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 Were You Baptized? (Reason #6)

For some believers the question of baptism is troublesome since baptism undeniably appears in the New Testament and it is clearly connected in some way to salvation. For example:

He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. —Mark 16:16

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

Yet, the Bible also clearly states:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9

Some assume that baptism is a ‘work’ and since a person is not saved by works, then baptism does not save, rather...

Reason #6: Baptism is an outward sign of an inward faith (or grace).
Different words may be used to express the same thought, such as, “baptism is an expression of my love for God for having saved me.” Whatever the expression, the idea is that baptism is merely symbolic. So, once a person has been saved (by grace through faith), they are baptized as a sign of their salvation, that is, to show that they have been saved.

Is that what the Bible teaches about baptism?

First, there truly is rich symbolism associated with baptism. The Apostle Paul wrote that a believer’s baptism is symbolically parallel to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-4). However, he did not say that the believer’s baptism was merely ‘like’ the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Rather, in the same passage of scripture, he said that the baptized believer:

• Has died with Christ (vv. 6 & 8);
• Is buried with Christ (v. 4);
• Is united with Christ in His death (v. 5);
• Is united with Christ in His resurrection (v. 5).

The “likeness of His death” (v. 5) is the believer’s baptism. The “uniting” with Christ in his death and resurrection is the work of God. Paul recognized the work of God as he wrote:

Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. (v. 6)

So, God is doing something very real that we cannot sense with our physical senses. He is literally uniting the baptized believer with Christ in a spiritual death, burial, and resurrection so that the believer “might walk in newness of life” (v. 4). So, Paul did not describe baptism as an outward sign to ‘show’ anything to others, but rather to unite the believer with Christ.

Second, there are signs of one’s existing relationship with God. For example, just as an apple (fruit) is a sign of an apple tree, the fruit of the Spirit is a sign of the Spirit of God dwelling in a Christian (Galatians 5:22-25).

When Jesus told His disciples to “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works” (Matthew 5:16), the good works were a sign of one’s devotion to Jesus.

Paul encouraged Christians to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” He indicated that this was a “sign...of salvation for you” (Philippians 1:27-28).

Curiously, baptism is never referred to in scripture as an visible sign of love or faith or even salvation. So, if you were baptized as an 'outward sign’ of anything, I would urge you reconsider your baptism and to turn to scripture for your answer.