20230717 Topical Sermon on Baptism

This is a topical message on baptism. Baptism is a gift to the church. It is a vivid picture of the gospel. The Holy Spirit uses baptisms. He stirs up the hearts of all who witness the gospel presentation. He promises the blessings baptism represents to all who believe. He assures believers that they have the blessings. 

Baptism is the sign of entry into God’s covenant community. We will look at circumcision as a foundation of the sign of belonging to the covenant. We will study baptism and its practical implications. 

1 Sign of Entry into the Covenant – Circumcision

Three consequences follow the first sin in the garden. Genesis 3 lists hardships in childbearing, working the land, and enmity between people. Genesis 12-17 presents Abraham as the solution. God will reverse the consequences of sin through Abraham. He will have many descendants. He will receive an Edenic land flowing with milk and honey. In Abraham, God will bless all the families. Abraham was old so the fulfillment of these promises depended on him having a son. In Gen 15:6, Abraham believed God. He believed he would have a son. Because of his faith, God declared him righteous. Abraham believed that he would have a child who was part of the reversal of the consequences of sin. To assure Abraham of his promises, God made a covenant with Abraham (Gen 15:8, 13). God confirmed the covenant with the sign of circumcision (Gen 17). Circumcision is so related to the covenant, that it is the covenant in Gen 17:10. Circumcision symbolizes belonging to the covenant and receiving promises, obligations, and threats. 

1.1 Sign of Entry

All those who belonged to Abraham’s house were part of the covenant. Covenant membership included Abraham’s wife, children, servants, and their children. All the males among them were circumcised. Any child born in the community was a member (Gen 17:12). Those from outside could also join (Exod 12:48). The heads of households received “believer's circumcision,” like Abraham. Their sons were circumcised. They learned to keep the covenant, cherish the promises, and beware of the covenant curses. 

1.2 Sign of Obligations

To enjoy the covenant blessings, Gen 15:6 teaches that one must have faith. Living faith works itself out in obedience. God instructs Abraham to circumcise the males of his house (Gen 17:10). In Gen 18:19, God instructs Abraham to “command his children and his household ...to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice.” Instruction always follows receiving the sign. The children were covenant members and had to keep the covenant. 

1.3 Sign of the Promises

Being part of the covenant community does not make one right with God. The covenant community receives promises. Only those who receive them by faith, enjoy the blessings. Circumcision represents the promise of offspring, land, and blessing. Physical circumcision pointed to the righteousness Abraham received by faith (Rom 4:11). It pointed to the circumcision of the heart (Deut 10:16; 30:6). Circumcision was not a sign of faith, but of God’s salvation for those who have faith. Circumcision did not represent the people’s commitment to God but God’s commitment to the people. Those among the people who believed received the blessing presented in circumcision. 

1.4 Sign of Threat

Circumcision also portrays a covenant curse of breaking the covenant. You can receive the sign without benefitting from the blessings it represents. Circumcision is a cutting-off of. It portrays cutting off covenant breakers from the covenant people. Ishmael was Abraham’s first son. He was circumcised. He broke the covenant and never benefited from God’s promise to him of salvation by faith. 

2 Meaning of Baptism

This is the background to baptism. The NT portrays baptism with the same categories. The signs are not identical. Both males and females receive baptism. Circumcision pointed forward to Jesus. Baptism points back to the work of Christ. With baptism there is a greater emphasis on outsiders joining. Like circumcision, baptism is a sign of entry into the covenant. It comes with obligations, promises, and threats. 

2.1 Sign of Entry 

Baptism is the sign of entry into the church. In Acts 2:41, the converts joined the church by baptism. 1 Cor 12:13 speaks of being baptized into the church. 

2.2 Sign with Obligations

Instruction always accompanies the sign. The Great Commission is, “Make disciples … by baptizing …and teaching them to keep everything [Jesus] commanded (Matt 28:19-20)." Every baptized person must learn to keep the covenant. We keep it by faith. As we love God and trust God, his commandments are not a burden (1 John 5:3)! 

2.3 Sign of Promises of Salvation

Baptism is a sign of salvation. It represents God’s saving benefits. These are the gift of the spirit, union with Christ, and the forgiveness of sins. 

Water baptism symbolizes the gift of the Spirit. In Ezekiel 36, God promised, “25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, … 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” In Acts 2:38, Peter urges his hearers to “Repent and be baptized ...[to] ... receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

The Promise of Union with Christ in Christ’s Death, Burial, Resurrection. Baptism portrays the union of the believer with Christ. Rom 6:3-4 reads, “Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” (C.f. Col 2:11-12). Through faith, believers enjoy union with Christ. This means that what is true of Christ becomes true of believers. Jesus died to sin. Believers die to sin. Jesus rose from the dead. Believers are born again to a new life and expect life after death. 

Christian baptism is a sign of the washing away of sin by the blood of Christ. There is a spiritual relation between the sign and what it signifies. At times, the effect is attributed to the sign (WCF 27.2). In Acts 2:38, Paul says “Repent and be baptized … for the forgiveness of your sins, ….”

Ananias told Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 22:16, “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins.” 

2.4 Sign of a Threat

Baptism pictures the gift of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of sins, and union with Christ. Believers receive them by faith. Baptism also pictures judgment. God saves people from judgment. Paul portrays Israel walking through the Red Sea on dry ground as a baptism (1 Cor 10:2). This was the same event that destroyed the Egyptian army. Peter speaks of Noah and his family making it “safely through water” (1 Pet 3:20) as a picture of baptism. The same flood destroyed the rest of humankind. Jesus refers to his death on the cross as a baptism (Mark 10:39). Because baptism is a picture of salvation for those united to Christ, those who are not united to Christ are dead in their sins. They will not experience the resurrection in the newness of life. Rather, they will experience resurrection to eternal death (Rom 6:3-5). 

3 Baptism in Practice: Mode; Recipients; Church Membership

Now, we look at mode, recipients, and church membership. 

3.1 Mode

Baptism means to dip, plunge, and immerse. In Mark 7:4 and Heb 9:10, baptism refers to purification rituals. Mark 7:4 describes a Jewish tradition of washing hands, cups, pots, vessels, and dining couches. In Greek, the word for ceremonial washing is baptized. In Acts, the Holy Spirit baptizes. In Acts 10:45, the Holy Spirit was “poured out” on them. This is baptism by pouring.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 refers to the New Covenant. It reads, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, … 27 I will put my Spirit within you…." Heb 10:22 reads “Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water….” This baptism that cleanses is by sprinkling. 

The Bible offers a variety of images to portray the washing of sin. So, we accept full immersion, sprinkling, and pouring (WCF 28.3). We do not believe the mode is of the essence of the rite. What matters is water use in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is one universal church and one baptism. We do not rebaptize. We accept baptisms from all Christian churches. 

3.2 Recipients

Baptism is a sign for all members of the new covenant community. The NT teaches who is a member. They are those who receive baptism, instruction, and the covenant promises. 

3.2.1 Converts

Anyone who professes faith in Christ must be baptized. We invite all to hear the gospel, believe, repent, and be baptized. 

3.2.2 Children of Believers

We also consider children of believers as covenant members. 

In 1 Cor 7:14, Paul calls the children of believers holy. This does not mean they are born again. When God places a child in a believing household, that child is set apart from the world. They take part in the covenant community. 

Children of believers learn to keep the new covenant. We read in Eph 6:1-4, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), … 4 Fathers, … bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Children of believers receive the promises of the new covenant. In Gen 17:7-10, the phrase, “you and your offspring” is repeated five times. God makes a Covenant with Abraham and his children. He gives promises to Abraham and his children. He gives circumcision to Abraham and his children. In Acts 2:39, Peter tells his hearers to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. Then he says, "This is the promise for you and your children, and those who are far off." Peter refers to Genesis 17 to show continuity in the recipients of the sign. Children of believers receive the promises, so God also makes his covenant with them. 

This parallel of Acts 2 and Gen 17 becomes clearer. The practice of circumcision at the household level continues with baptism. In Acts 16:15, 33 with Lydia and the Philippian jailor (c.f. Acts 11:14; 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16). Acts continues the emphasis on whole households making up the covenant community.

3.2.3 Conclusion on Recipients

Believers and their children receive the promises, instruction, and threats of the covenant. They are members of the covenant and so receive the covenant sign. Circumcision or baptism were never signs of faith. They were signs of salvation for those who believe. Only those who have faith receive the blessings baptism signifies. The promise is the gift of the Holy Spirit, Union with Christ in the newness of life, and the forgiveness of sins. We give the sign of salvation and promise to children because God placed them in a covenant family. God promises to save them when they believe. We never give the sign without also teaching. We make disciples by baptizing and teaching to do everything Jesus commanded. We teach the requirement of faith alone in Christ to receive the New Covenant's blessings. We teach the covenant curses for unbelief. This is eternal torment and separation from God forever in Hell.

3.3 Church Membership

Baptism is the sign of church membership. We are baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13). To become a member of a church either you have already been baptized and can join. Or, you need to get baptized. Children of members are members of the covenant community. They are church members. We call them covenant children. They sit under the preaching of God’s word. They worship with the rest of the covenant community. We teach them the gospel, how to apply it, how to pray, and follow Jesus. When they profess faith in Christ, the elders welcome them to the Lord’s Table. We treat covenant children as members of the covenant until they walk away from the church.

It takes a church to raise a child. My hope is that as a covenant community, we will be aunts and uncles to our covenant children. We will commit to checking in on parents. We also take responsibility to disciple our covenant children together. We want all our covenant children to find refuge in God's grace through faith working out in good works. 

Conclusion

Baptism is the sign of entry into the church. You enter the church either by converting in or by being born into it. Those who are part of the church receive the sign of belonging to the church. All those who receive the sign learn to do everything Jesus commanded. Baptism symbolizes the gift of the Holy Spirit, the washing of sins, and union with Christ. The sign is a gospel presentation. It is a gift of God to stir up our faith. Like the Lord’s Supper, Baptism presents visible pictures of the gospel. If you are not a believer, a baptism shows you all the benefits God will give you if you believe. Believe and receive. If you are a believer, baptism is a vivid reminder that you belong to Christ. His Spirit lives within you. You are united with Christ. You have died to sin. You have been raised with Christ in the newness of life. Your sins are washed away. We give the sign to babies because we do not believe the timing of baptism is important. Some are baptized after salvation, others before. All receive the blessings baptism signifies, receive them by faith.

Giving baptism to a child who cannot believe also portrays the gospel. Baptism is not a sign of our commitment to God but God's commitment to us. God initiates. God promises new life in Christ, the washing away of sins, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The child will receive these when he believes. Before a child could ever reach out to God in faith, God has already reached out to that child. He placed the child in a believing home. If that child ever reaches out to God, the child’s baptism shows God had this child in his hands long before. Infant baptism pictures the gospel. It is God's salvation of helpless dead sinners based on what Christ has done.