BACKGROUND FOR THE BIBLE PASSAGES

Transcription

1 BACKGROUND FOR THE BIBLE PASSAGES Session 68: Baptism One of my seminary professors was a missionary in Malawi with the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) for about 10 years. In one of the missions classes I took, he told the story about his team s efforts to share the gospel with a tribe for about a year, but with no converts. Finally, one of the leaders of the tribe trusted Christ. The other members of the tribe were disturbed that this man had abandoned the ancient religious beliefs of their people, but they became enraged when he told the other members of the tribe that he was going to meet one of the missionaries at a lake so he could be baptized. As the man was leaving the tribal village to be baptized, one of the men in the village took a spear and threw it into the back of this new Christian, killing him instantly. Some men then nailed the spear and the man s body to the gate of the village as a warning to others about forsaking their religious heritage to become a Christian. This account of a Malawi martyr affirms at least three important truths. First, salvation is by faith in Christ alone. The man was a Christian at the point of faith, and nothing that happened to him afterward could change that. Second, although some would say this man did not go to heaven since he didn t get baptized (despite the fact that he was killed because he was on the way to get baptized!), the Scriptures are clear that baptism contributes nothing to salvation. Third, baptism can be an effective tool for evangelism since unbelievers often know that, by submitting to baptism, the person is forsaking all other religious ties for Christ. Baptism is a Christian ordinance that explains what has happened to someone in his or her relationship with Christ. This session seeks to discover, through the study of key passages, what baptism is all about and why it is important for believers to be baptized. Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:38 Baptism is an act of obedience. Matthew s Gospel ends with a famous passage known as the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). In verse 18, Jesus stated that all authority was given to Him, and, on the basis of that authority, He gave His disciples their mandate for ministry. The main verb in verses is the aorist imperative (a command) make disciples. The word go is a participle that takes on the flavor of a command. Some like to render this as you are going, but the Greek language means having gone. The focus is not on the participle (going) but on the verbs (baptizing and teaching what we do when we get there). We must go to all nations so we can share the gospel and make disciples of all those who respond by faith in Christ. Jesus gave two related commands, baptizing and teaching, and both are present participles (indicating continuous action) that give us specific instructions on the process of making disciples. The English verb baptize and the noun baptism come directly from the Greek verb baptizo and the noun baptisma. The basis meaning of the verb is to immerse, which is the reason Baptists and many other Christian denominations have always practiced immersion as the mode of baptism, rather than sprinkling or pouring. The historical evidence shows that baptism had originated by at least the second century B.C., since archaeological finds at Qumran indicate that baptism was practiced by that sect of Judaism. Other Jewish sects practiced baptism also, though it was normally reserved for proselytes, those outside the Jewish community who wanted to join them. Thus, John the Baptist did not originate baptism but proclaimed a different message related to baptism that the kingdom of God was at hand and everyone needed to repent to gain entrance into the kingdom (Matt. 3:1-2). People were required to give evidence of their repentance so they could be baptized (vv. 7-8). Everyone, not just proselytes, had to be baptized after repentance. Christianity emphasizes the importance of baptism because it is part of the Great Commission. If we do not baptize Jesus followers after they profess faith in Him, there is a sense in which we are not fulfilling the Great Commission. New Christians need to be told that the Lord expects them to be baptized, even if doing so could put their lives in danger if they live in an environment hostile to the gospel. Jesus connected baptism with

2 discipleship ( make disciples baptizing ) because the first act of obedience for new Christian disciples is to follow their Lord in baptism. Baptism is in relation to the Kingdom, and it is also in relation to the Trinity. Jesus stated that those who become His disciples must be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (v. 19). The Greek preposition for in (eis) can also be translated into or unto, which distinguishes it from another preposition that means in (en). When eis follows baptizo or baptisma in the New Testament (as it does 17 times in the New Testament), it designates the area of identification that baptism signifies. This means that in being baptized, Christians are proclaiming their identification with each person of the Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Understood in this way, baptism demonstrates the importance of the doctrine of the Trinity for the Christian faith. Jesus also commanded that His followers should be teaching His disciples to observe everything I have commanded you (v. 20). As an integral part of growth in the Christian faith and understanding Christian responsibility, believers need to know and apply Jesus teachings to their lives. These teachings are primarily what Jesus said in the four Gospels but would also include what His apostles and prophets preserved for us in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus promised His unending personal presence to all those who follow Him: I am with you always, to the end of the age (v. 20). The early church took Jesus command about baptizing disciples very seriously from day one. Acts 2:38 records Peter s instructions to those who had just heard his sermon on the day of Pentecost, which marks the birth of the church. After the Spirit came, He manifested His power by giving the apostles the ability to speak in languages they didn t know, so Jews from all over the Roman empire could hear the gospel explained in their native languages (Acts 2:1-11). Act 2:14-36 records Peter s great sermon (probably in Greek, the only language everyone would have understood), and when he had finished, the people were pierced to the heart and asked Peter what they should do (v. 37). Peter s answer was that they must repent, which refers to a change of mind that results in a change of attitudes and actions. True repentance means that a person has changed his or her mind about himself or herself and God, for he or she knows that he or she is so sinful that only God can save him or her through faith in Christ. But Peter did not stop there. He commanded each person who has repented to be baptized... in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins (v. 38). Since this verse says repent... and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, many have concluded based largely on this verse that baptism is necessary for salvation. But this interpretation not only contradicts numerous passages of Scripture that clearly indicate that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone, but it also misunderstands this verse. There are two primary ways evangelicals have explained Acts 2:38. First, the word for translates the Greek preposition eis that we saw earlier in Matthew 28:19, and on occasion this word can mean because of (see at in Matt. 12:41). The idea then would be that a person is baptized because of the forgiveness of sins, and though this is true, it involves an admittedly rare use of the word eis. Second, a better interpretation is that since eis follows baptizo, as it does in Matthew 28:19, then eis points to the area of identification signified by baptism, which in this case is forgiveness. Thus, Acts 2:38 teaches that a person is saved when he repents, and baptism identifies that person with the forgiven community of Christians. Christ came into the world to provide forgiveness of sins for those who believe in Him (Luke 24:46-47; Eph. 1:7), and baptism signifies who those people are. Colossians 2:11-13 Baptism is a symbol of what Christ has done for us. Paul used baptism to explain important truths about salvation. In Colossians 2:8 the apostle warned us not to be led astray by philosophy or human tradition, but to stay focused on Christ. Ideas that deny the validity of our relationship with Christ are not worth considering, for they are merely the elemental forces of the world. But in Christ, the entire fullness of God s nature dwells bodily (v. 9), so if a person wants to know God in all His fullness, he or she can do so by knowing Christ and only by knowing Christ. Those who know Christ by faith have been filled by Him and recognize Him as

3 head over every ruler and authority (v. 10). In verse 11, Paul referred to circumcision in a non-literal sense to explain what happens to a person when he becomes a Christian. Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 17:9-14,23-27) and was legislated in the Mosaic covenant for Israel (Lev. 12:3; Ex. 12:44,48; Josh. 5:2-8). Since it was a sign (Rom. 4:11), circumcision was not necessary for salvation, even for Jews (Acts 15:1-11; Rom. 4:10). Being circumcised or uncircumcised identified someone as a Jew or a Gentile (1 Sam. 17:26,36; Jer. 9:25-26; Gal. 2:7,9). Circumcision could also refer metaphorically to those who followed God wholeheartedly, while uncircumcision described those who did not whether Jews or Gentiles (Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Acts 7:51; Phil. 3:2-3). The metaphorical idea is clearly Paul s intent in Colossians 2:11 since in Christ believers are circumcised with a circumcision not done with hands. God identifies believers as His people now by circumcising their hearts. The inward work of the Spirit on someone s heart guarantees that this person knows the Lord, but the outward sign of circumcision did not. In verses 12-13, baptism refers to literal water baptism, but Paul here explained the imagery of baptism. Not only is baptism an act of obedience to the Lord that identifies us with those who are forgiven, it is also a picture of Jesus death and resurrection. Thus, baptism functions as a ritual that reenacts an event in the past so those in the present can remember it and celebrate it in a fresh way. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are baptized because they were buried with Him in baptism, and they were also raised with Him because God raised Him from the dead. The waters of baptism represent the dirt, coffin, and grave of our death with Christ, and coming out of the waters represents our new life with Him. Despite being dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of [our] flesh, God brought us to life through faith in Christ so that we are alive with Him. Baptism is definitely not just a meaningless ritual of the church, for it signifies who we are in Christ and what He has done for us by dying for our sins and raising us to new life in Him. Romans 6:1-5 Baptism is an act of identification. Paul explained justification by faith in Romans 1 5, and in chapter 6 he began a discussion of sanctification, the Christian life, that continues through the end of chapter 8. In 5:20-21, Paul made two important statements about salvation: where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more, and just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness. Paul knew that many people would misunderstand these statements and conclude that such a view of grace would lead to indulgence in sin instead of greater godliness. The apostle responded to this by asking a rhetorical question in Romans 6:1 and then answering it in verses The rhetorical question is, Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Although Paul s statements about grace in Romans 5:20-21 might logically lead someone to this conclusion, Paul was very clear that this was not the case. Living under grace does not lead to more sin, but to greater righteousness, as Paul explained in verses In verse 2, he emphatically denied that we can sin to enjoy grace more Absolutely not! and then pointed out that we who died to sin through Christ s death on our behalf cannot still live in it. In a fashion similar to Colossians 2:11-13, Paul used the analogy of water baptism to explain why believers cannot enjoy grace by sinning more. Simply stated, indulging in sin is inconsistent with our new relationship to Christ our identification with Him as illustrated in baptism, the ritual that depicts the relationship. All believers are baptized into Christ Jesus and are baptized into His death (v. 3). Once again, as in Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:38, the preposition eis (translated into both times) follows the verb baptizo and points to the area of identification baptism signifies. In this verse (v. 3) there are two of them: baptism identifies us with both Christ Jesus and His death. To make sure no one misses the analogy, Paul stated, we were buried with Him by baptism into [eis again] death. Baptism as a ritual pictures believers experiencing a watery grave to identify us with the death Christ experienced. But Christ did not stay in the actual grave and we did not stay in our watery grave during baptism (lest we drown!). We came out of the watery grave just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father. His victory over death became

4 our victory over death so we too may walk in a new way of life. Sin brings death (Rom. 6:23), but Christ paid for our sins and defeated death. Baptism pictures this victory by allowing us to reenact what Christ did for us. Through baptism we were joined with Him in the likeness of His death, and one day we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection when He returns to raise all the dead in Christ to literal resurrection life (v. 5; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Baptism pictures our new identity with Christ and our new relationship with Him. Everyone who has experienced baptism and this should be all believers should look back to that act as a reminder that they have died to sin and are now alive to God. Grace abounds, not so sin can increase, but that we may enjoy our new relationship with Christ in righteousness.

5 SCRIPTURE PASSAGES Session 68: Baptism Matthew 28: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Acts 2:38 38 Repent, Peter said to them, and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Colossians 2: In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. 12 Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. Romans 6:1-5 1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible, Holman CSB, and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

6 EXPLORING THE BIBLE DAILY 68 Write Colossians 2:12 in the space below and memorize this week: Read these Scripture passages each day this week. Respond to each passage by jotting down questions and insights you may have. Day 1 - Matthew 28:19-20 Day 2 - Acts 2:38 Day 3 - Romans 6:1-2 Day 4 - Romans 6:3-4 Day 5 - Romans 6:5 Day 6 - Colossians 2:11-12 Day 7 - Colossians 2: LifeWay Press. Fuel2: Owning Your Faith, Volume 6. Permission granted to reproduce this item for church use only. Published in the United States of America.