Baptism - Lesson 2

BAPTISM

2003/2004

LESSON TWO

I. Baptism as Divine Command

A. Lutheran theology

1. Sees universal depravity as the problem which God intends Baptism to answer.

2. But, derives the necessity of its practice from the divinical command.

a. Mt 28:19.

b. (Ap II, 2; SC IV; LC IV. 3-9)

B. Luther’s Small Catechism

1. States that Baptism is not only water connected with God’s Word.

2. But a water enveloped, taken into, surrounded by a command of God.

C. Command attributed to the resurrected Lord.

1. A problem for those without firm belief in the resurrection. (e.g.: 18th century Rationalists)

2. Some have questioned whether words were but attributed to Him.

D. Question of how evangelist Matthew sees Baptism within his entire gospel.

1. An isolated passage or an integral part of his gospel and therefore of Jesus’ preaching?

2. Is a fundamental question.

II. Matthew 28:19 As Command to the Church for Luther

A. Luther’s use of Mt 28:19 in LC.

1. As an objective working of God’s grace.

2. Not dependent on man (not even his faith)

3. Resulted from his confrontation with the Anabaptists.

4. Placed Baptism on same level of necessity as Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer.

B. Christ

1. Not only commands Baptism.

2. He also does the baptizing.

C. Luther’s assertion of the objectivity of the working of divine grace in Baptism.

1. Is not to regard faith as unnecessary for salvation.

2. But to connect the faith necessary for salvation with the water of Baptism.

D. In Lutheran sacramental theology:

1. Christ is present in such a way that from within the sacrament, He is both:

a. the dispenser of grace, and

b. the object of faith.

2. Contrasts sharply with Reformed position, for whom:

a. the sacramental action is performed on earth.

b. while Christ is worshipped in heaven.

c. e.g. Calvin: benefits of salvation are bestowed neither by Christ nor by Baptism, but by the Holy Spirit.

3. Luther: “‘whoever rejects Baptism rejects God’s Word, faith, and Christ, who directs us and binds us to Baptism’ (LC IV. 31)” (Scaer, p. 25)

4. Baptism is in its entirety a christological event.

a. He is the One who commands it,

b. Is present in it as the One who performs it, and

c. Is the One who is believed.

E. Luther never suggested that Baptism be administered to unbelievers.

1. But unbelief does not invalidate Baptism.

2. Nevertheless, Christ in the sacrament becomes efficacious for salvation only through faith.

III. Baptism as Law or Gospel or both?

A. Question arises because our Confessions understand Baptism as a command.

1. Law offers salvation to those who fulfill it.

2. Gospel gives salvation without our works.

B. Answer important to avoid claim that the baptized person is “doing God a favor”.

C. Mt 28:19 contains the imperative “make disciples, teaching them...baptizing....”

1. “Teaching”, refers to entire corpus of Jesus’ teachings delivered to them for His church.

2. A binding command on the church to baptize and teach.

3. But this charter with which He establishes His church and the working procedures for it belong to the Gospel.

4. Describes how Mt 16:18 will be carried out.

5. To reject the command is:

a. tantamount to rejecting the Christian message.

b. an assault on the very foundation of the church.

6. There is no solution for despising the Gospel.

7. “Teaching them to obey”:

a. Has been wrongfully used to focus on concept of obedience.

b. Intent

(1) not to speak about Christian life.

(2) is about the nature or quality of His teaching as the divine Word of God.

(3) from τηρέω (tēreō): to keep, i.e. to inwardly cherish (per Chase, cited Scaer, p. 28fn)

(4) “whatever I commanded you”: used word related to εντολή (entolē) [not νόμος (nomos-law)] which refers to words spoken as coming from God Himself.

IV. Baptism not an Isolated Sacrament

A. Lutheran position.

1. Baptism is a sacrament that actually gives the forgiveness of sins.

2. Also that Baptism projects this forgiveness into the Christian’s entire life.

(a) The “daily drowning” and “daily allowing of new man to come forth” concepts of S.C.

(b) All of Christian’s life is a spiritual Baptism without ceasing until death.

3. Luther incorporates Penance into Baptism (cf Roman church)

4. We return daily to Baptism, whether by Luther’s embrace of Penance into Baptism or Melancthon’s continued life of repentance (Ap. XIII. 4)

5. Luther treated Confession as separate section in S.C., but nevertheless regarded confession and absolution as sacramental, i.e. the extension of Baptism into the life of the church.