BY TONY HOSS
Many sincerely religious people, including some members of the Lord’s Church, have a narrow view concerning baptism. Many in the religious world only see baptism as an initiation into the church. Then there are those who see baptism as a religious right or ceremony. There are those who believe baptism is not necessary for salvation. Then there are those who understand that baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
The Bible teaches us that baptism involves much more than most understand. The truth is baptism is broader in its scope and blessings than many people know or realize. The aspects of baptism, like onions, are multilayered; these layers must be peeled back and investigated for one to truly appreciate biblical baptism. Consider a few of the layers that show the importance of baptism.
First, baptism is like the ritual of circumcision. Under the Law of Abraham, no man could be a member of the Nation of Israel unless he had been circumcised. According to (Genesis 17:9-14), the male child could only be recognized as an Israelite once circumcision had been performed. The Apostle Paul in (Romans 2:29), teaches us that all men and women must undergo a “circumcision of the heart” in order to be a child of God. In his later letters Paul taught that baptism is similar to the act of circumcision. Paul shows that the act of baptism is the point when God cuts off and removes the sins of the heart. See Colossians 2:11-13. As it was with Paul, baptism is the point when God forgives man of his sin; “wash away our sins” (Acts 22:16).
Second, baptism is like the purification rites of the Jews. Under the Law of Moses, the Jews were faced with the problem of ceremonial defilement and uncleanness every day. The Law of Moses lists a host of offences which caused the people to be impure and disqualified them from entering the worship assembly. For this reason a ritual of purification was set forth that included blood of sacrifice and the washing of the body with water (Leviticus 15:13-15). Similarly, under the Law of Christ, the unclean sinner comes before Jesus Christ, our high-priest to have “heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and having his body washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22). According to the writer of Hebrews, this refers to Christian baptism as the only use of water in the New Testament concerning salvation, the church or worship (Acts 10:47-48; cf. Ephesians 4:5, Matthew 28:29, 1bPeter 3:21). When we are washed in the waters of baptism, the blood Jesus who is our sacrifice is then “applied” to our conscience, giving us a clean and good conscience before God.
Third, baptism is like a birth. Jesus in John 3:5, described our entering into the kingdom of God like a “birth.” When a child comes forth from his mother through birth, that child comes into the world of light. Similarly, the believer obedient to baptism comes out of the waters of baptism a new born babe in Christ (1 Peter 2:2). Those who followed this course in Acts 2 were added to the Church (Acts 2:47). This new birth can only be seen as an immersion in water and subsequent coming forth (Romans 6:3-4; cf. Acts 8:39), otherwise there is no birth.
Fourth, baptism is like a burial and resurrection. According to Romans 6:3-4, a sinner dies to sin and then is buried with Christ through baptism into death and then is raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4). In Galatians 3:27, we see that those who are baptized put on Christ. One who has not put on Christ cannot be a Child of God and an heir of His (Galatians 3:29).
There are many other aspects of baptism which space will not allow in this article. However, there can be no doubt of the connection that baptism has with salvation and our cleansing and sanctification.
(Tony Hoss is minister at Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton)