338 – The Ordinances of the Church – Baptism

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE: ECCLESIOLOGY III LESSON # 38

ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH (BAPTISM)

INTRODUCTION:

It would be shallow and foolish to minimize the significance of water baptism in the New Testament. It is so pre-eminent that a surface student might think it to be synonymous with salvation. This could be easily concluded from a careless study of Mark 16:15

and 16

, Acts 22:16

, I Pet. 3:21

and other Scriptures like them. Our duty as earnest Bible students is to come to Scripture openly and let it teach us, for in ourselves, we know nothing.

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING BAPTISM TO BE SYMBOLIC

In lesson 37, I mentioned this, but let us again see the danger and error in viewing baptism as a meritorious sacrament. We shall do this by listing things done in, by and to us through baptism and see if Scripture allows them to be literal actions.

1. We put on Christ by baptism (Gal. 3:27

). Does this mean He is a garment we put on? No, it means we profess our abode in Him as opposed to law – symbolism.
2. Are saved by baptism: (I Pet. 3:21

). Literal? Of course not, else Paul could never have written I Cor. 1:14

.
3. Our sins are washed away (Acts 22:16

). Literal? No! Or John the Baptist could never have uttered Luke 3:7-14

.
4. We are “buried with Christ.” (Rom. 6:4

) It is obvious that baptism does not literally put us in the garden tomb 2,000 years ago.

II. FOR WHOM IS BAPTISM?

1. It is only for the repentant. (Lk. 3:7

, 8

)
2. It is only for the believing. (Mk. 16:16

, Acts 8:37

)
3. Thus, it cannot be for infants who are below the age of ability in either of these two responses.
4. It is for those who receive the word preached by the Lord’s church (Acts 2:39-42

Note: New Testament baptism was contingent on issues of doctrinal agreement.

III. THE SYMBOLIC TESTIMONY OF BAPTISM

1. We were dead in trespasses and sins and our hearts have been converted, thus we desire to walk in a newness of life. (Rom. 6:4

)
2. Faith: That is, we are by baptism stating our belief, that He died for our sins, was buried and rose again, in compliance with scriptural pattern and purpose.
3. That Jesus of Nazareth is that One appointed by God for deliverance. (Acts 2:21-38

)

IV. THE MODE OF BAPTISM (IMMERSION)

1. Bible pattern: Everywhere there is a mention of mode, it is clearly immersion.

i. John baptized where there was much water. (Jn. 3:23

)
ii. Jesus, after baptism, came up out of the water. (Mat. 3:16

)
iii. Both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water. (Acts. 8:38

)

2. The meaning of the word baptize demands immersing, or dipping.
3. The symbolism of burial, or planting, demands immersion.

V. THE PROPER ADMINISTRATOR

1. The only institution given this authority was Christ’s church. (Mat. 28:19

)
2. It was an institutional ordinance, not a private one, else it does not exist today.
3. Men are led by the Holy Spirit to unite into a body (the church) through the ordinance of baptism. (I Cor. 12:13

)

CONCLUSION: Baptism does not procure salvation for us, nor is it an effort for sacral merit. It testifies of the salvation Christ has given us and of the labor into which we are entering for His glory, in and through His church.

Berean Baptist Church