LESSON TWELVE
2003-2004
BAPTISM
A. Rite and practice of Baptism.
1. Important for dogmatic theology.
2. Because they serve as church’s confession to all present.
3. But, should not be simply used as teaching device.
4. Must be honored as the sacrament of regeneration.
5. With appropriate solemnity.
6. Is first for the candidate, whether adult or infant.
7. Then for the members.
a. Who are reminded of their own Baptism and
b. Are invited to pray for the child.
B. Faith for adult candidate.
1. Not a substitute for Baptism.
2. To contrary, Baptism provides foundation for adult’s faith.
3. Just as Baptism does for the child’s.
A. Until recently, infant Baptism administered in the church shortly after birth.
1. Without congregation present.
2. Often without the mother present.
B. In apostolic times, were conducted outside in streams or pools.
C. Then under the churches where water, often flowing, available.
D. Later, specially constructed baptistries were attached to the church.
1. At first, had pools large enough for adults or children.
2. Later, replaced by fonts large enough to accommodate only the immersion of infants.
1. More common in Lutheran churches.
2. Often, particularly in past, placed at entrance to the nave.
3. Now, generally moved to the front of the nave, near the chancel.
a. Allows more easily for congregational participation.
b. Must remember it is God’s act, not a congregational rite.
A. Did not originate during the Reformation.
B. Is derived from Luther’s modification of existing and prior rites.
C. Remaining in place in Luther rites of 1523 and 1526:
1. The exorcism.
2. The renunciation of Satan.
3. The sign of the cross.
4. The questioning based on the creed before administering the water in the name of the Triune God.
D. During 18th – century Enlightment
1. Ancient rite significantly altered by elimination of:
a. The exorcism.
b. The renunciation of Satan.
c. Sometimes, the creed.
2. Focus put more on obligation of the parents, to provide moral upbringing to the child.
3. Nothing was left to suggest it was the sacrament of regeneration.
4. More and more resembled child dedication ceremonies (still used by Baptists.)
A. Revived under the theologians as C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Loehe.
B. Restored the ancient rite with:
1. The renunciation of Satan.
2. The making of the sign of the cross.
3. The addressing the questions about the creed.
a. Directly to the child.
b. With the sponsors answering them.
C. Frances Pieper lists 13 ancient customs associated with the rite.
1. Reminder of original sin.
2. Giving of the name.
3. The small exorcism.
4. The sign of the cross.
5. The Psalm verse used as a prayer for the preservation of the child.
6. The great exorcism.
7. The reading of Mk 10:13-16.
8. The laying on of hands.
9. The renunciation of Satan.
10. The Apostles’ Creed.
11. The use of sponsors.
12. The covering of the child with the white gown.
13. The final prayer (Christian Dogmatics 3:282)
D. With exception of the exorcisms and no. 12 above, were made part of rite in The Lutheran Agenda (195-) for use with LH.
E. In Lutheran Worship Agenda, use of white garment and giving of a candle were reintroduced as options.
F. Still omitted were the small and greater exorcisms.
G. The exorcism.
1. Has a firm place in church tradition.
2. Is biblically and theologically defensible.
3. Luther had 2 in his rites.
4. Is the driving out of Satan.
5. Draws a line between kingdoms of God and of Satan, over which believers cross through Baptism.
6. Renunciation is the believer’s commitment to what God has already done.
7. No one can free himself from Satan’s grip.
8. Any form of synergism:
a. With its optimistic understanding of human moral capabilities.
b. Have little use for the seriousness of sin and Satan.
c. Includes, Pelagianism, Arminianism, Socinianism, and Rationalism.
9. Exorcism is an answer to synergism.
10. Is also a complete rejection of human righteousness.
11. Mk 1:4-28 (note flow of events)
a. His Baptism (4-11).
b. His temptation (12,13).
c. His ministry described (14,15).
d. His selection of disciples (16,20).
e. An exorcism in synagogue (21-28).
12. Lk 11:20 and Mt 12:28.
13. What Jesus did by exorcism (Mk 1:25), the church still does in every phase of its ministry (Mt 10:1, Mk 16:16,17; Ac 19:12), but especially in Baptism.
1. In Bible, it is intended for those possessed by devils and no longer had control over themselves.
2. Demon possession does not mean these people are necessarily guilty of more horrible sins than anyone else.
a. They are presented as victims (Mk 2:16).
b. Damaging to salvation is Satan’s exercise of power.
(1) Through deliberate alliance (e.g. Judas: Jn 13:2, 21-27).
(2) Unwitting cooperation (e.g. Peter: Mt 16:22,23).
(3) Idolatry (Baal, pagan gods, 1Co 10:20).
(4) Vigorous and obstinate unbelief (Jewish opponents: Jn 8:44).
(5) Ignorant unbelief of the sins of disobedience (Eph 2:1,2).
c. These people may be aligned with Satan, but they are not, properly speaking, demon-possessed.
d. Demon-possessed is a particular illness of the soul, and not deliberate enmity against God.
3. In Baptism, Jesus continues to show His mercy on those who have fallen under Satan’s power and reestablishes God’s kingdom in territory over which Satan illegally rules (Mt 10:1;12:22-32).
4. Perhaps, future revisions of rite should reinsert.
A. Abridgement of rite must never suggest certain items in the service are irrelevant or incidental.
B. Does not mean that all parts are of equal value (e.g. Creed vs. giving of a candle).
C. Must make clear child baptized on basis of his own faith, not the faith of parents (Reformed), or the church (Roman Catholic) or his own future faith (held across denominational boundaries).
1. Answers given by sponsors are the child’s own answers.
2. Perhaps should not encourage parents to serve as sponsors of their own children.
3. Must be careful refusing Baptism to children of parents who fail to convince us they are truly believers.
D. The faith of others.
1. Has a place.
2. The faith of the church brings them to Baptism.
3. The church prays that God would give the child faith.
4. Even before birth, child is offered up to God by the prayers of the church.
5. May be best to have congregation answer the questions only when neither the parents nor those holding the child are Lutherans (can they “faithfully speak” on behalf of child?)
E. Obligations placed on sponsors and parents in current agendas before the act of Baptism itself.
1. May be expendable.
2. Makes unhealthy distinction between rite for infants and for adults.
F. Congregational welcome at end.
1. Has problems.
2. Incorporation into church is done by Christ through the Holy Spirit in Baptism.
3. Welcoming into “the work” detracts from idea that Baptism is pure grace.
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