Reformed Theology: 25. Baptism

Hello and welcome back to the Basics of the Reformed Faith series. Today's topic is Baptism. Before our Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, he left his disciples with the following command, 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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.". Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20. Based upon these words of the Great Commission, it is now the mission of Christ's Church to go into the world, preach the gospel, and make disciples of all nations.

But how do we make disciples? By evangelizing them, teaching them, and baptizing them in the name of the Triune God. Although many professing Christians today are strangely indifferent to the sacraments in general, and baptism in particular, the New Testament knows nothing of someone who comes to faith in Jesus Christ, but who is not baptized.

While the exception to this is the thief on the cross, for whom baptism was not possible Luke chapter 23 verses 40 -43 the New Testament is very clear about the necessity of baptism as the sign and seal of one's profession of faith in Jesus.

Romans chapter 4 verses 9 -12. Not only does Jesus command His disciples in the Great Commission to make disciples of the nations by baptizing those who believe in Jesus, the Pentecost sermon preached by Peter ends with the following charge.

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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.

Acts chapter 2 verses 38 -39. Baptism is for all who God calls to Himself and administered by the Church upon a profession of faith in Him. There are several important reasons why all those who come to faith in Jesus Christ are baptized.

Baptism as the Sign and Seal of the New Covenant

First, baptism is the sign and seal of the New Covenant, and as such replaces circumcision which was the sign and seal of the Old Covenant. Genesis chapter 17 verses 1 -14 and Colossians chapter 2 verses 11 -12.

Circumcision in the Old Testament was done to 8 day old males by the hands of men. In the New Testament, circumcision is done by God the Holy Spirit in the hearts of both men and women. Romans chapter 2 verses 28 -29.

The covenant sign changes from circumcision to baptism, and the one doing the circumcision also changes. God is the one who brings you into the covenant of grace. However, the thing signified does not change.

God's covenant promised to be our God and that we are His people. Acts chapter 2 verse 39 and Galatians chapter 3 verse 14. Reformed Christians are divided over whether children or believers only are to be baptized.

Presbyterians contend that children of believers are to be baptized, but Reformed Baptists contend that it is only believers who have been circumcised in their hearts already that are to be baptized. Second, in baptism, we are identified with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.

Baptism and Union with Christ in His Death and Resurrection

In Romans chapter 6 verses 3 -5, Paul writes,. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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 newness of life.

For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. Similarly, in Galatians chapter 3 verses 27 -28, Paul ties baptism to our identification with Christ.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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. To be baptized is to put on Christ as one puts on new clothes, and baptism unites us to Jesus in His death and resurrection.

Baptism, Regeneration, and the Distinction Between Sign and Thing Signified

Third, we must distinguish between the sign, water, and the thing signified, the forgiveness of sin. The scriptures do speak of baptism as the bath of regeneration, Titus chapter 3 verse 5, and tied to the forgiveness of sin, Acts chapter 2 verse 38, without also teaching that the water of baptism is the means of regeneration.

Regeneration is everywhere attributed to the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, John chapter 3 verses 3 -8, Titus chapter 3 verses 5, 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14, and not to the mere presence of the sign itself.

The water of baptism, as if the sign somehow magically binds God to the act. That being said, we must be very careful not to reduce baptism to a mere external sign, or deny anything at all is signified and sealed unto the one baptized.

Claiming God's covenant promise by faith, we believe with all our hearts that the baptized adult or child who believes is indeed regenerate, and has been washed in the blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

One of the best summaries of what scripture promises us in baptism is found in the words of the form of baptism used in the Reformed churches. These words are a fit summary of these promises we have just considered.

Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We are baptized into the name of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For when we are baptized in the name of the Father, God the Father witnesses and seals to us that he makes an eternal covenant of grace with us, and adopts us for his children and heirs, and therefore will provide us with every good thing and turn aside all evil, or turn it into our profit.

And when we are baptized into the name of the Son, the Son seals us to that he washes us in his blood from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of his death and resurrection, so that we are freed from our sins and accounted righteous before God.

Likewise, when we are baptized into the name of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit assures us by this holy sacrament that he will dwell in us and sanctify us to be members of Christ, imparting to us that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing away of our sins and the daily renewing of our lives until we shall finally be presented without spot among the assembly of the elect in life eternal.

Remember that the sacraments are visible signs and seals of God's invisible grace promised to his people in the gospel, Romans chapter 4 verses 9 -12. That which God promises to us in the gospel, the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, is then confirmed in baptism and the Lord's Supper.

The gospel is proclaimed and then made visible in a sense when the sacraments are administered, which is why Reformed Christians often speak of the sacraments as the visible word. Kim Riddlebarger, who authored the basics of the Reformed Faith book, is a Presbyterian and therefore holds to infant baptism, and I am very grateful to him for his work in this book and as a Reformed pastor.

However, I am a Reformed Baptist who holds to believer's baptism, and have therefore adapted this session to accommodate that view. Although this is a very important issue with theological ramifications, it is not a matter of salvation, or one which should cause us to break fellowship with each other.

We certainly have much more in common with each other than most other Christian denominations, and a rich Reformed tradition to share. Therefore I do want to thank Dr. Riddlebarger for his work on this topic, although I disagree with him, we are brothers in Christ.

Summary of the Great Commission and Reformed Baptism

Let's review. Jesus' last words to us were the command to go into the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the sign and seal of the New Covenant.

In baptism we are identified with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. We must distinguish between the sign, water, and the thing signified, the forgiveness of sin, without also teaching that the water of baptism is the means of regeneration.

We are baptized into the name of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Presbyterians contend that children of believers are to be baptized, but Reformed Baptists contend that it is only believers to be baptized.

Well friends, thanks again for joining us. We look forward to seeing you in the next session.