BAPTISM

1. Baptism in the Jewish life

1. Baptism was a common rite among Jews of the first and

second century.
1. preparation for worship at the temple (i.e., cleansing rite)
2. the self baptism of proselytes

If someone from a Gentile background were to become a full child of Israel, he

had to accomplish three tasks:

1. circumcision, if male
2. self-baptism by immersion, in the presence of three witnesses
3. sacrifice in the Temple
3. an act of purification (cf. Leviticus 15)

In sectarian groups of first century Palestine, such as the Essenes, baptism was
apparently a common, repeated experience. However, to mainline Judaism,
John’s baptism of repentance would have been humiliating for a natural child of
Abraham to undergo a Gentile acceptance ritual.

2. Some OT precedents can be cited for ceremonial washing.

1. as a symbol of spiritual cleansing (cf. Isa. 1:16)
2. as a regular ritual performed by the priests (cf. Exodus 19:10; Leviticus 16)

It should be noted that all other baptisms in first century Jewish culture were
self-administered. Only John the Baptist's call for baptism involved him as an
evaluator (cf. Matt. 3:7-12) and administrator of this act of repentance (cf. Matt.
3:6).

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Mat 3:1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 
Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 
Mat 3:3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one
crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 
Mat 3:4  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about
his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 
Mat 3:5  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about
Jordan, 
Mat 3:6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 
Mat 3:7  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he
said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to
come? 
Mat 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 
Mat 3:9  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I
say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 
Mat 3:10  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 
Mat 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me
is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the
 Holy Ghost, and with fire: 
Mat 3:12  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his
wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 
The Baptism of Jesus
Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 
Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest
thou to me? 
Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 
Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and,
lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a
dove, and lighting upon him: 
Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. ]

3. Baptism in the Church

1. Theological Purposes
1. forgiveness of sin ‒ Acts 2:38; 22:16

Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost. 
Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off,
even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 
Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves
from this untoward generation. 
Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 22:16  And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord. 

2. reception of Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 2:38 (Acts 10:44-48)

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

Act 10:44  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which
heard the word. 
Act 10:45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as
came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy
Ghost. 
Act 10:46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered
Peter, 
Act 10:47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have
received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 
Act 10:48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then
prayed they him to tarry certain days. 

3. union with Christ ‒ Gal. 3:26-27

The Law and the Promise

 Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 
Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 

4. membership in church ‒ 1 Cor. 12:13

One Body with Many Members

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

5. symbol of a spiritual turning ‒ 1 Pet. 3:20-21

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight
souls were saved by water. 

1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward
God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 

6. symbol of a spiritual death and resurrection ‒ Rom. 6:1-5

Dead to Sin, Alive to God

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 
Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death? 
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. 
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be
also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

2. Baptism was the early church’s opportunity for a person’s public profession (or
confession). It was/is not the mechanism for salvation, but the occasion of the
verbal affirmation of faith (i.e., probably, "Jesus is Lord"). Remember the early
church had no buildings and met in homes or often in secret places because of
persecution.

3. Many commentators have asserted that 1 Peter is a baptismal sermon. Although

this is possible, it is not the only option. It is true that Peter often uses baptism as
a crucial act of faith (cf. Acts 2:38,41;10:47). [Act 10:47  Can any man forbid
water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as
well as we? ] However, it was/is not a sacramental event, but a faith event,
symbolizing death, burial, and resurrection as the believer identifies with Christ’s
own experience (cf. Rom. 6:7-9; Col. 2:12).

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Rom 6:8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 

Rom 6:9  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath
no more dominion over him. 
 Col 2:12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the
faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

The act is symbolic, not sacramental; the act is the occasion of profession,
not the mechanism of salvation.

4. Baptism and Repentance in Acts 2:38

Curtis Vaughan, Acts has an interesting footnote on p. 28 related to Acts 2:38.

"The Greek word for ‘baptized’ is a third person imperative; the word for ‘repent,’ a
second person imperative. This change from the more direct second person
command to the less direct third person of ‘baptized’ implies that Peter’s basic
primary demand is for repentance."

This follows the preaching emphasis of John the Baptist (cf. Matt. 3:2) and Jesus
(cf. Matt. 4:17). Repentance seems to be a spiritual key and baptism is an outward
expression of this spiritual change. The New Testament knew nothing of unbaptized
believers! To the early church baptism was the public profession of faith. It is the
occasion for the public confession of faith in Christ, not the mechanism for
salvation! It needs to be remembered that baptism is not mentioned in Peter’s
second sermon, though repentance is (cf. Acts 3:19; Luke 24:17). Baptism was an
example set by Jesus (cf. Matt. 3:13-18). Baptism was commanded by Jesus (cf.
Matt. 28:19). The modern question of the necessity of baptism for salvation is not
addressed in the New Testament; all believers are expected to be baptized.
However, one must also guard against a sacramental mechanicalism! Salvation is a
faith issue, not a right-place, right-words, right-ritual act issue!

Mat 3:2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Mat 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 
On the Road to Emmaus

Luk 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that
ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 
The Baptism of Jesus
Mat 3:13  Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 
Mat 3:14  But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou
to me? 
Mat 3:15  And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh
us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 
Mat 3:16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo,
the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and lighting upon him: 
Mat 3:17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased. 

The Great Commission

Mat 28:16  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus
had appointed them. 
Mat 28:17  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 
Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. 
Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and,
lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.