Baptism: Exception and Conclusion

The scolding might sounds something like this: “Are you telling me that just because my papa wasn’t dunked in a pool of water he won’t be with God in heaven!?”

The question trivializes baptism and minimizes its meaning as found in scripture. It virtually turns the question of baptism into a personal attack. Though unintentional, I believe, such a question makes God out to be arbitrary. God’s demand for faith and repentance make sense. It makes sense that a person should be willing to openly confess his faith in Jesus, but baptism? How does a water dunking make sense?

This kind of questioning and reasoning closes the mind to the instruction of Jesus and the meaningful explanations presented by the New Testament writers. Such thinking could even present a loved one as a false standard, because he was such a good man, he surely could not have gotten things wrong.

I want to restate the original question using the explanation for baptism presented by the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:

“Are you telling me that just because my papa was not united with Christ he will not be with God in heaven?” You see, Paul taught that baptism united the believer with Christ. Perhaps that gives a clearer perspective.

From scripture we can read that Jesus directly connected baptism with discipleship in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We can read that the Apostle Peter directly connected baptism to salvation (1 Peter 3:21). To sever baptism from discipleship and salvation would do an injustice to scripture.

Of course, there is the well-known exception. (I sincerely intend no sarcasm.) The thief on the cross was not baptized yet assured Paradise with Jesus. There is no question but that at least one exception exists. So, the question is restated (and toned down a bit): “Do you think God will make an exception for papa?”

I would not dare to sit in God’s seat of judgment. Yet, it is unwise to teach an exception as the normal way of things. Consider…

Enoch did not die physically (Genesis 4:24); nor did Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Yet, who would teach that a person does not have to face physical death based on these two exceptions?

King David lusted for Bathsheba, committed adultery with her and later ordered the death of her husband to cover up their sin. Yet, David and Bathsheba were not stoned to death as the Law of Moses demanded. In fact, it was God himself who sent the prophet Nathan to confront David with his sin. Who in their right mind would used this exception to teach that God allows adultery and murder?

I know from scripture that God is just. I also see in scripture some instances that appear to be exceptions to strict justice. For the living, I can only teach what the scriptures teach about the importance of baptism and its connection to discipleship, salvation, and unity with Christ. As for the dead, I’ll leave things to God.

A personal note: It has been my hope that this series of essays on baptism would be instructional, not adversarial or divisive. While I have presented some of my own reasoning when dealing with various questions, I have always appealed to scripture. I would urge anyone with questions about baptism to do the same.

Is baptism really that important?

What do the scriptures say?

Why All the Controversy over Baptism (Part 2)

There has developed a rather negative view toward baptism among some. You can hear it in the way some folks talk about baptism: ‘submitting’ to baptism, or ‘allowing’ oneself to be baptized. This hesitant kind of mindset is foreign to the believers of first century Christianity.

Do you remember the man from Ethiopia who was reading from the book of Isaiah as he traveled home from a visit to Jerusalem (Acts 8)? He was an outsider to the Jewish religion according to the Law of Moses because he was a eunuch. He could therefore only participate from a distance. Yet, he was a devout man desiring fellowship with God.

When Philip was sent to him to teach him the gospel, he began teaching him about Jesus based on the reading from Isaiah. Then, with eagerness the man asked, “What prevents me from being baptized?” (v. 36) The outsider from Ethiopia recognized that he was not excluded from discipleship to Jesus. He was eager to be baptized and then “went on his way rejoicing.” (v. 39)

Perhaps this is more of an extreme case of excitement. Yet, none of the examples of baptism in the New Testament even hint that there was any kind of hesitation or controversy about being baptized.

So, what has happened???

After the first century religious and historical writings reveal a number of diversions from the simple teachings of Jesus and the New Testament writers.

A religious writing called the Didache (probably written early in the 2nd century) gives specific instructions (restrictions) regarding baptism.¹

• Baptize in living (running) water;
• If not living water, other water is ok;
• If not cold, then warm.
• If insufficient water for baptism, then pour² water on the head three times; in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• Before the baptism, both the baptizer and the believer to be baptized must fast.

Whether a person agrees or disagrees with the value of these innovations, they simply are not found in scripture, but developed at a later time, originating with man, not God.

Similar innovations are described in the writings of a 2nd/3rd century Christian writer known as Hippolytus. The baptismal candidate was to undergo three years of instruction and finally, if found worthy of ‘receiving’ baptism, was baptized only after three days of preparation.³

Though some have argued that infant baptism is consistent with the biblical text, examples are lacking. In fact, the best evidence is that the practice emerged near the end of the second century. Even then it was not widespread but found primarily in North Africa.⁴

It is clear that new ideas began to emerge in the second and third centuries and after; ideas that originated with man, not God. When these idea were taught as truth, confusion and controversy were sure to result. Yet, Jesus said...

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” —John 3:31

The simple way to avoid confusion and controversy is to return to the teachings of the New Testament.

___________________

¹Ferguson, Everett. “Baptism in the Early Church.” Eerdmans, 2009, p. 202.

²"Pour" is a distinctly different Greek term than the Greek term for ‘baptize.’ (Ferguson, 202)

³Ferguson, 329.

⁴Ferguson, 336.

Why All the Controversy over Baptism?

We might use the term ‘Christian’ baptism to distinguish it from the baptism of John the Baptist, the baptism of the Jews, pagan baptism, and even the ‘outpouring’ of the Holy Spirit. It is puzzling why Christian baptism is so puzzling to so many people. You will find no controversy over Christian baptism in Scripture.

Misunderstood Nature of Baptism

Have you ever heard someone say that baptism is a ‘work’? Who came up with that idea? Whenever someone talks about baptism as a work, they are telling you what they have heard or read, but the source is not the Bible.

It is obvious that baptism is an action involving movement and muscles of the human body. However, that does not put baptism in the category of ‘works’ unless you are using your physics textbook as a source. When Abraham left his home and went “to the land which I [God] will show you,” was all that effort to move his family and his herds and his flocks to be understood as a work or an act of faith?

To understand Christian baptism, we must not place it in an arbitrary category based on human reasoning, but keep our focus on the text of the Bible. Christian baptism is not a work.

Misunderstood Nature of Faith

The Bible clearly states that we are “saved by grace through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8) So, what is that faith?

Look up passages in your Bible in which Jesus told someone, “Your faith has saved you,” or something similar. Look carefully. Is faith a verbal affirmation? Words only? Is there anything that you see that accompanies faith?

Faith never stands alone, else it is not faith at all.

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” 

—James 2:17 (NIV)

The idea that faith stands alone is foreign to scripture. Yet, many folks strain to dismiss salvation by baptism, but can do so only if faith, by their definition, stands alone on man’s part.

When we read about Christian baptism in the New Testament, we see baptism portrayed as an act of faith.

Incomplete Reasoning

If you were to make a list of scriptures about the salvation of the soul you might be surprised to find that:

• Faith saves;
• Confession saves;
• Baptism saves;
• Grace saves;
• Calling on the name of the Lord saves;
• Jealousy saves (Romans 11:14).

I know, that last one is a puzzler...until you read the context in which the verse is written and bring it into the light of other scriptures that deal with salvation. The point is that a scripture taken in isolation (or especially taken out of context), does not tell the whole story. The Psalmist wisely wrote:

The entirety of Your word is truth…. 

—Psalm 119:160 (NKJV)

A single verse, whether it is about faith or baptism is not sufficient to provide a complete picture when there are other related passages to consider.

If a person misunderstands the nature of baptism or the nature of faith, or applies incomplete reasoning to the question of baptism, he/she will most likely misunderstand the role of faith and baptism in salvation. When it comes to the salvation of the soul, wouldn't it be wise to carefully study and apply all the Scriptures?

Why the First Believers Were Baptized (Part 3)

Jesus instructed His apostles to preach the gospel and baptize those who believed. We can read about the spread of the gospel in the Book of Acts where the apostles were doing exactly what Jesus instructed. You might say that these are two witnesses for the relevance for Christian baptism. There is a third.

When the apostles and other inspired writers sent letters to various churches in the first century they encouraged Christians in their faith, reminded them of earlier instruction, applied the teachings of Jesus and provided additional explanation about earlier teachings. The Apostle Paul explained the relevance of baptism into Christ:

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. —Romans 6:3–5

At the core of this passage is a statement that ultimately comes from God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: A believer is literally united with the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ. Of course, this is not literal in a physical sense, but that does not mean that it is not literal. The things that Paul wrote about baptism are literal truths set in a spiritual context.

Paul said that the baptized believer is literally united with the death of Jesus. So, it is as if the believer died and was in the tomb with Jesus. Again, this is not a physical truth, but a spiritual truth, one accomplished by God.

In addition, Paul said that the baptized believer is literally united with the resurrection of Jesus. Yet again, this is not a physical truth in the present, but a promise that God will accomplish upon the return of Christ. It can only be understood in a literal spiritual context.

The ‘new life’ that Paul wrote about (v. 4) is the result of the believer having died and then being made alive again (reborn)...not figuratively, but truly. The baptized believer, by faith in the invisible activity of God, understands that he/she has undergone a literal spiritual change, passing from death into life through Jesus Christ.

Baptism is not a mere illustration; it is not some kind of magic ritual; and, according to Scripture, it is not a ‘work.’ Baptism into Christ is an act of faith in the expressed claims of God. It symbolically parallels the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, but literally unites the believer with Christ in His death and in His resurrection by God's power.

Finally, listen to the words of the Apostle Peter:

Baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. —1 Peter 3:21

Of the many things written about this verse one fact is undisputed. Peter wrote that “baptism now saves you.” The Greek text of this statement is unquestioned. Its meaning is obvious...and it parallels the instruction given by Jesus in the Great Commission as well as the examples of the apostles and first believers who followed Jesus' instruction. Baptism is intimately connected to the salvation of the soul. The writers of the New Testament letters to the churches help us to understand how.

The explanations of the inspired New Testament writers stands as a third witness to the vital importance and relevance of Christian baptism.

Why the First Believers Were Baptized (Part 2)

Jesus instructed His apostles to make disciples baptizing them in the His name. (See last week's blog.) How well did they do in carrying out His instructions?

On the Day of Pentecost following the crucifixion of Jesus an Old Testament prophecy from the book of Joel (chapter 2) was fulfilled. The prophet had foretold the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the commotion gathered quite a crowd. Filled with the Holy Spirit Peter preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowd. When the people realized that they had crucified the Son of God, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the others what they should do.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized 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

So, Peter instructed the believers to repent, i.e. change their mind/perception (about Jesus), and to be baptized in the name of Jesus; just as Jesus had instructed in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16).

And how did the people respond?

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.     —Acts 2:41

So, the Apostles instructed the people exactly according to the instruction given by Jesus, and the crowd understood and responded accordingly by being baptized; and the stated reason for baptism: Forgiveness of sins and the receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Just so you know, some folks have discounted this simple and direct instruction by saying that baptism is not ‘for’ forgiveness, but ‘because of’ forgiveness. Their reasoning is based on a possible rendering of a Greek term found in the verse. However, does that make sense in light of the broader context?

The alternate translation idea assumes that the listeners were saved by belief alone. If so, we should be able to discover the point at which the people believed and were presumably saved.

Their response (v. 37) revealed their belief; they were cut to the heart when Peter showed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God and that they had crucified Him. However, based on Peter's instruction it does not sound like they were saved just because they believed. After all, Peter told them to repent and a person does not repent because they have been saved, but because they have not been saved.

To deal with this inconsistency concerning repentance, some have chopped up the verse to say that they were to repent because they were not saved; but that they were to be baptized because they were already saved. The Greek text simply does not read, nor does the English text. Read it again yourself and see if this explanation makes sense.

When a person reads this section of scripture without bias it is clear that Peter and the apostles followed Jesus' instruction from the Great Commission. Then in response, the first believers were baptized as instructed so that their sins would be forgiven and so that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So, the instruction of Jesus in the Great Commission was that believers were to be baptized into Christ. Then, by example, we see that the teaching of the apostles and the practice of the first believers mirrored the instruction of Jesus.