Baptism and the Life of Faith:

Transcription

1 Baptism and the Life of Faith: Baptism is portrayed as the initial act of faith inherently involved in the salvation experience (though theologically distinct from faith) as the means by which one appeals to God for a good conscience by calling upon the name of the Lord in the form of a ritual which depicts the reality of the believer s mystical participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1. The Centrality of Baptism to the Christian Kerygma and life of New Testament Believers. a. The initial command of Christ: i. Matthew 28:18-20 Baptism is an essential and initiatory element in discipleship. b. The gospel proclamation in the Book of Acts: i. Acts 2:38 Baptism linked with repentance and the forgiveness of sins. ii. Acts 2:41 Baptism directly/immediately follows reception of the Word. Baptism brings about addition to Church (Baptism and addition cannot be separated). iii. Acts: 8:35-38 Baptism is viewed as the initial act of faith it is an immediate act. iv. Acts 10:45-48 Belief, the gift of the Holy Spirit and Baptism are viewed as inseparably linked together. Peter COMMANDS these new believers to be baptized. v. Acts :14-15 Lydia has her heart opened by the Lord and responds to the gospel message preached by Paul and then is baptized baptism is portrayed as the initial act of faith again :31-33 The Philippian jailer believes on the Lord Jesus Christ and is taken to be baptized. vi. Acts 19:1-6 The centrality and importance of Baptism is evidenced by the fact that the Holy Spirit is withheld from those who had believed in Jesus, but who had not yet been baptized in the name of Jesus. 1. NOTE:à This reveals the importance and centrality of Baptism to the Christian life, but should not lead one to think that baptism is the normative means which effects (or brings about) the gift of the Spirit (see ACTS 10:47). 2. This is an account recorded for the Church to emphasize the importance of Jesus baptism over against that of John s. However, the fact that identification with Jesus one blessing of

2 which is the indwelling presence of the Spirit is so intimately related to Baptism in Jesus name is telling. vii. Acts 22:16 Baptism is linked to washing away of sins. The instrument by which sins are washed away is calling on His name (see Acts 2:21 quoting Joel 2:32). 1. Question: How is baptism linked to the washing away of sins? 2. Answer: Baptism is the enacted event (the means) by which one calls on the name of the Lord see 1 Peter 3:21. c. Baptism is the means and indication of identification with Jesus. i. Romans 6 The reality of our salvific union with Jesus is described in terms of our baptism. ii. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 Being united to Jesus means being united to His body the Church. We are united to (joined to) the Church by means of baptism. In other words, Baptism is understood as the initiatory act of church participation (fellowship/koinonia). iii. Colossians 2:12 buried with Jesus in Baptism iv. Galatians 3:24-28 the mark of those who partake in the Messianic New Covenant which supersedes the Old Covenant. v. Ephesians 4:3-6 the external/visible/ritualistic marker of the spiritual unity of believers in their common participation in one Spirit, one unified calling, one Lord, one faith, and one God and Father who is over all and through all and in all. (Baptism is viewed as a definitive and necessary mark of unity in the Church the only one which is visible). d. Baptism is the initiatory act/rite/ritual of ALL Christians. i. Baptism marks out Christians and divides them from the world. 1. Matthew 28:18-20 Baptism is the mark of all disciples. ii. As the initiatory act of all Christians baptism brings visible unity to the Church. 1. Ephesians 4 iii. Baptism is an enacted (ritualistic) appeal to God for a good conscience/the means whereby one calls on the name of the Lord Peter 3:21; Acts 2:16. e. Baptism is appealed to as a means of unity in the Church. 1 i. 1 Corinthians 1 Paul rebukes the Corinthians because Baptism has become divisive rather than unifying. 1

3 1. NOTE: A Brief Note Regarding the Baptism of the Holy Spirit spoken of in the gospel accounts. a. John 1:33 The Spirit descends and remains upon Jesus as a testimony to the fact that He is the long-awaited Messiah and that the Messianic age has dawned. b. Small wonder, then, that Jesus is equipped to baptize others, not merely (as did John the Baptist) in the medium of water, but in the Holy Spirit. This too anticipates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, which looked forward to the time when God s people would have the Spirit poured out on them (e.g. Ezk. 36:25 26). That Jesus would baptize his people in the Holy Spirit is therefore simultaneously an attestation of who he is, and an announcement that the promised age is dawning. For the Evangelist, then, the aspect of Jesus baptism that suited his purposes in writing was its role in bringing the Baptist to recognize who Jesus was, and therefore to bear witness specifically to him, and no longer to an unidentified Coming One 2 D. A. Carson c. 2. A Necessary Theological Distinction and Discussion. a. The Function of Faith i. Faith appropriates the blessings of the gospel: 1. Righteousness/Justification a. Romans 3:21-3:27 b. Galatians 2:16 c. Romans 5:1 i. Peace as a result of Justification is by faith 2. Adoption as sons, the glory of the covenants (fulfilled in Christ and the New Covenant) and the promises. a. Romans 9:3-4/11:19-23 b. Galatians 3:7-11 adoption as sons of Abraham share in the blessings of Abraham c. Galatians 3:26 sons of God through faith 3. Obedience a. Romans 1:5 b. Romans 16:26 4. The Gift of the Spirit a. Galatians 3:2, 14 2 D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991), 152.

4 5. The Hope of Righteousness (the eternal righteousness of the full consummation of the Kingdom) a. Galatians 5:5 6. All the blessings of Salvation (life from death raised up with Christ) a. Ephesians 2:8 b. The Function of Baptism in Regard to Faith i. 1 Peter 3:21: Baptism is the ordained means by which one, in faith, calls upon the name of the Lord and appeals to God for a good conscience. ii. Baptism does not grant faith or regeneration it is dependent on it. 1. Colossians 2:12 the effectiveness of baptism is dependent upon faith. a. Note: In baptism, the believer is buried with Christ and raised up with Him THROUGH FAITH b. Two things to note: i. Baptism and faith are understood together to speak of one is to speak of another; and YET ii. Baptism is dependent upon faith for its effectiveness not the other way around. iii. Baptism depicts the reality which faith appropriates 1. Colossians 2:12 2. Baptism visible portrays the judgment taking death of Jesus (fully submerged in the waters of God s judgment) and the life-giving blessedness of His resurrection. a. The Judgment of God poured out and spent b. The Blessings of God granted c. Both happen in union with Christ

5 3. Some Practical Considerations. a. Making baptized obedient disciples of Jesus is the ongoing life task of Jesus disciples the Church. i. Matthew 28: ii. 1 Corinthians 1 Paul is not called to baptize because this is not specifically and apostolic ministry; it is a Church ministry given to the disciples of every age. b. Baptism (immediately) follows belief. i. If you are a professing Christian, your profession is incomplete apart from Baptism. c. Any understanding of Church membership (whether formal or informal) must see Baptism as a necessary prerequisite of membership it is the initiating rite which joins one to the body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 d. Baptism as the necessary prerequisite for the Lord s Supper. i. The Lord s Supper is the Covenant Meal of the Church and is for those who are a part of the New Covenant it is for believers.