THE ONE BAPTISM: UNION WITH THE RISEN LORD

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THE ONE BAPTISM: UNION WITH THE RISEN LORD

By: Daniel McMillin

PAUL'S VIEW OF BAPTISM

“The [New Testament] abounds with clear evidence that baptism mattered to early Christians. And the history of the Christian church for nearly two thousand years demonstrates that baptism has always mattered to Christians in all ages and all contexts.”[1] Baptism is one of the most divisive doctrines in the Church. Most of the controversy concerns the mode, means, and subjects of baptism. There are those who want to baptize by sprinkling or pouring, and others who define baptism as immersion. There are debates on the proper candidates of baptism, whether they be infants or adults. Finally, there are those who argue that baptism is merely symbolic but not salvific.

Many define baptism as an outward expression of an inward faith and interpret it as solely a symbol of salvation, but cast aside any interpretation of baptism as something connected with one’s response to God’s gift of grace and reception of salvation. This interpretation is contrary to Paul’s view of baptism and the New Testament’s presentation. “Although the New Testament nowhere sets forth a systematic understanding of baptism, it nevertheless assumes that baptism belongs normally in the context of conversion, and results in any or all of the benefits associated with conversion.”[2]

Baptism “marks one’s incorporation into the Messiah and into his people.”^[3] Salvation begins at baptism, one’s entrance into Christ is at baptism, this new life begins at baptism. How could one deny otherwise? The Scripture is quite clear, baptism is the beginning of our relationship with God and the point of our redemption. In the New Testament, there is no such thing as a non-baptized Christian. Baptism is not optional. “From references to baptism in Paul’s letters it is apparent that he assumes that all believers in Christ have been baptized.”^[4] Paul takes Christian’s immersion into Christ and uses baptism as a reminder of our salvation and relationship with God. He points to baptism as the WHEN of our union with Christ. Baptism is salvation from sins. It is a reconciliation with God through union with Christ. Baptism is a transformation from the old life of sin and the beginning of a new life in Christ. There is a spiritual death and burial that is followed by a resurrection. When we are raised from the waters of baptism, the old life is dead, and we begin to live according to this new life. Before one is immersed into Christ, there are certain actions that are required. Hearing the gospel is essential to receive faith and the gift of grace that follows, belief in the divinity and resurrection of Jesus Christ is important before one is baptized into His name, repentance from previous sins is crucial before receiving the forgiveness of sins, confession of one’s belief in the identity of Jesus is critical before being united to Christ in baptism, and properly understanding the nature of baptism, that is, its meaning and purpose.

The meaning of baptism may be summarized in seven different expressions. Baptism is: (1) a confession of faith that demonstrates one’s allegiance and loyalty to Christ; (2) an act of repentance that is a result and expression of one’s change of mind, will, and actions; (3) the moment one receives the forgiveness of sins; (4) the moment one receives the gift of the Holy Spirit; (5) a new birth through water and Spirit accomplished by God; (6) a spiritual death and resurrection that produces a newness of life, and (7) an incorporation and initiation into the Church.[5] There are four arguments for the necessity of baptism: (1) in all parts of the New Testament baptism is presupposed as normative for the acceptance of the Christian faith and entrance into the Church; (2) the significance attributed to baptism by the Apostolic writers shows that they viewed it as a means of grace; (3) faith admittedly is required for the appropriation of salvation but it is questioned whether saving faith can exist without baptism; and (4) since saving faith cannot exist without baptism, faith without baptism is obviously unprofitable.[6]

BAPTISM AS PARTICIPATION IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS

Romans 6:3–5

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Paul’s definition of baptism is participation in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Paul’s language highlights one’s union with Christ: “buried with” (6:4), “united with” (6:5), “crucified with” (6:6), “died with” (6:8), and “live with” (6:8). “There is no participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ without baptism.”^[1] Baptism is the means by which the believer is brought into a relationship with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. “In baptism God does to a person what he did to Christ.”^[2] Baptism is connected to the gospel. The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection; we participate in the gospel through our spiritual death, burial, and resurrection. “What happened to Christ historically happens to others spiritually, and that in turn anticipates what will happen really at the end of time. The convert participates in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. There is a sharing in his experience. That makes baptism a richly meaningful act. More is involved than an imitation or repetition of what Christ did; what he did becomes operative in the life of the believer.”^[3] In other words, we receive the benefits of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ when we experience our own death, burial, and resurrection. “The description of baptism in terms of death, burial, and subsequent walking (after a rising) in a new life is certainly consistent with an immersion, and the likeness of the action to a burial may even have suggested the analogy.”^[4] Christians now have the power not to sin because sin no longer has mastery over them. Christ overpowered sin through his death, burial, and resurrection. Likewise, Christians can resist sin and be saved through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection because of their own death, burial, and resurrection at baptism. “The believer is described as actually present with and involved with the unique experiences of Christ.”^[5] Everything Christ did in His death, burial, and resurrection, we do in baptism. Baptism “into his death” implies “an actual participation” in the death of Christ.^[6] Baptism is defined as immersion since it is a burial in water. “Newness of life” implies resurrection life like Christ’s bodily resurrection that followed His death and burial. Thus, “newness of life” is a result of baptism. “The purpose of Paul’s reference to baptism in Romans 6 is to show the inconsistency of a life of sin in one who understands the meaning of baptism. Romans 6 does not say it is impossible for a baptized person to sin, but that it is inconsistent to do so…as a death to sin and a resurrection to a new life, baptism says something very important about the life to be lived after baptism. Since baptism means sin is crucified and buried and a new life is raised, this indicates the kind of life to be lived —righteous and not sinful. We are to be dead to sin but alive in and for God.”^[7]

THE IRRELEVANCE OF THE BAPTIZER

1 Corinthians 1:13-17

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel.”

“The New Testament places no significance on the person who performs the baptism. The emphasis is always on the person’s response of faith and the divine action.”^[1] Paul is not suggesting that baptism is nonessential; otherwise, his argument falls flat on its face, and his additional instructions on baptism are no longer coherent. Here, Paul is not depreciating the nature of baptism; there is “only a depreciation of the administrator of the baptism.” Further, “the passage is a clear indication that Christian baptism is an administered act and is not self-baptism. Christ was the essential referent of baptism, not the person who did the teaching or the administering of the baptism. Baptism into the name of Christ was the expected result of preaching the gospel.”^[2] Notably, Paul’s ministry was not merely to be the administrator of baptism but to be the preacher of the gospel, which causes hearers to be baptized. In other words, God did not call him to be an apostle to baptize but to preach. “The preaching of the gospel that results in baptism is much more important than the person who assists the believer in being baptized…the person doing the baptizing was not the important matter; what was important was the fact that it was done and the purpose that motivated it.”^[3]

BAPTISM AS INCORPORATION INTO THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 12:13

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

Baptism emphasizes not only one’s union with Christ but the unity of the Christian community as the “one body” of Christ. “The passage emphasizes oneness—one Spirit puts into one body the members, who receive the one Spirit. Baptism is the act that introduces a person into the one body, the church.”^[1] Paul uses the phrase “drink” to create a word picture that describes one’s union with Christ at baptism. “His image implies that baptism incorporates people into the body of Christ.”[2] Baptism is an act done “in” and “by” the Spirit. It is accomplished “in” the Spirit, who “provides the atmosphere or influence in which the baptism occurs,” and it is done “by” the Spirit, which means He “is the means by which baptism puts one into the body.”^[3] In sum, “the point is that every Christian has been made a part of one body and immersed in (or by) the Spirit.”[4]

BAPTISM AS UNION WITH CHRIST

Galatians 3:27

“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

One enters Christ when they have faith and is baptized. “Paul binds faith and baptism together as two aspects of entering into Christ. One now belongs to Christ on the basis of faith in him by being baptized into him.” Union with Christ through faith and baptism can be distinguished as follows: “baptism is the time,” and “faith is the reason why.”^[1] Individuals are baptized in the name of or according to the authority of Christ. Baptism “into Christ” is fundamentally “directed toward Christ.”^[2] The way Paul uses the phrase “put on” Christ is an illustration that may be likened to one putting on clothes. “Paul uses the image to underscore the submerging of each individual convert into Christ, with Christ engulfing, covering, enveloping the convert like a garment.”^[3]

THE UNIQUENESS OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Ephesians 4:5

"One baptism."

Paul highlights seven major doctrines that unite Christians through the Spirit. Notably, baptism is listed among these doctrines. While this element may be included in Paul’s list, it has often received little attention in terms of rank or importance compared to the other doctrines. Indeed, “the shared experience of baptism stands amidst the cluster of unifying elements.”^[1] It is remarkable that Paul would discuss baptism among these other doctrines. “The inclusion of baptism in such an impressive list of the foundational verities of Christianity and basic principles of Christian unity testifies to its importance.”^[2] Obviously, then, baptism is an incredibly significant doctrine as it unites Christians to Christ. Here, Paul does not mean to say that there is only one baptism that exists. In the Bible, there are different baptisms, such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of believers. There is more than one baptism that can be referenced. Thus, Paul is suggesting there is only one baptism that can be ranked as an essential doctrine and unite Christians. “The ‘one baptism’ is water baptism, the public rite of confession of the one faith in the one Lord. This baptism is one, not because it has a single form or is administered on only one occasion, but because it is the initiation into Christ, into the one body, which all have undergone and as such is a unifying factor.”^[3]

BAPTISM AS THE WORK OF GOD

Colossians 2:12

"Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Paul describes baptism by comparing physical acts with spiritual realities. Baptism is a spiritual circumcision. In baptism, they were circumcised, and their fleshly passions were removed. They were raised with Jesus to a new spiritual life by physically sharing Jesus’ burial and resurrection in baptism because of their faith in the working of God. “Baptism brings a person into this circumcision of Christ on the cross. The believer shares Christ’s circumcision (death), burial, and resurrection.”^[1] They were made alive and forgiven of all their transgressions when they were baptized. This spiritual circumcision is when sinners “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Col. 3:9-10). Paul’s emphasis on “circumcision” is freedom from sin and the new life. Physical circumcision never saved, but the circumcision of Christ removes the guilt of sin. The “circumcision of Christ” unites the Gentiles and Jews in Christ to be a people of God. Salvation is an act of salvation “made without hands.” “When one enters into Christ’s death, that person receives a spiritual circumcision, a circumcision that is not done by a human hand. The baptism is not itself the spiritual circumcision, for baptism is performed by human hands. Rather, the circumcision is received in baptism.”^[2] Here, the emphasis is upon God’s work in baptism, not the actions of the one baptizing or being baptized. “The power of God which raised Christ is operative in baptism.”[3] Since baptism is described as a burial, it is clear that baptism means to be fully submerged or covered in the watery grave of baptism. In other words, baptism must be defined as immersion since it is likened to a burial. To be “buried” implies being dead prior; otherwise, it is being buried alive, but since it is spoken in the past tense, this implies that you are no longer buried, which lays the foundation for Paul affirming that we are risen and made alive in Christ. This circumcision takes place at the moment of burial. Burial and circumcision are done by the hands of another, but the resurrection that is done in baptism is by the “working of God.” Baptism is not only a burial, where we lay dead in the grave, but is a resurrection into a new life with Christ. We are dead to sin and alive with Christ through faith.

BAPTISM AS SALVATION, REGENERATION, AND RENEWAL

Titus 3:5

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.”

Here, God is identified as “our Savior” who rescues sinners by His grace (Titus 3:4). Since it is God who is identified as our Savior, it follows that we did not save ourselves. It is only by God’s work that we are saved; therefore, we are not and cannot be saved on account of our own works and merits. We needed God’s mercy and the gift of salvation. God’s saving activity is reached “through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” There are some who doubt whether or not this is a reference to baptism,^[1] while others (along with myself) would suggest this is about baptism.^[2] It seems obvious here that “baptism is not a human work, but is a work of God.”^[3] The saving activity of regeneration and renewal is attributed to the divine activity of the Holy Spirit. “The washing is the occasion of the regeneration and renewal by the Spirit.”^[1] When believers are immersed in the watery grave of baptism, there is this cleansing that takes place. God washes away the sins of the sinner through the blood of His perfect Son, which results in regeneration. Their sins are taken away, removed, and they are then clothed in newness of life. They become new creatures in this new birth by becoming regenerated, reborn, and renewed. This act of baptism and regeneration is a one-time act. Yet, the effects of salvation remain as the Holy Spirit regenerates continually.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

What is baptism according to the New Testament?
What is the meaning of baptism?
Why are sinners immersed in Christ?
Who are candidates for baptism?
Why is baptism included in this summary of Christian doctrine? Is baptism an important doctrine?
Is baptism an option or an obligation?
To be a New Testament Christian, do we have to be baptized to be identified as Christians and be saved? Are we saved at the moment of our baptism?
Is baptism just a sign or symbol of my faith? Is baptism just identifying with Christ (outward expression of saving faith), or is it the beginning of our relationship with Christ (the point of our conversion)?
Is baptism a work? Are we affirming baptism + faith when we are saved by grace through faith?
Is baptism worth debating or dividing over?