Baptism - Lesson 4

LESSON FOUR

2003-2004

BAPTISM

I. The Efficacy of Baptism: For the Forgiveness of Sins

A. The Confessional Position

1. S.C. lists the benefits of Baptism (SC IV.2):

a. Effecting the forgiveness of sins.

b. Delivering from death and the devil.

c. Granting eternal salvation.

2. L.C. further elaborates with addition of (LC IV.41):

a. God’s grace.

b. The entire Christ.

c. The Holy Spirit with His gifts.

3. Basic to Lutheran understanding of Baptism’s effects.

a. Its bestowal of forgiveness of sins.

b. Which assumes the presence of all God’s other benefits.

4. Is only developing NT theme, that Baptism gives the forgiveness of sins.

a. Ac 2:38.

b. When phrase “forgiveness of sins” used by apostles in NT:

(1) With few exceptions, reference is to that given in Baptism.

(2) That people should hear preaching and remain unbaptized is foreign to NT.

5. This necessary relationship between Baptism and forgiveness:

a. Is problematic in neo-Evangelical and Reformed Protestantism.

b. They view “faith” as a conscious and deliberate decision of the will that is the prerequisite for being “saved”.

c. Results in a low regard for Baptism, esp. re: infants and young children, e.g.

(1) “a decision for Christ”.

(2) “a Baptism in the Holy Spirit”.

6. Lutheran theology:

a. Views Baptism as complete in itself.

b. Baptism contains the totality of the Christian life

c. Daily repentance and receiving forgiveness through means of grace grounded in the objective reality of Baptism.

d. Faith receives the benefits of Baptism but does not belong to its essence (i.e. its “definition”)

e. The forgiveness is present in Baptism as an accomplished and completed reality demanding and creating faith.

f. Though faith does not constitute what Baptism is, must be present to receive Baptism’s benefits.

B. The N.T. Position

1. Mk 1:4: For John’s.

a. “repentance”: contrition and faith.

b. “for”: for the purpose of receiving.

c. Was not an empty symbolic liturgical rite.

d. Divine presence in water actually offering the forgiveness of sins.

e. We can not treat John’s as merely symbolic.

(1) For Jesus submitted Himself to it.

(2) By it Jesus assumed the burden of world.

(3) Jn 1:32-36.

(4) Mk 10: 39: His death as the one baptism in which all sins were absorbed.

(5) Lk 12:50.

2. Jesus’ submission to John’s baptism.

a. Informed and gave shape to this ritual.

b. Then, by His death and resurrection, transformed it.

3. John’s directed the baptized ahead to what God was going to do.

4. Fits idea of OT ritual re: what God was going to do.

5. John’s brought OT to a conclusion.

6. Anticipated Christian Baptism and was incorporated into it.

7. Clearly meaning of Mk 1:4 and Lk 2:3 is that sins were forgiven in John’s baptism.

8. Apostle’s Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit…the forgiveness of sins”.

9. Nicene Creed: “Baptism for the remission of sins”.

10. Idea is taken into the Lutheran Confessions.

11. In His death and resurrection God’s Kingdom has been realized.

a. Ac 2:36.

b. By Baptism, candidate or catechumen acknowledges this and is incorporated into it.

c. Ac 2:38,39.

d. Baptism in the name of Jesus was understood within the trinitarian reality.

C. The Creeds and the Liturgy

1. From earliest apostolic period, Baptism, confession of sins and faith, and the forgiveness of sins formed an indissoluble unity.

2. 1Pe 3:18-22 and Ro 6:4 suggest precursors of creeds were firmly in place as part of the baptismal ritual.

3. Around the rituals of Baptism and the Eucharist, our NT writings came into existence and thusly provided the historical context for these documents.

4. In a real sense, the confessional life of the Lutheran church has its source in Baptism.

5. Confessing the Creed is really idea of remaining in his Baptism.

6. Removal of creeds from regular liturgy.

a. Suggests the doctrine preserved in them not fully appreciated.

b. Also shows that the present significance of Baptism in the believer’s life is lost.

II. Baptism as the Encompassing Reality.

A. Christians study and practice what Baptism presents.

B. Baptism is always happening: unique to Lutheran understanding.

C. For us, Word, Christ, the Spirit, and water belong together, and so Baptism is complete in itself.

D. Baptism:

1. More than an instrument which leads to Christ.

2. Is the sacrament in which Christ is permanently present to the believer.

III. Going Beyond Forgiveness

A. 1Pe 3:21: “Baptism now saves”.

B. See the unity between Baptism, faith and the creeds in 1Pe 3:18-22.

C. Tit 3:5: Lutherans not restricted to Baptizō and its cognates.

D. 1Co 6:1-11.

1. Baptism remains the rite of initiation.

2. But in such a way that it continues to determine the believer’s life in the community.

3. Not only the sure foundation for faith, but an act of the Spirit shaping the believer’s entire life.

IV. Other NT References.

A. Pauline

1. Eph 5:25-27: washing in the Word makes the church holy, acceptable to Christ.

2. Tit 3:5: may suggest a re-creation as much as it suggests a rebirth or regeneration (παλιγγενεσία: palinggenesia).

B. Johannine

1. The most fully developed presentation of Baptism as regeneration in the NT.

2. Baptism, for Lutherans, itself regenerates and gives new life (creation).

3. Jn 1:13: believers are born of God.

4. Jn 3:1-12 (particularly vv 3,5-8): strong implications

5. NT terms used for sacrament.

a. “water”.

b. “washing”.

c. “new creation”

d. “born again” or better “born from on high” or “born from God”.

6. 1Jn 4:5,6.

V. Baptism and Lord’s Supper

A. Both work the forgiveness of sins, but are not interchangeable.

B. Baptism.

1. The inaugural rite into the kingdom of God.

2. Through it, God creates and confirms; hence is prior to faith.

3. Provides faith with its certainty.

C. For Reformed, Baptism is an expression of faith, a work of obedience.

D. Believer entitled to participate in Lord’s Supper by virtue of his Baptism.

E. NT and Lutheran Confessions recognize only the baptized as members.

F. Lord’s Supper also has its foundation in the cross.

G. But, Lord’s Supper projects the death of Christ and His atonement into the worshiping life of the congregation.

H. 1Co 11:26.

I. Baptism thrusts believer into the past, the historical events of salvation (cross, resurrection, ascension, and session at God’s right hand).

J. Lord’s Supper makes the atonement of Christ contemporary to believer.

K. Liturgy should never suggest that the congregation’s members are the ones who are receiving the baptized into the membership of their church.

1. Is not an act of the congregation.

2. Is solely act of Christ.

3. Confusion leads to baptizing more than once.

4. If Pastor cannot determine for certain that Baptism was actually administered, Baptism without any conditions should be administered.

L. Lutheran Confessions locate the benefits of salvation in Baptism!

M. Some argue that Baptism is foundational for office of the ministry.

1. As basis for ordination of women pastors.

2. False view of ministry and ordination.

3. Not everyone is a minister!

4. Must not fuse doctrines of justification, sanctification, and ministry.