“He that believes and is baptized shall see all his old adversaries put to the rout; and what he could not do, through the weakness of his flesh, shall be done for him by the power of the Spirit of God; and by divine grace he shall master his sins.” —Charles Spurgeon
Baptism is a pivotal ordinance for the local church and a profound symbol for the salvation of believers in Christ. Yet, this emblem (intended to bring clarity) has too often been mired in misunderstanding and misapplication. Worse still, there are those like some Presbyterians who take meticulous care concerning the placement of baptistries, and the sources of water for baptism but gloss over the mode of baptism without a word.1 These problems have led to many in our churches who are baptized but unregenerate, and many who are regenerate and not compliant with the biblical command. For anyone to take this issue passively while claiming to be a disciple of Jesus, must do some critical self-evaluation. After all, the scripture seems to place great weight on the practice.
In this five-part series, we will examine some key factors that provide a framework for understanding the relationship between salvation and baptism according to the biblical tradition. Further, it will also help as a guide for the personal examination of our own experience— ensuring that our practice conforms to the timeless truth of of God’s Word.
Key Factor #1: MEANING
Does my baptism carry the proper biblical meaning? Is it a saving sacrament, or a symbolic ordinance?
The meaning of the word “baptism” is foundational to our understanding of the practice. Once the meaning is established, we can begin to appreciate the significance of the symbolism and confront our practice with authority.
There must have been a great struggle with the translation of this word when the King James Version of the Bible emerged in the 1600's. Unfortunately, King James had not been immersed but rather sprinkled as a baby. The translators avoided the obvious religious/political tensions in the matter by transliterating with the word “baptize” instead of translating to the more appropriate English word “immerse”. For them, this would leave sufficient ambiguity for all the hostile perspectives and might prevent their own immersion in a canvas bag filled with rocks. It proved a wise choice for them but was of no help to us.
By definition, the term "baptism" derives from the Greek "baptizo," meaning "immerse." Used as a noun it is translated as “baptism”, and as a verb we “baptize”. In the original language of Koine Greek, there is no direct synonym for these words. The closer related words would likely be λούω (louō): This verb means "to bathe" and generally refers to the washing of one's body. It is used metaphorically in the New Testament in Revelation 1:5, referring to the “washing away of sins.” We also might relate the word ἀπολούω (apolouō): This is a compound of "apo" (from) and "louō," meaning to wash away/off. It can carry the connotation of washing away something such as dirt or sin.
While word meaning is not ambiguous, alone it may not remove the muddiness of the issue. The question arises not only in what the word means, but how it is used, and what the practice of baptism means. In scripture we clearly see three symbolic meanings applied:
1. It is a Symbol of Cleansing from Sin
Immersion had a contextual purpose: the symbol of cleansing. We see an example in Lev 16:4 when the ritual “washing” was initiated. This was an act where the priest “bathed” in a private pool for ceremonial cleansing before ministering in Holy things. The various washings described in the Old Testament did not literally wash off defilement but were symbolic of the purification from sin. As per rabbinical teachings, during the second temple period, a baptism, along with circumcision and sacrifice, was considered a necessary condition for a Gentile's conversion to Judaism. This baptism involved immersion in water and signified a renunciation of past associations, aligning the convert with the Jewish covenant and community. (https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2456-baptism; https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/baptism-pagan-or-jewish) In the New Testament, Peter uses the word in a similar way to describe the reality of salvation in Christ as seen in "Baptism, …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…” (1 Peter 3:21) In fact, great clarity is gained when Paul links the “sign”(Romans 4:11) of circumcision to baptism when he says, “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Col 2:10–12.) Baptism does not actually cleanse sin, it is a visual practice that symbolizes the inner cleansing that occurs when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ and has his sins “put away”.
2. It is a Symbol of Identification with Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
In another sense, baptism—going under the water, symbolizes dying with Christ to one's old way of life, and emerging out of the water symbolizes being raised to new life in Christ, thus linking my experience of salvation to the work of Christ. In Paul’s preaching of the Gospel, in Acts 22:16, he appealed, "And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” To “rise” and to “call upon his name” are being equated, and being baptized (cleansed), and the symbolic value of being cleared from sin is powerfully fused together. When someone comes to faith in Christ, they are cleansed from sin.
Paul asked, "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.”(Romans 6:3-4) In baptism, our death to sin, and our new life are linked to Christ’s death and atoning work. Because of the reality of Christ’s work, I am assured of a future where after death my physical body (having been buried) will be raised incorruptible. His redemptive work and my personal experience are now united in a beautiful symbol.
3. It is a Symbol of Initiation into the Church Community
Baptism is also symbolic of the believer's incorporation into the body of Christ, which is the church. The Apostle reminded the Corinthians, "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13) My new life united in Christ in the invisible church—numbered among all believers of all times, is now applied to my participation in the visible church. This will become more clear when we look at the pattern of baptism in the New Testament itself, where participation in the local church is always preceded by salvation and the subsequent baptism of a person. This is why we refer to baptism as a prerequisite for membership in the body and participation in the Lord’s supper. (BF&M, 1689 CF)
With these examples, the symbolic value is clear. This helps us understand that the act—not itself a saving mechanism, carries the meaning of an outward representation of an inward reality where salvation has been experienced. I have been cleansed, and dying with Christ and raised to new life in him, I now become a part of His body—the church. Baptism has clear symbolic value in this.
Note: Sacrament vs. Ordinace
As a sacrament, this symbol would be understood as a channel of grace—and that is often assumed a requirement for salvation. For example, in the Catholic perspective (as well as with many others), sacraments are the primary means through which believers receive the supernatural life necessary for salvation. For them, sacraments are not just symbolic but are considered actual instruments through which God dispenses grace and aids the faithful in achieving eternal life.2 The Bible, however, assigns no such meaning. Instead, we find a rich symbolic description in the form of a command to be carefully perpetuated (an “ordinance”).
We prefer the term "ordinance" over "sacrament" to emphasize practices commanded by Christ, like baptism, as acts of obedience rather than conduits of grace. This is a command given to us in the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey whatsoever he has commanded us. (Matt 29:19-20) We are commanded to baptize, and we are to teach disciples to obey this and other commands. The term "ordinance" indicates this rite is not effective for salvation but is a linguistic choice that helps prevent some misunderstanding that such practices, in themselves, provide any assurance of salvation.
W.A. Criswell once said, “Baptism is an outward sign of an inward grace. It is a beautiful, heaven-given illustration of the believer’s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection.” With such richness, we have to examine our experience of baptism in light of this meaning. Does my baptism carry the biblical meaning? Is my baptism seen as a saving sacrament, or as a symbolic ordinance? Is it an act of obedience motivated by a transformed heart, or is it an achievement that gains God’s favor? The other factors will build on this rich meaning.
(Part 2).
Study/Discussion Questions:
Can you explain why some people might be confused about what baptism means?
Why is it important to understand baptism the way Jesus and his disciples did?
What does the word "baptize" mean in the original Greek language of the Bible?
What three things does baptism symbolize according to the Bible?
What does baptism as a "Symbol of Cleansing from Sin" mean?
How does baptism symbolize "Identification with Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection"?
What does it mean that baptism is a "Symbol of Initiation into the Church Community"?
Is the act of baptism supposed to save us or is it a symbol of something else according to the Bible?
What's the difference between the terms "sacrament" and "ordinance" in the context of baptism?
Think about your own baptism. Did you understand it as the means of saving you, or as a visual of you having already been saved?
“The water used for baptism should be common to the location, and shall be applied to the person by pouring, sprinkling, or immersion. By whatever mode, the water should be applied visibly and generously.” (https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/faq/faq-baptism/#:~:text=The%20water%20used%20for%20baptism,name%20of%20the%20triune%20God)