Dictionary explains ordinances as an authoritative rule or law; a decree or command. It means that it is a command to obey. They are also visual aids to help us to understand better and appreciate what Jesus has accomplished for us by sacrificing himself on the cross. New Testament makes it very clear that Baptism is one of the practices of the early church. Church practices this ordinance because Jesus commands us to do so.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded us to go and make
disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit. Not only he commanded us to do so, Jesus himself set an example for us that
he himself was baptized by John before started his ministry.
But what does baptism symbolize, why is it so important?
I was baptized on Christmas day in year 2000. Although it was really long time ago, but I
must say it was a wonderful experience for me because it was a special moment
in my walk with Jesus Christ. I knew that I was confessing publicly of my faith
in Jesus as my personal savior. I remember coming out of the water and feeling
such joy in my heart. By going down in the water, it symbolizes that my old man is dead to sin and buried by faith in Christ.
By being raised up out of the water, I understand that it symbolizes my new man is raised by the Spirit and made alive by
faith in Christ.
Although baptism very important, but is it necessary for
salvation? Or is it sufficient for salvation?
Bible makes it clear that as Christian
we should be baptized, but it is not something we do in order to be saved, but
it is something we do BECAUSE we are saved. Can we earn salvation? No, we can’t.
We are not saved by ritual or works but “by grace through faith” (Eph. 2:8-9). If
baptism is necessary for salvation, then we are saying that the sacrifice that
Jesus made on the cross is not enough and we need to add something that we do
in order to make the salvation complete.
If it is not necessary for salvation, then why would we be
baptized? I think I am doing it because it is a testimony that I have trusted in
Christ as savior and it is my new identity in Christ by submitting his command
to be baptized.
I teach baptism classes and water baptism as an ordinance in fundamental classes. Some of the things i generally reiterate is:
ReplyDelete1. WB is our public confession and testimony. it does not save you but when we believe we also confess. To many unbelievers WB signifies ur real crossing over.
2. you identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is however symbolic.
3. (and this i intend to add) you enter into the family of God. Disciples of Jesus we obey the command to be baptise and are thus linked in our faith.
Agreed.
DeleteWB does not save us, but it is the action of proclamation of our faith, not only to the Body, but also to those that are yet to believe in Christ.
From experience, when members from non-christian background tell their parents they want to be baptized, most families "reject" them. Because WB is seen as a declaration that they will FOREVER turn from what they used to know. They will FOREVER follow Christ.
While we still face ups and downs in our relationship with Christ, it is His grace that will sustain us. Not the baptism.
Is it necessary for salvation? No.
Is it an act of obedience? Yes.
*If Christ was baptized, why should't we? What's holding us?
*If Christ went to the synagogue, shouldn't we too, go to church? =)*i think the nature of the question is similar.
I agree with most of what Grace and Anne say, but differ on one area. Do people actually believe they are taking baptism and recognizing the above points wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteThe reason I took water baptism was because it was a requirement for membership into the church. So I took it. I probably didn't think about point 1,2 when taking it...but definitely thought about point 3, entering into the family of God. But wait a minute. Is the church actually the family of God? I thought it was His body not his family...?
i agree that when i was WB, I didn't think through so many things either. I was only 15 I think.
DeleteBut that's why for us now, we ensure those that go through the class actually understand first, young or old. We've had those that wanted to be baptised to get married, or wanted to be baptised because someone said so. And we've rejected before when there's no personal point 1.
Maybe here's where the church needs to teach. water baptism is not something preached very often over the pulpit and we can only hope that it is taught in classes. else people will be baptised for the wrong reasons - like taking membership.
I agree that the baptism is not the way to salvation, but since you stated in the beginning regarding a command to obey, then by not baptizing ourselves or others, isn't that disobeying Jesus' commandment?
ReplyDeleteI had two experiences of Baptism, first it was infant baptism since my family are Lutherans. To me, that was done, everything was fine and ok. "I was baptized! Hallelujah!" Until I joined a spirit-filled charismatic church, ooopps!! Infant baptism is not recognized at all! When I joined full-time service, I had no choice but to take water baptism "again", this time full immersion in the water, because it was a requirement!! It was quite hard for me to swallow this at first...I thought the Bible says, "one Lord, one Baptism..." and I already had ONE baptism! In addition to that, I've already undergone "Confirmation" at age 15, confessing my faith in Christ in front of the congregation in the Lutheran church as per their practice. Those who had undergone infant baptism have to take Bible classes on "confirmation" at age14/15 and there will be a ceremony to declare their faith in public.
ReplyDeleteThe pastor friend, my 2nd baptizer, jokingly teased me, "Hey, why don't you invite your Lutheran pastor to your water baptism?" (He was a bible scholar from MBS, he understood all the church denominations and their different practices in church ordinances.) Well, we do make exceptions for the elderly or sickly, or those who could not go into the water for full immersion, to have baptism in the form of sprinkling or pouring of water.
ONE baptism?
'Masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang kerbau menguak.'
woh, that's something new for me to read. Yea I guess cos A/G has this stand on immersion that I've known a number of people that had to be re-baptised (first baptism was sprinkling) just to take membership or enter leadership. it's funny.
Deletethe discussion here seem that we are more interested in the form of baptism. whether sprinkle or full immersion. Act 8:38 says: "And he commanded the chariot to stand still:and they went down both in to the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and be baptized him." So i guess full immersion is required for water baptism.
DeleteIf baptism is not the condition for salvation, then method of baptism is not really an issue. But immersion is better because the word baptism in Greek carries the meaning to put under water. Also, Jesus was baptized through immersion.
ReplyDeleteAs it was requested to help dialogue in this theological activity, how do you respond to the following questions: (these are real questions that brought up by pastors/theologians across various denominations)
ReplyDeleteWhy do we need a water baptism class when scriptures like Mk 16:16 & Ac 2:38,41 clearly stated that the water baptism was an immediate action upon believing the gospel?
Also, Mk 16:16 stated that "whoever believes and is baptized will be saved," does water baptism equate sealing of salvation? Whatever the answer is, how then can we explain the case of water baptism as a symbolism?
I wanna attempt part of your question.
DeleteI believe that water baptism class is necessary today because of our context today. THe Etophian eunuch, upon listening and believing Philip's message, said "look there's water here. what's stopping me from being baptised". in other words it was subsequent and almost immediately upon believing. Why didn't he need a class to explain? I believe it was because he understood fully well. After all, these kind of acts weren't unique to the Christians.
But today, most people tentatively step into the christian faith and need time to be ready before they are water baptised. For the few that are eager, I would ask if they are sure (not because I don't believe them but to imply a long-term following of Jesus).
I was saved when I was a teen and only been baptised in uni. Prior a year, I really hesitate a lot: will I fall again when I walk again with God?
ReplyDeleteBut Grace has to be careful when asked whether baptism is required for salvation. I agree with anne, it's a confession of our belief. When all of us took that dip, we tell God: Hey Jesus, I want take up this cross and follow You. I want to leave all things which are wrong.
I wrote on baptism in our group blog: http://churchlasthings.blogspot.com/2012/09/baptism-joy-of-dying.html and spoke Jesus was baptise by John 'to fulfill all righeousness' (Matt 3:!5).
A few days ago, I have to explain to a girl what righteousness means (based on Romans context). righteousness means making our relationship right again with God.
A week prior to my baptism, Satan came all corners to prevent me from doing it. It was a long, painful week and have to ask my leader and pastor's wife to cover me in prayer. As I resurfaced from the water, the whole church cheered for me. Jesus has overcome death for all of us!
Baptism has always been an ordinance of the church. It was a symbolic act during Jesus' time and it began with the baptism in water. At that time is was symbolically the washing away of sins and being purified by God. Baptism symbolizes a washing away of the old and the receipt of the new. This is the nature of 'Christ' in us. Baptism when conducted in churches today allows for the baptismal candidate to publicly confess that he/she has accepted Jesus as Lord and that he/she is now ready to begin anew with the life that is expected of a believer. This is necessary, for every person who is baptized ought to refer back to the time when they were water baptized because such an event is a historic landmark in their life. It is a point of confession and dedication to follow the Lord in their lives. There is also the baptism in 'Spirit" but the newness of knowing Christ becomes true for those who have been water baptized. It is a symbolism of purity and perhaps the message of "no turning back" to what they once were when they had not yet known Jesus as Lord.
ReplyDeleteafter reading your comment, my mind went back to some friends I had who baptised around the time i was baptised. and are today no longer following the Lord. I guess we need to be more careful with teen baptisms. Are they for real or is it a peer pressure or parent pressure thing?
DeleteI think the problem that Anne mentioned is not only happen with teen baptisms. This happen to adults too.. Although The desire of baptism is real and genuine, but somehow at the end of the day some might just fall and back-slided.
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