Back to Basics: The Nature and Purpose of Baptism in New Testament Teaching

Introduction

1. Teaching that baptism plays an essential part in obtaining the remission of sins is a controversial position.

a. Many associate such a position with the Catholic Church and baptismal regeneration.

b. For most Protestants, saying that baptism is necessary for the remission of sins is tantamount to seeking salvation on the basis of works and denying the grace of God!

2. But what does the Bible say about baptism, and its relation to the forgiveness of man’s sin?

3. In this lesson we will seek to set aside traditional theology, and examine the NT from a fresh perspective.

I.      Survey of NT Passages on Baptism

A.          During the Ministry of John

1.   John the Baptist preached repentance to the people, and baptized in the Jordan. Mt. 3:1-6

a)       His ministry looked forward to the coming of the Christ. Mt. 3:11-12

b)       Jesus personally endorsed the baptism of John by submitting to it. Mt. 3:13-17

2.   John taught a “baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Lk. 3:3 (cf. Mk. 1:4)

a)       Those who acknowledged their sins confessed them and were baptized by John. (cf. Mt. 3:6)

b)       John’s baptism was commissioned by God; to reject it was to reject God’s will. Lk. 7:27-30

3.   Baptism is a transliteration (rather than translation) of the Greek words baptizo and baptisma.

a)       The Greek terms we know as baptism meant immersion.

b)       This helps us understand why John would baptize where there was “much water.” Jn. 3:23

4.   Ultimately, John’s baptism was to be superseded by the ministry of Christ. Jn. 3:26-30

a)       Later, those who only knew about John were told about Christ. Ac. 18:24-28

b)       Some, if not all, of those who had been John’s disciples were baptized again. Ac. 19:1-5

B.          During the Ministry of Jesus

1.   People were baptized during the ministry of Christ, by His disciples. Jn. 3:22; 4:1-2

2.   Jesus alluded to baptism in His conversation with Nicodemus. Jn. 3:3-5

a)       We see a striking parallel in Paul’s description of our salvation. Tit. 3:4-5

b)       Water (baptism) and the Spirit are also connected in Peter’s Pentecost sermon. Ac. 2:38

3.   Just prior to His ascension, Jesus commissioned His apostles to carry the gospel to the world.

a)       Their work would involve both teaching and baptism. Mt. 28:19-20

b)       The salvation preached was conditioned on faith and the acceptance of baptism. Mk. 16:16

C.          In the Preaching and Practice of the Apostles

1.   The book of Acts is full of examples of the apostolic teaching and practice on baptism.

a)       Peter’s sermon on Pentecost called for baptism, and 3,000 obeyed that day. Ac. 2:37-41

b)       When the Samaritans believed the preaching of Philip they were baptized. Ac. 8:12

c)       The Ethiopian eunuch requested baptism after learning about Jesus. Ac. 8:30-39

d)       Saul was baptized to wash away his sins and call upon the Lord. Ac. 9:17-18; 22:12-16

e)       The household of Cornelius were commanded to be baptized. Ac. 10:43-48

f)        Lydia and her household were baptized on learning the gospel. Ac. 16:13-15

g)       The jailer felt baptism was so urgent he did it in the middle of the night. Ac. 16:29-34

h)       The Corinthians who heard and believed the gospel were baptized. Ac. 18:8

2.   The Epistles give us insight into the nature and purpose of baptism in the NT.

a)       Baptism is a burial with Christ in death, which leads to new life. Rm. 6:1-6

b)       The main purpose of Paul’s work was to preach, not to baptize numbers. 1Co. 1:17

c)       But, Paul also said baptism provided entrance into Christ’s body. 1Co. 12:13

d)       It is thru baptism that we become children of God and are clothed with Christ. Ga. 3:26-29

e)       There is in NT teaching only one valid baptism, not many as some teach. Eph. 4:4-6

f)        In baptism we are spiritually circumcised (sin cut away) and raised by faith. Co. 2:11-12

g)       Peter uses the symbolism of Noah’s salvation to teach that baptism saves us. 1Pe. 3:18-22

3.   What would you think of these verses if you were reading them for the first time?

II.    Are Grace and Obedience Mutually Exclusive?

A.          Protestant View

1.   Protestants typically deny a connection between baptism and the remission of sins.

a)        Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.                                               --THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH (1646) Chapter XXVIII Of Baptism, V.

b)        The believers’ church tradition understands baptism to be symbolic of salvation, a public profession of faith, and a witness to the work of salvation. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is appropriated solely by faith based on the grace of God. Baptism, being an act of man, can never cleanse a person of sin or procure God’s forgiveness (Rom. 4:3).

–Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Holman Bible Publishers: Nashville, TN, 2003) p.168

2.   Virtually all Protestant denominations today lead penitent believers in a “sinner’s prayer.”

a)       Baptism may or may not be performed, and by a variety of means, some time later.

b)       Baptism is symbolic of what has already occurred, not essential to the reception of grace.

B.          Luther on Baptism and the Remission of Sins

1.   Martin Luther is rightly regarded as one of the most noteworthy men of the Reformation period.

a)       He is known for his devotion to the concept of justification by grace, through faith.

b)       Thus, one might expect Luther to oppose any connection of baptism and salvation.

2.   But remarkably, just the opposite is true!

a)       In “The Large Catechism” Luther wrote extensively of baptism’s relation to salvation.

b)       Martin Luther clearly thought that baptism for remission of sins and grace was compatible!

In these words you must note, in the first place, that here stand God's commandment and institution, lest we doubt that Baptism is divine, not devised nor invented by men… Baptism is no human trifle, but instituted by God Himself, moreover, that it is most solemnly and strictly commanded that we must be baptized or we cannot be saved, lest any one regard it as a trifling matter, like putting on a new red coat…In the second place, since we know now what Baptism is, and how it is to be regarded, we must also learn why and for what purpose it is instituted; that is, what it profits, gives and works. And this also we cannot discern better than from the words of Christ above quoted: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. Therefore state it most simply thus, that the power, work, profit, fruit, and end of Baptism is this, namely, to save…But if they say, as they are accustomed: Still Baptism is itself a work, and you say works are of no avail for salvation; what then, becomes of faith? Answer: Yes, our works, indeed, avail nothing for salvation; Baptism, however, is not our work, but God's (for, as was stated, you must put Christ-baptism far away from a bath-keeper's baptism). God's works, however, are saving and necessary for salvation, and do not exclude, but demand, faith; for without faith they could not be apprehended.

3.   I do not endorse all that Luther taught, but offer his comments as a contrast to modern theology.

C.          OT Precedent

1.   Is it impossible to believe that receiving God’s grace could be conditioned on an obedient faith?

a)       Why must an act of obedience be thought to exclude grace?

b)       Remember, we aren’t discussing man’s works of merit, but God’s works of obedience!

2.   Throughout the OT we see examples of deliverance by grace conditioned on an obedient faith.

a)       Noah had to obey God’s commands to be saved by His grace. He. 11:7

b)       The children of Israel had to obey God before He would defeat Jericho. He. 11:30

c)       Naaman’s healing was conditioned on a simple response of faith. 2Ki. 5:9-14

3.   We are saved by grace through faith, and not of works lest any man should boast. (cf. Eph. 2:8-9)

a)       But part of being saved by faith involves the obedience that comes from faith. Rm. 1:5

b)       If we truly believe God we will do what He says, and be baptized for the remissions of sins.

Conclusion

1. Who will we believe? Theologians? Denominational creeds and traditions? Or Jesus and the Apostles?!

Back to Sermons                            Home