Baptism pt 1
Baptism is one of the more contentious issues between Christian denominations, especially in western Christianity. The Bible is fairly clear about the role of baptism and nature of baptism; it is our human traditions and theological biases rooted in history that have muddied the waters. Water baptism via immersion is a key part of becoming a disciple of Christ and is necessary for salvation. Many people have been taught otherwise and this will probably be challenging to accept, but I ask that if you are challenged by the necessity of baptism that you keep an open mind while reading. If you still disagree, then I would encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section!
“And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:15-16 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mrk.16.15-16.esv
“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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.28.19-20.esv
Two different accounts of the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples after the resurrection are above. Interestingly, both accounts clearly mention baptism. Mark's account promises that belief + baptism = saved. Matthew's account says that baptism is something that you do to disciples (followers of Christ) that is specifically commanded by Jesus. The first two centuries of Christians also understood baptism of disciples to preclude the baptism of small children and infants. The examples of baptism in Acts only specifically mention the baptism of adults. Infant baptism only became widespread in the 400s with the theology of Augustine of Hippo and the unbiblical doctrine of original sin (covered in the future).
“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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:38-41 ESV
http://bible.com/59/act.2.38-41.esv
The first Christian message preached after the resurrection was at Pentecost. Peter specifically mentions baptism with the promise of the forgiveness of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit. Our word baptism actually comes from the Greek word meaning to submerge. It was expected that the baptized person would be submerged in water, symbolizing Christ's entombment in the earth. Paul explains this well:
“having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:12 ESV
http://bible.com/59/col.2.12.esv
Something else worth noting is that Baptism is not our work. Baptism is the working of God. This is a point of contention for modern evangelical Christians who insist that baptism cannot be necessary for salvation because we are saved by faith alone, and they characterize baptism as a work. I agree we are saved through grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8) but it has been God's decision that this happens through submission on our part to baptism (which is Gods work that washes away sins). Furthermore, "baptism by fire" and "praying Jesus into your heart" are modern formulations only loosely based on scripture that seek to avoid the clear command and importance of water baptism for disciples.
Tomorrow we will look at more issues surrounding baptism including Jesus's baptism, baptisms in Acts, and original sin. I think that there is a tendency for many of us in modern times to try and limit God to a set of rules that we define. I want to clarify that when I talk about the plan for salvation outlined in the Bible and the role of baptism in it, I am not saying that this is the only way that God EVER has saved people or given the Holy Spirit. Some clear exceptions are the thief on the cross, Saul receiving revelation through the Holy Spirit before baptism, and two cases in Acts (one where people had received the Holy Spirit without baptism, and one where baptism had not given the gift of the spirit until the apostles laid their hands on the new disciples). But while I will not question or contradict God's miraculous working in these cases, I think it is also evident that God has a clearly laid out plan and purpose for baptism that is more than "an outward sign of an inward transformation". God has laid out a plan for salvation that includes water baptism of disciples. We can either be obedient to his will or not, but putting our hope for salvation in a few exceptions from the bible is not only risky, but it is also our vain attempt to do things on our terms rather than God's.
Please feel free to disagree or comment below!
I would have expected you had gone beyond the Greek meaning of the word to try to defend submerging. However, you are mixing words: baptein means to dip, but baptizein has more meaning and you can see it in the Bible being used in the rite when the Jews pour water on the hands for washing (Luke XI, 38).
Notice that burial, and rebirth from water, is not a burial for the body, as is not the body that requires water, but the soul.
You do require water (the first and purest element), and water is then to be poured onto the head. Such as been bestowed of the Holy Ghost (read more about it below). Baptismal waters go into your soul (not into, around, etc. your body), and by been buried with Christ you can walk a new life.
We, little fish, according to our FISH Jesus Christ, are born in water, and we only live divine life while we remain in water (Tertullian). And we are after baptism being carried out in water, as the Holy Ghost (Genesis), who sanctifies water when invoked upon it, and thus leads us into sanctity.
But we are not living under water, it is just the baptismal ("Holy-Ghosted") waters that entered into our soul during the rite.
Thank you for your comment!
baptízō seems to be the correct word for Baptism and it means to dip (as you said) but also to submerge and immerse - http://biblehub.com/greek/907.htm. Early church history (before Nicean 1) also shows that full immersion was the overwhelming norm - the only exceptions I can find are when people were too sick for full immersion. Why did we deviate from the practice that Jesus underwent and how the Apostles baptized? Likely because we decided that we would prefer to do things our way and that our logic was better than that of the Apostles.
The idea of a separate body and soul is not something that is found in the Bible in the terms you are describing. It is more of an Ancient Greek concept that was probably adapted later in the Church. More often, the Hebrews viewed the two as integrated. Our eternal life is portrayed in physical terms rather than us existing as ghosts living in the clouds. I think that it overcomplicates the issue and is human hubris to try and project our conceptions onto the word rather than let the word stand on its own. Drawing a distinction how baptism works on the soul does just this. The text is clear that Baptism washes us from our sins. History shows how it was overwhelmingly practiced in the early church. Why do we need to reinterpret this?
Tertullian's example of fish seems apt - but I prefer Paul's words on us being the body and Jesus being the head. We cannot have life apart from Jesus and he is the water that satisfies all thirst (as he told Samaritan woman at the well). Baptism is a transition point to our new life just like birth (it is literally our birth into Christ where we receive the Holy Spirit. On this point - I feel there is another needless complication - Baptism specifically promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us, NOT the gift of sanctified water that lives in us.
Baptism is so misunderstood and the problem lies with the literal interpretation that is almost always accepted. I struggle to believe that there is a "god" somewhere making ridiculous demands that we submerge ourselves in water... all this does is get your head wet! So what is the true meaning of baptism? First the bible is not to be interpreted literally, the bible is a book of mythology and the guys who wrote figured that our intellectual evolution would have us see the whole book being a metaphor. Baptism as every ancient culture and tradition interprets it is about raising our consciousness. For example the 5 stages of consciousness are:
So before we are baptised our consciousness is at the carnal Earth level, when we are baptised in water it refers to raising our consciousness to the next level. (John the Baptist) The next level is to raise our consciousness to the level of Air - (1 Thessalonians 4:17 ... to meet the Lord in the air.) So what does the bible say about the next level - raising our consciousness to the level of Fire? Matt 3:11 ... he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with FIRE. This leaves the last level - New Mind, here: Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Receiving a New Mind).
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