For Questions and Answers on Baptism, contact Rev. Timothy Able: 239-289-5600 Timothy.Abel@gmail.com
Part 1: Overview of Baptism
Baptism is the combination of two elements – one visible and plentiful, the other invisible, and even more plentiful than the waters that cover the earth – God’s grace! The two elements of baptism are water and the Word.
Baptism is a Gift of God, a “means of grace” when water and God’s Word are combined for the purpose of sharing God’s Gift of Grace won by Jesus’ crucifixion and guaranteed in the resurrection. The Bible teaches we are saved by God’s grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone!
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” – St Paul (Ephesians 2.8-9)
Jesus, in his last earthly words, his departing commission to 11 disciples standing on hill said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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; teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. Look! I am with you always, to the end of the age!” – Jesus (Matthew 28.19-20)
Clearly baptizing is a critical first step in God’s Plan. So, what does the Bible say about it?
It says baptism effects the forgiveness of sins.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every 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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” – Peter, the Apostle (Ac 2:38–39)
Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name. – (Ac 22:16)
The Bible says baptism saves – it serves as a means to communicate the power of God to effect salvation. God brings to bear something new in us!
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pe 3:21)
Another powerful image that provides insights into the power of God in baptism is that of putting on Christ like a new garment! You know that feeling of something new that looks good on you and seems to produce a feeling of satisfaction and confidence? Yeah, something like that happens in the powerful miracle of baptism… ”
“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Ga 3:26–27)
“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Ro 6:1–4)
Additionally, the power of baptism is illustrated in the understanding that baptism takes us along Jesus’ own journey from death to life; from the cross to the new You of the resurrection.
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him – having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Col 2:11–14).
Lastly, baptism’s power unites us with one another as the Body of Christ on earth! Through Christ and his power and call for baptism, we’re integrated into the Family of God – void of any previous worldly distinctions. We share the same blessing from God given to us through the cross and resurrection of Jesus!
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Co 12:13)
By way of summary, baptism:
- is the combination of water and God’s Word
- is a “means of grace” God uses to provide what was won on the cross for us
- effects the forgiveness of sins
- saves
- is like “putting on Christ”
- buries us with Jesus in order to be raised with Jesus
- unites us as one in Christ
Part 2: The Blessing of Infant Baptism
Infant baptism begins with the understanding we’re all caught in a vortex of spiritual entropy.
Another way of considering it is we’re all born outside/away from the Presence of God. We don’t come to know him naturally. Ask any two year old about who’s the center of the universe and the point of spiritual entropy is clarified! This dynamic is called, “original sin.” It means we’re born away from God’s Presence, and given no intervention, keep moving away from God’s Presence and toward our selves till we implode. Consider what the Bible says about this condition.
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Eph 2:1–3)
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Ro 8:7–8)
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and who is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Co 2:14) .
“Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord”’ except in the Holy Spirit.” (1 Co 12:3)
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” (Ro 5:6–10)
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:9–13)
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps 51:5)
“As it is written: None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” (Ro 3:10–12)
“For fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Ro 3:23)
“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.” (Ro 5:18)
“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3.5-6)
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn 1:8)
So – God initiates! God seeks! God pursues us! He draws us back to Him in Christ! It is a well-integrated and powerful theme throughout the Bible – God seeks us out! He is the Great Initiator!
Thus says the LORD: “… I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.” (Je 31:2–4)
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and abear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (Jn 15:16–17)
“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16.15-17)
Baptism is a means of grace to draw us close with the gift of faith.
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Ac 22:16)
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5:25–27)
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7)
“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” (1 Pe 3:21–22)
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Co 12:13)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Ro 6:1–6)
Faith is a Gift, Received as an Infant/Child Receives Any Gift
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Mt 18:5–6)
“In that same hour he rejoiced fin the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” (Lk 10:21)
“And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And she took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them. (Mk 10:13–16).
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Lk 18:15–17)
“And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Mt 21:14–16)
Infants Have Been Received Into God’s Covenant Since Circumcision (which St. Paul equates to Baptism)
“And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Le 12:3)
“And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father…” (Lk 1:59)
“In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Col 2:11–14)
Part 3: A Free Ticket to Heaven (What Baptism is Not)
Having thoroughly reviewed what Baptism is and how it works with all ages, Part 3 of “The Gift of Baptism” addresses misconceptions, objections and typical misunderstandings on the nature of Baptism.
Is Baptism a free ticket into heaven?
How can a infant/small child understand what’s happening in baptism?
Is an unbaptized infant lost?
Can/should someone be re-baptized?
How baptism and “confirmation” related?