EXCURSUS ON BAPTISM

INTRODUCTORY LESSON
This lesson is a summary of the Advanced Lesson.
It will focus more on the conclusions of the advanced study.
Should the student have any questions regarding the conclusions  drawn in this study, then the student is advised to refer to the advanced study for details.
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SUMMARY
 1)  Baptism is one of two major doctrines recognized by most major Christian
     religions.  Because of this, it is sometimes called one of the two major
     Christian Sacraments.  Sacraments mean doctrines that are binding on, or
     keep one in order.  The other sacrament is the Eucharist or Lord's Supper.
2)  Baptism is universally recognized as the point of entrance into the church, the
     family of God, or the new life in Christ.  It is therefore recognized as a
     Christian right of passage.
3)  Baptism in its five forms is mentioned at least 95 times in the New Testament, at
     least 50 times in the Gospels, at least 26 times in Acts, at least 14 times in
     Paul, and 1 time in Peter.
4)  We conclude from this brief analysis that baptism is a significant New
     Testament doctrine.
5) There are four different ways in which baptism and its cognate terms appear in
     the New Testament, Judaism, and religious cults as a doctrine or practice:
        a.  Pre Christian baptism
        b.  The baptism of John
        c.  Christian baptism
        d.  Symbolic use of baptism
6)  The use of the word family relating to baptism in the Pre Christian era
     (notably in Judaism and the Qumran Dead Sea Community) help inform us that
     baptism was in water, by immersion, for ceremonial cleansing, and initiation
     into the religious group.
7)  John the Baptist's baptism was associated with repentance, was for the
     forgiveness of sins, and announced the coming Messiah and the kingdom of
     God.  It was for Jews who truly repented, and functioned under the Mosaic
     sacrificial system for the forgiveness of sins.  It was initiated by command of
     God and had to do with righteousness and the purpose of God (Matt 3:6-11; Mk
     1:4-8).
8)  Christian baptism is that baptism promised by John and commanded by
     Jesus in the Great Commission (Matt 28:19, 20; Mk 16:15, 16).
          a.  Christian baptism functions under the sacrificial atoning death of Jesus
               Christ the Son of God, and not under the Mosaic sacrificial system as in
               John the Baptist's baptism.
          b.  Christian baptism is an immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins
               (Acts 8:36-39).
          c.  Christian baptism is built on faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God,
               crucified, buried, and raised from the dead (Acts 16:30-33).  
          d.  Faith in Jesus also consists in believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the
               king of God's kingdom, and that he will judge the world in righteousness
               when he returns at his second coming.  
          e.  Christian baptism requires repentance for ones sins, and submission to
               Christ's command to be baptized for the forgiveness of ones sins (Acts
               2:37-38).  
          f.   Christian baptism is immersion in water as an act of submission to the
               will of God.
          g.  In this immersion one is buried with Christ and raised to walk in
               newness of life (Rom 6:3-9).
          h.  Christian baptism is the new birth in which the Holy Spirit gives one new
               life in Christ (Jn 3:3-5; Tit 3:3-5; 2 Cor 3:6).  
          i.   In Christian baptism the Holy Spirit is active in the new birth, and
               through ones baptism one is baptized into the body of Christ in which
               there is unity of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:13).
          j.   Christian baptism is not a work we do, but an act of faith in the working
               of God in Christ (Col 2:12).
          k.  Christian baptism is submission to God's will and saving work.  The
               words be baptized are in the passive voice (Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16),
               indicating that in baptism we are the ones receiving the working of
               baptism, not acting in the work of baptism.  Christian baptism is simply
               trusting in the grace of God and submitting to his will (Gal 3:27, 28).
9)  As described in the Book of Acts, Christian baptism was in the name of Jesus,
     was based on faith in Jesus Christ, and repentance of ones sins.  Christian
     baptism in Acts was for the forgiveness of sins. It was commanded of everyone
     seeking salvation and was part of the Apostolic preaching of the cross and the
     gospel of Christ.
10) Christian baptism in Paul picks up on the themes of Acts.  For Paul, baptism is
     where one is buried with Christ, united with Christ, how one gets into Christ,
     and the basis for ones life in Christ.  Christian baptism is where one dies to
     ones past life and is raised to walk a new life in Christ (Rom 6:3-9).
11) In Petrine (Peter)  theology, baptism picks up from Peter's preaching as
      recorded in Acts, and in Peter's terms, "now saves us" (2 Pet 3:21).


CONCLUSION
Expressed simply, baptism is an immersion in water as an act of faith in God's working in Christ.  It is for the forgiveness of sins through the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  It is trusting in the work of God and his Holy Spirit, and not in ones own ability or working.  It is how one is united with Christ, how one gets into Christ, and the point in which one is born again by the Holy Spirit.  It is an expression of ones trusting obedience to Christ and his Father.

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