What is Baptism?
Baptism is a significant Christian sacrament, and here’s a breakdown of its meaning and significance:
1. A Public Declaration of Faith
- What does baptism represent?
Baptism is a public declaration of a person’s faith in Jesus Christ. It is like preaching a visual sermon where the person being baptized publicly pronounces their belief in Christ. It’s a way to share with others that they have chosen to follow Jesus. - Why is baptism public?
Baptism is meant to be a public event, showing the world that the individual has committed to a life of faith in Jesus. It’s a testimony to others of the believer’s choice to surrender their life to God.
2. A Point of Departure from the Old Life
- What does baptism symbolise about one’s old life?
Baptism symbolises a point of departure from one’s previous lifestyle. It marks the beginning of a new life as a Christian and signifies that the old self, characterised by sin and separation from God, has been put to death and that the person is now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). - How does Jesus’ baptism relate to this?
Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:13-17 serves as an example of this transition. Before Jesus was baptised, He lived in Nazareth; after His baptism, He began His public ministry as a travelling prophet and preacher. In the same way, baptism marks the start of a new, transformed life.
3. Union with Christ and the Church
- How does baptism connect believers to Christ?
Baptism is a way of being united with Jesus Christ. In Romans 6, it says that through baptism, we are “baptized into Christ” (v. 3) and “united with Him” (v. 5). Baptism signifies that the believer has joined Christ in His death and resurrection, symbolizing the believer’s identification with Christ. - How does baptism connect a person to the church?
In 1 Corinthians 12:13, it says that when we are baptized, we are “baptized into the body of Christ,” meaning that baptism also brings us into union with the church, which is the body of Christ on Earth. It is an initiation into the Christian community.
4. God’s Claim to Ownership
- What does baptism signify about God’s ownership over a person?
Baptism is a declaration that God has claimed the individual as His own. Being baptized “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19-20) signifies that the individual is now under God’s authority. Baptism in the name of the triune God affirms the believer’s relationship with the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. - Is there a difference between baptism in the name of Jesus and in the name of the Trinity?
While there are instances in the New Testament where baptism is described as occurring “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 2:38, 8:16), the use of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in baptism is based on Jesus’ commission to His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Both ways of baptizing signify the same thing: a person’s full identification with the Lordship of Jesus Christ and God’s claim over them.
Summary:
Baptism is not just a ritual; it is a deep declaration of a believer’s faith, a symbol of spiritual transformation, and a means of publicly identifying with Jesus Christ and the church. Through baptism, individuals are publicly acknowledging their faith, leaving behind their old life of sin, and entering into union with Christ and His church, all while affirming God’s claim over their lives.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk