One Baptism - Part 1

One Lord, one faith, one baptism. ~Ephesians 4:5

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. ~Nicene Creed

Baptism is a hot topic in Christian circles. It probably always will be. Different Christian churches view the sacrament differently, and many don't even call it a sacrament.

Let us then take a brief look at what different churches believe in this area. Essentially there are 5 different views on baptism within Christian circles. We'll cover three of them here; the Baptist, Reformed, and Lutheran views. For the sake of brevity, I'll not discuss the views of the Church of Christ (because it patently teaches salvation by works...baptism is an act of obedience that remits sins...do the math) and the Roman Catholic (which is in many ways similar to Lutheran, with some different definitions). Nor will this little blog in my little corner of the world be an exhaustive treatment of the topic. But we will hit on the nuts and bolts of the doctrines regarding baptism.

What is Baptism?

1. According to Baptist Theology

I will recognize from the outset that "Baptist Theology" is an enormous term with numerous belief systems within it. There are Southern Baptists, Independent Fundamental Baptists, Reformed Baptists, Primitive Baptists, and so on. Likewise, non-denominational "Bible" churches are also baptist in their theology. But one thing unites all of these. They all practice water baptism by full immersion for believers in Christ alone.

The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith states the following:

1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be to the person who is baptised - a sign of his fellowship with Christ in His death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into Christ; of remission of sins; and of that person's giving up of himself to God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
   
   
2. Those who actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects for this ordinance.
   
3. The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, in which the person is to be baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
   
4. Immersion - the dipping of the person in water - is necessary for the due administration of this ordinance.

Here is a statement of faith regarding baptism from a typical Baptist church:

We believe that Christian baptism is the immersion of the believer in water to show forth in a solemn and beautiful emblem our faith in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior, with its effect in our death to sin and resurrection to a new life, that it is a prerequisite to the privileges of a Church relation.

In short, Baptist Theology teaches the following regarding baptism:

a. It is an ordinance, not a sacrament. That is to say, it is not a means of grace.

b. It is a result of a person's giving of themselves to Christ. That is to say, it is an act of obedience done by man.

c. A person must be fully immersed in water in order for it to be a valid baptism.

To be even more clear, baptism does nothing for us in a salvific sense because it is "an outward sign of an inward reality" as I have heard it said before.

2. According to Reformed and/or Presbyterian Theology

The Reformed and Presbyterian stance on baptism is different than any other. I'll let the Westminster Confession explain:

1. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church; but also, to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.

3. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person.

4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized.

5. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it; or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.

6. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.

7. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person.

The Belgic Confession also waxes eloquent on baptism, but I won't post the whole thing here, it's quite long.

In short, Reformed Theology teaches the following regarding baptism:

a. It is a sacrament, not an ordinance. In other words, they affirm it's graciousness.

b. It is a sign and seal of the covenant of grace.

c. It signifies and seals regeneration, remission of sins, and ingrafting into Christ.

d. Immersion is valid, but so is pouring or sprinkling. Any amount of water is valid.

e. Not only new believers, but also their children are to be administered baptism.

f. Baptism is not necesssary for salvation.

g. The grace given in baptism is not tied to the moment the baptism is done and indeed is given by God at a later date.

h. A person may only be baptised once.

3. According to Lutheran Theology

The best place to go for the Lutheran view of baptism is the Small Catechism.

What is Baptism?--Answer.

Baptism is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with God's Word.

Which is that word of God?--Answer.

Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Matthew: Go ye into all the world and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

What does Baptism give or profit?--Answer.

It works forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Which are such words and promises of God? Answer.

Christ, our Lord, says in the last chapter of Mark: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

How can water do such great things?--Answer.

It is not the water indeed that does them, but the word of God which is in and with the water, and faith, which trusts such word of God in the water. For without the word of God the water is simple water and no baptism. But with the word of God it is a baptism, that is, a gracious water of life and a washing of regeneration in the Holy Ghost, as St. Paul says, Titus, chapter three: By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our Savior, that, being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.

What does such baptizing with water signify?--Answer.

It signifies that the old Adam in us should, by daily contrition and repentance, be drowned and die with all sins and evil lusts, and, again, a new man daily come forth and arise; who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Where is this written?--Answer.

St. Paul says in Romans, chapter 6: We are buried with Christ by Baptism into death, that, like as He was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

So, in Lutheran Theology, baptism is:

a. The washing of water with the Word. It is a sacrament.

b. Works forgiveness (remission) of sins, delivers from death and the devil,and gives eternal salvation.

c. The Word of God is the effective agent in baptism, not the water.

d. Baptism regenerates and saves.

Those are our three views. Next blog will compare the three to the Nicene Creed and the Scriptures.

Pax