What is Baptism?
Baptism declares that we have been clothed in Jesus Christ
Jesus commanded us to make disciples and to baptise them. Scripture commands us to be baptised, yet Baptism often suffers neglect or becomes sadly divisive. Much confusion around baptism comes from the false belief that anything other than faith in Christ can save us from sin and it’s consequences. Once we’re clear that baptism cannot save us, even temporarily, it’s easier to understand what it is. Baptism is putting on, or wearing our Lord Jesus Christs. It’s a public declaration that Christ defines is. Christ gives us our true identity, nobody else can.
Scripture
Galatians 3:26-27 ESV for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Bible Study Questions
Two Things Christians must do
What are two instructions given to all Christians relating to Baptism?
Acts 2:37-39 ESV Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Can baptism or anything other than faith in Christ save us?
The Scriptures makes clear that faith in Christ and nothing else can save us. We can not add any retirements to faith. If we have to do anything other than trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, then can we say we are saved by grace? Does the gift of grace require any works from us?
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Mark 16:16 ESV Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 7:14-16 ESV For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
1 Peter 3:20-22 ESV because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Baptism declares that we have put on Christ
Galatians 3:27 could be understood to mean that baptism saves, since we know that is not true from the previous Scriptures, what does it mean that those who have been baptised have put on Christ? What assumption is being made about all those who are baptised?
Galatians 3:26-27 ESV for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
The first thing putting on Christ does: He has covered our shame
What does putting on Christ say about our shame? Does Christ cover our shame when we are baptised or when we believe by faith?
Genesis 2:25 ESV And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
Genesis 3:10 ESV And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
Genesis 3:21 ESV And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
He has clothed us in His righteousness.
How are Isaiah’s prophecies in Isaiah 61:10 fulfilled by Jesus Christ? Are we clothed in Jesus’ righteousness when we belive and are saved by His grace or when we get baptised?
Isaiah 61:10-11 ESV I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
1 Corinthians 1:28-31 ESV God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
He has made us part of His body
How are we made part of the body of Christ, and what does baptism have to do with this? Do we become part of the body of Christ when we repent and trust that Jesus Christ has died for our sins, or when we are baptised?
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
We commit to imitate Christ, take on His beliefs and concerns
What does our commitment to “Putting on Christ” mean? What have we already committed to do before we undergo baptism?
Romans 13:14 ESV But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.