Baptism
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to make disciples and baptise these disciples in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to do all that He commanded (Matthew 28:18-20). If Jesus commanded us to baptise, then it must be important, but does it save us? Baptism is given as a sign through which we declare God’s great love, mercy and power to anyone who witnesses it. It graphically demonstrates His love in sending His Son to carry the weight of all our sins and to pay the price of those sins by dying on the cross and being buried - then as we are raised out of the water it declares His great victory over death and sin and His power to raise us in the same way. It also declares His faithfulness in keeping His word, His promises or covenants.
The covenant with Moses, that relied on works of the law and was broken by Israel, has been replaced. The covenant that relied on God’s faithfulness (with Abraham) has been fulfilled by the new covenant of Jesus Christ. This covenant, mediated by Jesus Christ inscribes God’s laws in our heart by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This covenant brings us into relationship with Him. It puts to death our sinful flesh, washes us of all our sin, and raises us to eternal life. When we are baptised, we declare what God has already done for us. Who should be baptised then?
Scripture
Galatians 3:23-29 ESV Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptised into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Bible Study Questions
God’s unconditional promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 doesn’t depend on anyone other than God to fulfil it. There are no conditions, just God’s eternal Word. The promise (or covenant) is to Abraham and his descendants (Israel) but it also mentions that others will be blessed through this promise. Who are the others mentioned?
Hebrews 8:9 mentions the end of a covenant with Israel through Moses. This covenant, unlike the one with Abraham, was a conditional covenant with Israel that depended on their continued obedience and faithfulness. Why did this covenant not last and why did it need to be replaced?
The Holy Spirit reveals through Paul’s letter to the Galatians that the law (imposed by the covenant with Moses) was there to restrain and protect Israel until they could be made right with God through what? Galatians 3:23-25
Hebrews 8:10-12 quotes Jeremiah who predicted this change in covenants, what three promises did God make to Israel in this new unconditional covenant to replace the old covenant through Moses.
Galatians 3:26-27 says that all those who have been baptised into Christ have “put on Christ” and are therefore children of God through faith. Does this mean that baptism saves and that baptism brings us into the new covenant, or does it mean that the author of Hebrews assumes that only people who are saved are baptised?
Does the promise God made to Abraham apply to all who are circumcised, to all who are baptised or to all who belong to Christ through faith? (Galatians 3:29)
Romans 6:3-8 echos the same principles we read about in the Galatians passage. How does our submersion (or burial) in water relate to Jesus’ death, and how does our being raised up out of the water relate to His resurrection? If all who have been baptised into Christ’ death and have died with Christ, and we are saved by faith alone and not by baptism, then what assumption is being made of those who are baptised?
Additional Scriptures
The criminal saved without baptism Luke 23:39-43.
Cornelius receiving the Holy Spirit before being baptised Acts 10:44-48.
Abraham receives circumcision after being justified by faith Romans 4:9-12.
Prayer
Dear Father God Almighty, Thank You for saving us by Your grace. Thank You that Your promises are true and trustworthy, eternally. Help us Father to grasp the full extent of Your amazing love for us in putting our sin on the shoulders of Your Son, who died once for all time to pay for our debt. Thank You for raising Him to life and setting us free for all eternity by the blessed hope of Your unfailing Word. Please forgive our sins and help us to forgive those who sin against us. Thank You that You have given us baptism to understand, proclaim and celebrate Your great love and mercy. Help us to honur You as we strive, by Your grace, to make disciples and to baptise them in Your Holy Name Father, in the Name of the Blessed Holy Spirit, and in Jesus Name, Amen.
Worship
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Service
We can be deceived into thinking we are making disciples by all the efforts we put into serving others, the real proof that we have indeed made disciples lies in them entering into an eternal covenant with God through faith in Jesus Christ. When they do this they are saved. When we baptise them we declare all the words of the Hymn “In Christ Alone” and more. Baptism is in obedience to Christ, in gratitude for what He has done and is a powerful act of worship which should strengthen our faith and that of those who witness it. It honours God and blesses His people.