Baptism
#1
Why Baptize?
Christ's command & promise.
Is baptism symbolic or effective?
Is baptism an ordinance or a sacrament?
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Study question
PowerPoint slides
Series Index
Is baptism symbolic or effective?
Is baptism an ordinance or a sacrament?
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Study question
PowerPoint slides
Series Index
Matthew 28:16-20
The eleven followers went to Galilee to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. On the mountain they saw Jesus and worshiped him, but some of them did not believe it was really Jesus. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age." (New Century Version)
Titus 3:3-8
In the past we also were foolish. We did not obey, we were wrong, and we were slaves to many things our bodies wanted and enjoyed. We spent our lives doing evil and being jealous. People hated us, and we hated each other. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior was shown, he saved us because of his mercy. It was not because of good deeds we did to be right with him. He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit. God poured out richly upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being made right with God by his grace, we could have the hope of receiving the life that never ends. This teaching is true. (New Century Version)
Before we can answer the question, "Why baptize?" first we must ask the question:
"What is baptism?"
Baptism involves two things:
1. Water
2. God's Word (Matt 28)
Christ's command
Christ's promise
Commands to baptize:
Matthew 28:18-20
"What is baptism?"
Baptism involves two things:
1. Water
2. God's Word (Matt 28)
Christ's command
Christ's promise
Commands to baptize:
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All power in heaven and on earth is given to Me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of this age."
This text that has both the command and promise:
Acts 2:38-39
Peter said to them, "Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each 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. This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself."
Ephesians 5:25-26
Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it to make it belong to God. Christ used the word to make the church clean by washing it with water.
Two things are active in Baptism:
1. The Holy Spirit who works though His Word to give faith.
2. Faith that receives and trusts His Word. (The Holy Spirit creates this faith in us.)
We see clearly in all that the Bible says about baptism, baptism has power.
That power is not in the water.
That power is not in our faith.
That power is in God's Word.
Martin Luther (Small Catechism)
Without God's Word, the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the Word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: "He saved us through the washing that made us new people through the Holy Spirit. God poured out richly upon us that Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Savior. Being made right with God by his grace, we could have the hope of receiving the life that never ends. This teaching is true." (Titus 3:5-8).
Why water?
So what is the point and purpose of WATER in baptism?
The Bible says that water gives us a picture of two things that happen in baptism.
(1) Washing away our sins (Acts 22:16; Eph 5:25-26, Titus 3:4-7)
(2) Uniting with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6, Colossians 2:12)
Again, the skeptic will ask, "How can water do such great things?"
To that, Martin Luther (Small Catechism) answers:
So what is the point and purpose of WATER in baptism?
The Bible says that water gives us a picture of two things that happen in baptism.
(1) Washing away our sins (Acts 22:16; Eph 5:25-26, Titus 3:4-7)
(2) Uniting with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6, Colossians 2:12)
Again, the skeptic will ask, "How can water do such great things?"
To that, Martin Luther (Small Catechism) answers:
Certainly not just water, but the Word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this Word of God in the water.
Why Baptize?
So, now we are ready to answer the question, "Why baptize?"
Answer: Because
1. Christ commanded us to baptize and be baptized.
2. Christ promises eternal blessings in baptism.
I s baptism an "ordinance" or a "sacrament?"
These are two different labels that various Christian denominations use to describe baptism.
What's the difference?
So, now we are ready to answer the question, "Why baptize?"
Answer: Because
1. Christ commanded us to baptize and be baptized.
2. Christ promises eternal blessings in baptism.
I s baptism an "ordinance" or a "sacrament?"
These are two different labels that various Christian denominations use to describe baptism.
What's the difference?
An ORDINANCE is OUR WORK
that we do simply in obedience to God's command.
A SACRAMENT is GOD'S WORK
that He does to/for/in us
by which He brings us forgiveness.
that we do simply in obedience to God's command.
A SACRAMENT is GOD'S WORK
that He does to/for/in us
by which He brings us forgiveness.
Many Christians who deny the Bible's many promises associated with baptism, they still do baptism. But they do it only from obedience, not from faith. For them, baptism is simply a symbolic act, having no effect, no power.
Do we recognize their baptisms as valid? YES.
We don't ask them to become baptized again, because
they were baptized "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
they were baptized into the true Christian faith.
They were, in fact, baptized by Christ Himself.
Ephesians 4:4-6
Do we recognize their baptisms as valid? YES.
We don't ask them to become baptized again, because
they were baptized "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
they were baptized into the true Christian faith.
They were, in fact, baptized by Christ Himself.
Ephesians 4:4-6
There is one body and one Spirit, and God called you to have one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God and Father of everything. He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.
In the Christian church, there is no such thing as a "Catholic baptism," or a "Lutheran baptism," or "Methodist baptism," or a "Baptist baptism." There is only baptism in Christ Jesus -- "in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
What is a Sacrament?
In our discussions with Christians of various denominations, we find that the meaning of the word "sacrament" can be vague. For our usage of the word "sacrament," we have developed a precise definition:
In our discussions with Christians of various denominations, we find that the meaning of the word "sacrament" can be vague. For our usage of the word "sacrament," we have developed a precise definition:
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A Sacrament is a holy act that
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Baptism
- has been established by Christ's command (Matt 28)
- has visible elements (water)
- is joined to God's Word (Matt 28)
- gives forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38)
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
NO. Only unbelief, rejecting Christ and His forgiveness, damns us. The Bible's teaching about this is clear.
The thief on the Cross didn't have Christian baptism. But he trusted Christ. And Christ saved Him.
And we know many who have received baptism, but they have since rejected Christ. In doing so, they have rejected their baptism and what it means.
Baptism is a miracle, not magic.
NO. Only unbelief, rejecting Christ and His forgiveness, damns us. The Bible's teaching about this is clear.
The thief on the Cross didn't have Christian baptism. But he trusted Christ. And Christ saved Him.
And we know many who have received baptism, but they have since rejected Christ. In doing so, they have rejected their baptism and what it means.
Baptism is a miracle, not magic.
So, again...
What is baptism?
Baptism is WATER united with GOD'S WORD
And why baptize?
Because
1. Christ commanded us to baptize and be baptized.
2. Christ promises eternal blessings in baptism.
What is baptism?
Baptism is WATER united with GOD'S WORD
And why baptize?
Because
1. Christ commanded us to baptize and be baptized.
2. Christ promises eternal blessings in baptism.
Supplemental Scriptures
Matthew 3:11
Matthew 3:11
[John said,] “I baptize you with water to show that your hearts and lives have changed. But there is one coming after me who is greater than I am, whose sandals I am not good enough to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Acts 1:3-5
The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38-39
Peter said to them, “Change your hearts and lives and be baptized, each 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. This promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away. It is for everyone the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Ephesians 4:4-5
There is one body and one Spirit, and God called you to have one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. There is one God and Father of everything. He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.
Colossians 2:11-15
Also in Christ you had a different kind of circumcision, a circumcision not done by hands. It was through Christ’s circumcision, that is, his death, that you were made free from the power of your sinful self. When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him through your faith in God’s power that was shown when he raised Christ from the dead. When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and he forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross. God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, he won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless.
1 Peter 3:18-21
Christ himself suffered for sins once. He was not guilty, but he suffered for those who are guilty to bring you to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people—eight in all—were saved by water. And that water is like baptism that now saves you—not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.