Few doctrines have been and still are as contentious among Christians as baptism.
- Immersion or sprinkling?
- Baby or adult?
- Necessary or optional?
- Work or obedience?
"Unfortunately, the proper role of baptism in conversion has been lost to most of the Christian world since the early 400s."
It was understood, for example, in the early church that the seal in 2 Cor 1:21-22 was baptism.
God's plan of salvation is not complicated, but it is ordered (which makes sense, as He is a God of order). Think of it like making a cake: all the right ingredients, no wrong ingredients, added in order, and then baked in the oven. Baptism is like the baking part. :)
It is important to understand that the mere fact that every single ingredient isn't listed every single time it's addressed does not make any single ingredient any less vital. If Gordon Ramsay addresses the lack of salt in a contestant's dish, he is not negating all the other ingredients. God addresses faith in some places, repentance in others, and baptism in still others (Acts 2:36-39, Colossians 2:11-15, Romans 6:1-5 for starters).
In short: Baptism is not just an outward sign of anything. Full-immersion water baptism is a vital part of God's plan of salvation; it is, in fact, the point at which we (1) participate in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; (2) receive the promised Holy Spirit who indwells us (which is very different from an outpouring of the Spirit); and, (3) receive the forgiveness of our sins. Needless to say, one must be mature enough to understand the basic truths of the Gospel and the commitment being made.
And that's just the beginning! I personally found the book, Born of Water, a simple yet incredibly helpful tool in understanding baptism.
Here are some more resources for those who want to go even deeper:
- What the Bible teaches about baptism
- Baptism in the New Testament
- Baptism: The Believer's Wedding Ceremony
- Down in the River to Pray
- Martin Luther on "faith alone"
- Church History In Plain Language
“As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with them. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, “Unless you are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven… [We] may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly committed… And this washing is called illumination…”
- Justin Martyr, chap lxi)
In fact, all ancient Christian writers locate the waters of baptism as the context of the new birth. For more on this, see the Ross-Jacoby baptism debate (2 parts + 16 Q&As).
My hope and prayer are that we can all come back fully to God's will regarding this holy and beautiful practice!
