What is Christian Baptism

What is Christian Baptism?

 

Baptism is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Scripture says: “We are buried with Christ in baptism and we are raised to walk in a new life…” (Romans 6:3-4) When we are baptized, or go under the water, we “die” to our old life of sin and pride and as Christ rose from death, we rise out of the water to a new life in Christ.  Christ takes away the old and gives us the new.  

 

Before we are baptized, we repent of our sins and Testify that we believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Then our baptism is a public testimony to the world of our commitment to Christ.  A public declaration that we repent of our sins and we now belong to Christ. It is the first step of Christian discipleship. 

 

  We are baptized as an act of obedience to the commands of Christ.  Jesus commands us: “All authority has been given to Me (Jesus) in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy spirit.  Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:18)

 

Baptism symbolizes putting sin to death.  Accepting Christ as our Savior from sin and death. Christians disagree as to whether baptism is essential to the New Birth.  And whether baptism is a sacrament or not.  Most Protestant Christians and Evangelicals believe that Baptism does not make you a believer, it shows you already are one.  Like wearing a wedding ring doesn’t make you married but it announces to the world that you are married. But you can be married and not wear a wedding ring.

 

The Bible says that we receive salvation through belief in Christ. Most believe the Scriptures that say it is God’s grace and our faith in Christ that brings salvation. All Christians believe that God blesses a person through baptism.  That more is going on spiritually when we are baptized than we can understand.

 

Some churches insist on adult baptism and some churches practice infant baptism.  Some believe that a person must be old enough to accept Christ in order to be baptized.  And others believe that the parents can dedicate the baby to God and promise to bring the young child up in the Lord. The baby is usually baptized or dedicated by sprinkling a few drops of water on his or her head.  Whereas with adult baptism, the older child or adult is usually baptized by being placed under the water and then brought up. However, some churches baptize older children and adults by sprinkling water on the head.   

 

Scripture tells us that we are born again into a new family – the body of Christ when we believe. Scripture says: “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body (the body of Christ) – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and we have all been made to drink into one Spirit (the Holy Spirit) .” 1 Corinthians 12:12-13)   We as believers have a special fellowship through the Holy Spirit with other Christians (our brothers and sisters in Christ) after we believe.

 

  You may notice in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 it says that “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body”.  It appears that there is a spiritual working going on here in us.  Or a spiritual baptizing of us going on when we believe, apart from the public baptism we have in a church before others. 

 

Recently I was in church when several children were baptized and afterwards the pastor baptized their teddy bears!!! That’s right, he solemnly baptized teddy bears up at the altar! I was so upset I almost got up and walked out.  And I feel guilty now that I didn’t.  Baptizing teddy bears, I believe, is treading on sacred ground and making a mockery of the sacrament of baptism.

 

After that the pastor gave his sermon about what he believes baptism means!  The sermon went something like this. – That baptism speaks of God cheering us on no matter who we are or what we do.  That we can’t get away from God’s loving and being pleased with us. That nothing is required of us although it is better if we are good.  That God’s love covers everything.

 

That we can go on living our lives as usual, sinning as we want, no contribution from us required, since it’s all on God.  We are free to model ourselves on the world’s standards in every sphere of life. Baptism doesn’t require church discipline, and God’s forgiveness doesn’t require repentance!  God’s love covers it all and we can just do our own thing! Of course, it’s better to follow God’s command, but if we don’t God will take care of it.  This kind of baptism and this kind of grace isn’t the kind we read about in Scripture.

 

Scripture says that grace is costly.  Costly grace (not cheap grace) is the treasure hidden in the field, for the sake of it a person will gladly go and sell all that he or she has.  It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all of his or her goods in order to get it.  (Matthew 13:44-46) It is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciples left all their nets and work and followed Him.  Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow and it costs a person his or her life.  But it gives a person the only true life. It is costly because it cost God the life of His Son.  Scripture says: “You were bought with a price”.  (1 Corinthians 19:10)

 

I don’t believe that this baptism where nothing is required of us is the baptism spoken of in the Bible. I think it is a fake baptism and a cheap man-made baptism we are making up and doing for ourselves. And this cheap baptism revolves around a cheap grace. 

 

Scripture tells us that true grace from God is very costly. Yes, God loves every person in the world, whether they follow Him or not.  (John 3:16) But, God is not pleased with a person who rejects Him and refuses to try to turn away from his or her sins.  And that person who rejects Christ is not “born again” into His new life. Christ calls us to “follow Him” and take up our cross.  His grace is costly because it cost Him His life.  And we are called to count the cost because He calls us to a give Him our lives. 

 

Some of the ideas in this blog were taken from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, “the Cost of discipleship”. 

  

 

 

 

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