Here is a little something a put together a few days ago. Its probably a little confusing but I hope you are edified. Scotty
What is Baptism?
Ordinance or Sacrament? These names are interchangeable and are regarded as synonymous in meaning. Most Protestants dislike the use of the word “Sacrament” because the Catholic Church regards their sacraments as a means of grace, which is a position Protestants reject.
Wayne Grudem says that baptism is by full immersion in water, he argues this by the use of the Greek word baptizo which means “to plunge, dip, immerse”, this is the word used in the New Testament for baptism. Also, when the Scriptures describe baptism, they describe it as immersion in “much water” (John 3:23), Jesus was said to have come “out of ” the water (Mark 1:10) and when Phillip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch they went “down into the water” (Acts 8:38-39). Grudem’s conclusion from these examples is that biblical baptism is by full immersion, not by sprinkling.
(i) Evangelical churchmen do not treat the sacrament of baptism lightly. We do not forget that it was instituted by the risen Lord, nor that it was administered by the infant Church from the Day of Pentecost onwards (Acts 2:38, 41). Because of the precept of Christ and the practice of the apostles, it is the plain duty of every professing Christian to ask for baptism for himself and his children; and of the ordained minister to press upon his congregation this obligation and privilege.
(John Stott, The Evangelical Doctrine of Baptism, 1964, The Anglican Synthesis)
I disagree with someone’s children being baptized unless they themselves have a true confession of faith.
Act 2:38
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
I believe this scripture shows the order of baptism, that it follows repentance and is therefore a believers baptism. Wayne Grudem also says in his Systematic Theology in Chapter 49, page 967, that baptism is appropriately administered only to those who give a believable confession of faith in Jesus Christ. (Direct quote in italics)
Baptism defined by John Calvin-
Baptism is a sign of our forgiveness, of our participation in Christ’s death and resurrection and also in his blessings.
Romans 6:3-6
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.
This passage shows that Baptism is a symbol of our union with Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. On the point of infant baptism, the infant would have no idea of the significance of this act and would not understand the meaning.
Also, baptism does symbolize being cleansed from our sins.
Acts 22:16
“‘And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
Grudem states that though the symbolism of washing away our sins is an important aspect of baptism, it is not the most important, that the rest of the scriptures clearly show the symbolism of being buried with Christ to be more significant. (Rom 6:1-11, Col 2:11-12)
The Necessity of Baptism
Matthew 28:19
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.
Acts 2:38
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.
These are commands given to 1) baptize and 2) be baptized. The first command is from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and it is to baptize disciples, point being, to baptize believers only. The second command comes from one of the Twelve Apostles, Peter, and is that believers be baptized after they have repented. In both commands baptism follows repentance, therefore it is command to believers to be baptized.
If we also look at the pattern of baptism shown in the New Testament, we see baptized believers being baptized. First we have Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist (Matt. 3:13), we see thousands of new believers being baptized (Acts 2:41), we see Phillip baptizing newly believing men and women and even Simon the magician in Samaria and also the Ethiopian eunuch, Paul the Apostle (then Saul) was baptized by Ananias after believing the Gospel, and we have many more accounts of new believers being baptized all over the New Testament. I believe these accounts and the commands are biblical proof that baptism is necessary for a believer. But is it necessary for salvation? No. That would be to say that we are partially saved by works and not by faith alone. We see the perfect example of someone not being baptized yet assuredly being saved in the thief on the cross (Luke 23:43).
Grudem says this,
Baptism, then, is not necessary for salvation. But it is necessary if we are to be obedient to Christ, for he commanded baptism for all who believe in him.
So we do not believe that baptism is necessary to salvation, but I conclude that a believer who has not been baptized would be in sin. If we agree with the definition of sin given by the Baptist Catechism which is, sin is any lack of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God, then it would seem that disobeying a command given firstly from Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, and then from his apostles, would be sin. We then should ask, what is transgression? A simple version of the Westminster Shorter Catechism defines transgression as, doing what God forbids. But I would add, doing what God forbids or not doing what he commands. If we can take these definitions that it would follow logically that to be a believer and to profess the name of Christ and yet to not be baptized would be sin.
1 Peter 3:21-22
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 being subjected to Him.
I believe this verse shows that baptism is also recognition of Christ’s authority, and so that we may have a good conscience in front of God knowing that we have publicly professed that we are followers of His Son.
