Baptism: Importance, Meaning, Symbolism, Implications

After a summer break, Isabelle and I have restarted our young adult group that meets at our house. This past Saturday, we discussed the subject of baptism. The goal was to help give a more complete picture of what baptism means, what it symbolizes, and what it implies. So, I figured I would share my notes. It is not a complete understanding of baptism, but I believe it contains more than what we typically hear during a Sunday sermon. Here you go:

Matthew 28:18-20

• It is a command from Jesus to His church. Why?
  • It is the identifying mark of God’s people
  • • OT = circumcision
  • • NT = baptism
  • It is an open and public confession of faith in Christ and the work of Christ
    • It provides spiritual accountability
    • V.20 – the baptized are to follow Christ’s teachings.
  • It is a proclamation of the work of God through the cross of Jesus.
  • It is a proclamation of the work of God in a person.
  • It confesses our belief that our salvation can only come through Christ.

Acts 2:37-42

• It is a confession of faith (v.38)
  • Of acknowledgement of sin against God
• • Of identification with Christ
    • The person of Jesus, cross, resurrection, new ownership
  • Of the means of forgiveness of sin
• It identifies who are part of the people of God (v.41)
  • “They” (v.42) = those who were baptized

Romans 6:1-4

• It is an image to no longer walk in sin and have begun living in new way (sanctification)
  • We are dead to sin because we have died to sin
• It is a confession of our belief that Christ has given us new life (v.4)
  • We have been born again (John 3:3)
• It proclaims that the Christian life cannot be lived without the power of Christ (v.4)
  • His death and resurrection make it possible

Colossians 2:8-15

• It symbolizes the covenant we have with God and how one enters that covenant (v.11-12)
  • Circumcision symbolized the old covenant
  • Baptism symbolizes the new covenant
• It symbolizes the death of our sinful nature (v.11)
  • Sin no longer has dominion (Rom. 6:14)
• It symbolizes death which satisfies the demands of the law and the penalty due to sin (v.12)
  • Water symbolizes the grave = an environment incapable of sustaining life
• It is a proclamation of the resurrection (v.12)
• It is a proclamation of God’s victory over our sin (v.13)
  • “all our trespasses”
• It confesses our guilt before God and our deserving death (v.13)
• It is a proclamation of the unmerited favor of God to us in Christ (v.14) = canceling the debt
• It proclaims God’s power; thus it glorifies Him (v.12-15)

Conclusion

• It symbolizes a spiritual reality
• It identifies us with Christ and His church
• Why baptism?
  • If one’s heart has been circumcised by Christ (changed) and one is committed to Him, then baptism is publicly making known to others that commitment/covenant
    • Illustration – wedding is making it known publicly of one’s commitment to another.
      • After, living faithful to that marriage covenant begins.