Baptism - Lesson 3

BAPTISM

2003/2004

LESSON THREE

I. The Biblical Origins of Baptism

A. Luther’s catechisms use

1. Mt 28:19.

2. Mk 16:16.

a. Contested ending of Mark.

b. Most ancient texts do not contain.

c. However, Mark might well be the author.

d. Section contains nothing theologically unique.

e. Hence, can be used without adjustment or comment.

3. Tit 3:5: benefits of Baptism.

4. Ro 6:4: its working in life of a Christian.

B. Mt 28:19: the fundamental focus for the Lutheran Confessions

1. Is it:

a. An isolated sacramental imperative attached at end of Matthew?

b. Or, does Baptism bring together into itself previous “sacramental” activities of God?

2. Both Lutherans and Reformed theologies find a basis in Old Testament for New Testament Baptism.

a. Lutheran: see the rites of both testaments as a means of grace.

b. Reformed: do not.

3. God has always worked sacramentally with His people.

a. Sacraments are not really New Testament innovations

b. Yet, Old Testament rites do not share in the incarnation and atonement in the way Baptism and Lord’s Supper do.

c. Old Testament rites and certain historical events anticipate New Testament sacraments.

(1) e.g. Flood and Exodus prefigure Baptism

(2) They can not exhaust the meaning of Baptism but can inform it.

C. Col 2:11-12

1. References to circumcision quite important.

2. Comparison complicated by Reformed view connecting circumcision to “covenant”.

a. Their position views covenant as requiring human participation.

b. As if God and man were partners in a contract.

c. Lutherans should not yield re “covenant”.

3. Paul’s comparison centers on rejection of sin and inclusion in Christ.

a. Baptism removes sin, as circumcision removed flesh.

b. Baptism incorporates the baptized into His death and resurrection, as circumcision incorporated recipient into the saving community of Israel.

c. Old associations are put away and a new life is begun.

4. The only place where circumcision is used as a model of Baptism.

5. Old Testament sacraments.

a. Were limited in respect to time.

b. Were still sacraments in which Christ is present.

c. Were effective means of grace.

6. Circumcision, like Baptism

a. Was the covenant, and not only the initiation into the covenant.

b. “Wanderer” returns to it.

c. Through it, Church is born.

d. A means of salvation, requiring faith.

7. Lutherans see Baptism as coterminous with the Christian life.

8. Water in Old Testament

a. Had destructive and saving effects.

b. Paul and Peter both used as a point of departure.

c. Gk βαπτίζω (baptizō) means to apply water

D. 1Pe 3:18-22

1. Brings together three items

a. A primitive form of Apostles Creed.

b. Waters of the Flood.

c. Baptism.

2. The Flood

a. Divine judgment against unbelief.

b. The means of saving 8 souls

3. In 1Pe

a. Salvation is caused specifically by water.

b. By further retrospection:

(1) Waters of creation on which world was built (2Pe 3:5) may provide the foundation for the waters of Baptism.

(2) Suggested by Tit 3:5 which recalls creation, i.e. the Christian is created again by Baptism.

c. 1Co 10:1 resembles 1Pe 3:20,21.

(1) What He began in the passing through the sea was continued by the cloud that enveloped them.

(2) Baptism inaugurates and remains.

E. Passover, commemorating the coming through the sea.

1. Was assumed into Easter (1Cor 5:6-8)

2. 1Co 15.

a. May have been intended to inform their celebration of Easter.

b. Is connected to Baptism, though their practice is aberrant (v.29).

3. 1Co 10:1,2

a. “All passed”.

b. Suggests children can be baptized.

F. God was forgiving the sins of His people through these acts!

G. That is what God’s grace means!

II. The Baptism of John

A. Stands at the dawn of the new era in which Israel is reborn as God’s new people.

B. All four gospels give a prominent place.

C. John was “the baptizer” through whom God gave this sacrament to the church and world.

D. John’s baptism of Jesus.

1. Jesus changed the dimension of ritual in two ways.

a. He gave definition to it.

(1) First by being baptized

(2) Then by His death and resurrection.

b. So elevated the baptism of John into Christian baptism.

2. What happened in John’s baptism of Jesus recurs in Christian baptism.

E. Both John and Jesus, before crucifixion, preached about what God was about to do in Jesus.

1. They both preached faith and salvation.

2. With both, the preaching was accomplished by baptizing, through which activity believers in the Coming One incorporated into God’s salvation.

F. Mk 1:4: John’s baptism worked the forgiveness of sins.

G. Christian baptism incorporates and then expands on John’s baptism.

1. Mt 28:19 presupposes His death and resurrection.

2. Requires faith not in the Coming One, but the One who by His cross has already come.

3. 1Jn 5:6.

4. The preparatory baptisms did not in fact incorporate them into His death and resurrection.

H. Question of effectiveness of John’s baptism in post-resurrection community.

1. Ac 19:1-7

a. They did believe the Gospel.

b. They were then baptized in the name of Lord Jesus, i.e. the Father-Son-Spirit.

c. Were given “another” baptism.

2. Were all such given “another” baptism?

a. No suggestion of such for pre-resurrection followers in Acts 1 or 2.

b. Ephesus disciples were unaware of the post-Easter situation in which Spirit testified to the death and resurrection of Jesus as completed acts of salvation.

c. Perhaps those who knew earthly Jesus and witnessed His resurrection were regarded as participants in His resurrection and did not have to be baptized in the name of Lord Jesus.

d. John’s did not give a full revelation of God as Father-Son-Spirit.

3. Christians are not merely baptized into Christ, but into His death and resurrection.

4. To them, God is revealed as Father-Son-Spirit.

III. The Baptism of Jesus by John

A. With this event the salvation accomplished by Jesus begins.

B. Included in all four gospels.

C. By this act, Jesus becomes sacramentally involved with sinners.

D. Becomes for Jesus the sacramental participation in His own death.

1. He can call His death His baptism.

2. Lk 12:50.

E. He became sin for us (or the chief sinner Himself).

F. His baptism is a vicarious death for sinners.

G. The baptism of John and Christian baptism, together with His death and resurrection, constitute one reality.

H. Mk 10:38,39.

1. Death is for Christ the ultimate baptism.

2. Baptism comes to its fullest expression in the death of the baptized and his resurrection with Christ.