples – This was done apparently under the direction of Christ (John 3:26; 4:2). Its purpose is not described. It may reflect a baptism of repentance associated with the offer of the Kingdom. However, it would differ from John’s in that Christ had come.
- Baptism of fire(Matthew 3:11) – This meaning is controversial. It may be part of the presentation of Christ and specific to his commission to be our Savior. It may also be associated with the testimony of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Further, it might be to the purifying nature of Christ’s teaching. In contrast, it might reflect future punishment for sinners who do not repent.
- Christ baptism for which he was baptized(Matthew 20:22-23)- This appears to reflect his role, not a rite, as Savior leading to the cross by His obedience. His upcoming suffering is implied in the passage. His disciples wanted to sit with Him in heaven. Christ asked if they could tolerate the suffering on the cross (baptism) with which He was commissioned.
- Baptism in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20)– This refers to baptism most likely in the time of the church. It might refer to the rite of baptism or to the regeneration associated with preaching the gospel as described in the epistles. Spiritual baptism, almost exclusively, is the type mentioned in the epistles.
- Baptism in the early church (Acts) – The rite of water baptism appears to have been practiced in the early church. This baptism used water at least in one case (Acts 8:36) but the precise method of baptism is not described in any scriptural instance. Most mentions of baptism are in the early church period, when the church was primarily Jewish based in Jerusalem. Later mentions of baptism are fewer as the church expanded throughout the Roman Empire, but again almost always included Jews or appear Jewish focused (instances up toActs 19 and 1 Corinthians 1). Events in Acts described after chapter 19 do not specifically mention the rite of baptism again. Nonetheless, the church after the Bible times did perform water baptism (2nd century and beyond). The practice of this rite after the Bible times is at a minimum evidence for our great freedom in how we structure the church in time and place.
Baptism in the epistles
This is essentially spiritual baptism and is discussed also in Chapter 2 under security of salvation.
- Spiritual baptism– This is an important biblical truth which is vital in understanding who we are as Christians. Our knowledge about baptism will transform the way we think! When we become a Christian, we are identified with Christ’s gracious death and His resurrection. Otherwise, at salvation our old self died and was buried with Christ. We are raised now to new life with Him and we sit with Him on the right hand of God the Father (Romans 6:2-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Colossians 2:12-13). Similar concepts in scripture that also appear to speak to spiritual baptism are: regeneration (Titus 3:5), born again (John 3: 5) and a new man (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). The importance of spiritual baptism is at least the following:
- End of believer’s sin – Although every believer sins we can say ‘no’ to sin because as a new person in Christ we have the power to live a victorious life.
- New life – the reason for the resurrection – Baptism teaches us the importance of the resurrection because we are raised with Christ to new life without which we would still be dead in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).
- Eternal security – Baptism helps prove we cannot lose our salvation. because scripture does not indicate that if we commit sin that our new self can be killed and the old dead self re-resurrected like some bad re-make of the ‘Night of the Living Dead’!
In other words, you are transformed permanently to a new life, resurrected with Christ and sitting with Him in heaven. These changes cannot be reversed. What a great comfort we have in truth of scripture.
Therefore, as a new person, we are liberated from sin and are free to serve Christ. We cannot be defeated by the misdeeds of our old self.
We are not commanded in the epistles, which contain the direction of Christ to the church, to be water baptized. Again, a believer and a church are free to implement the rite out of faith in the manner they believe is correct.
In the church times, we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit (spiritual baptism) who empowers us to give our whole life as a sacrifice and service (Romans 12:1-2). Water baptism, when performed by any method, should be understood as a public statement of a person’s commitment to Christ by faith to salvation and a symbol of the regenerative work of the Spirit in the person’s life.
Baptism of the dead
This is a difficult and controversial verse (1 Corinthians 15:29). In context, this wonderful chapter deals with the importance of the resurrection and the rapture. The Apostle Paul indicates in verse 30 and 31 how he suffers on behalf of those unbelievers to bring them the gospel. These two verses may integrate with Matthew 20: 22-23 with Christ’s question to the apostles if they can tolerate the ‘baptism with which he is baptized’, which was to suffer on the cross for all men’s sins. Therefore, Paul possibly was saying that he was baptized, as an apostle, with a similar mission as Christ to take the gospel to unbelievers, with the accompanying suffering, as a part of his own mission (Colossians 1:24). The verse reflects Paul’s commitment to God’s purpose for his life (Romans 15:15-19).
William C. Stewart, MD
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