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Day 4: What does the New Testament say about baptism?

Just as Jesus redefines John’s baptism, the New Testament writers spell out amazing things associated with what happens when we get baptized. It’s not just repentance. It’s immersion into Jesus. And with that comes all sorts of blessings.

Baptism tends to be polarizing. Churches have split over who to baptize and how to baptize them. It seems that most questions people ask about baptism have to do with these differences. It’s too bad because Christians share far more in common regarding what they believe about baptism, and baptism was always meant to be something that unites believers together.

No matter your church background or affiliation, all Christians agree on the following:

Baptism is connected with salvation.

• Romans 6:3-4. Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
• 1 Peter 3:21. This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you.
• Mark 16:16. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

Notice how these New Testament writers make a powerful connection between salvation and our immersion into Christ. Being “in Christ” brings us salvation. Being baptized (immersed) into Christ means his death and resurrection now apply to us. Any judgment we deserve is now crucified with Jesus. Any good favor Jesus deserves, God counts towards us. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, he defeated sin, death, and the devil. Our immersion into Jesus means we share that blessing!

Baptism is connected with faith.

• Acts 16:30-33. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
• Acts 2:37-39. They were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
• Acts 8:12. When they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
• Acts 8:35-38. Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

When people realize the power of the gospel and salvation found in Jesus, notice how their immediate response is baptism. Baptism, it seems, is tightly wound with faith. Baptism is a sign and expression of our new life in Jesus, our trust in him, and our desire to turn our lives over to him.

Baptism is connected with the body of Christ.

• Acts 2:41. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
• 1 Corinthians 12:12-13. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free…
• Ephesians 4:4-5. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism…

Christ has such an intimate connection with his followers that Paul calls them Christ’s body. We are as intimately connected to Jesus as our hand is connected to our body. Which means we’re also intimately connected with one another.

The New Testament word for this is “Church” – not a building, but a people. Through baptism, we become part of a faith family that extends over all space and time, experiencing oneness with all the joys and responsibilities it bears.

Baptism is not fire insurance.

Some people think that being baptized automatically gets them into heaven. Nothing could be further from the truth!

1 Corinthians 10:1-5. For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

At first glance, this passage is a bit tricky. Paul is warning early Christians that just because they’re baptized or take the Lord’s Supper, it does not guarantee their salvation. In a sort of way, the Israelites of old were also baptized and took communion, but look at what happened to them!

Baptism by itself will not save you.

We are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus, which is received through faith. He died and rose again so we can be saved and live. Here’s how Ephesians puts it:

Ephesians 2:8-9. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

Your salvation is God’s gift, also called grace. Trusting that gift is called faith. While baptism can be a way the Holy Spirit comes to us and plants a seed of faith, that trust can be rejected or be allowed to die.

Baptism without faith is meaningless.

Questions

1. What have you been taught about baptism? How does today reinforce or challenge that?
2. Have you been baptized? If so, why? If not, why not?