To many people baptism is seen only as an initiation into the church. Others only know baptism "for the remission of sins." The truth is, baptism is much wider in its scope and blessings. It is much like the many facets of a finely cut diamond. Notice just some of the meanings of baptism.
1. Baptism is like a birth. Jesus said in John 3:5, "Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." A birth is a "coming forth" into a new relationship. Just as an infant comes forth from his mother into the world of light, the obedient believer comes out of the waters of baptism a new born babe in Christ (I Peter 2:2). His Christian life has just begun. This new birth puts him into the kingdom or church of Christ (Matthew 16:18-19). Just as one is born a citizen of America, so in baptism we are born into the kingdom of Jesus. Only an immersion in water and a coming forth from the water can adequately depict a birth. This sprinkling or pouring can never do. It is important to remember when interpreting metaphors and analogies that we never press more than the main point of comparison. Many foolish points have been wrung from this teaching by teachers who did not remember this rule. The water is not our mother, the Holy Spirit is not the sire, nor do you have spiritual life before baptism. The one simple point is, we must come out of the water of baptism into the kingdom, even as the baby comes out of the womb into this life.
2. Baptism is like a burial and resurrection. Paul writes that sinners must die to sin, then be buried with Christ through baptism into death, in order that they might be raised up to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4). The conversion experience simulates the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. Everyone who is saved demonstrates his faith in the Christ who died and rose for him, by his baptism into Christ. It is a proclamation to the world of the crucified Christ as their only hope of pardon.
When seeking to understand such figurative expressions as death, burial, and resurrection in salvation, we must never mingle or confuse other figures with these. Great confusion results when one tries to mix the illustrations of the new birth in John 3 with this of Romans 6. Each must be understood and explained separately.
3. Baptism is like the purification and preparation of a bride for her wedding. In Ephesians 5 Paul speaks of the loving relationship of Christ and his church under the figure of a man and his bride. He tells us Christ gave himself up for the church "that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27). Among the ancient peoples, great emphasis was placed upon the cleansing and purification of a bride before being presented to her husband. (See Esther 2:12-13). So each person who becomes a member of Christ's bride, the church, must be purified by the washing of water (baptism) and the Word. Should anyone dispute the "washing of water" being baptism, we ask, is there any other use of water in the gospel, regarding salvation, church membership and Christian worship?
4. Baptism is like the ritual of circumcision. Under the Abrahamic covenant no male could be a member of the holy nation unless he had been circumcised. The removal of that tad of flesh from the infant's body identified him as one of God's spiritual sons (Genesis 17:9-14). Today, everyone, male and female, must undergo a circumcision of the heart in order to be a child of God. This Paul explains in Colossians 2:11-13, "In whom (Christ) ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism..." Baptism is similar to the act of circumcision in that God cuts off and removes the old sins of the heart when we are buried with Christ. God, not a physician, administers the spiritual surgery when we are baptized to wash away our sins (Acts 22:16).
5. Baptism is like the purification rites of the Jews. Those living under Moses' law were continually faced with the problem of ceremonial defilement and uncleanness. Touching any dead body or having any running sore or skin disease and a host of other things rendered them impure and disqualified them to enter the worship assembly. A ritual of purification was set for that included the blood of sacrifice and the washing of the body with water (Leviticus 15:13-15). So in this age the unclean sinner comes before God's great priest Jesus, having his heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and having his body washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22). I am confident that this refers to Christian baptism for the only use of water in the New Testament in reference to salvation, church or worship is baptism (Acts 10:47). When we are washed in the waters of baptism, the blood of our sacrifice, Jesus, is applied to our conscience, giving us a clean and good conscience before God (I Peter 3:21).
6. Baptism is like giving life to the dead. The sinner is dead in his trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), being separated from God by them (Isaiah 59:1-2). Only God can give new life to those dead in sin. It is "not by works done in righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit..." (Titus 3:5-6). To regenerate is to make alive again. Renewal has the same basic meaning. When does God do this for sinners? When they are "washed." But in baptism He washes away our sins (Acts 22:16). When we are baptized in water He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). So we are made alive from our death in sin, by God, when we are baptized.
7. Baptism is the entrance initiation into the church of Christ. "For in one Spirit were all baptized into one body" (I Corinthians 12:13). But the one body is Christ's church (Colossians 1:18). Water baptism puts us into the one true church at the same time our sins are being forgiven. This is when the Lord adds us to the church (Acts 2:47, KJV).
8. Baptism unites us with Christ. It puts us into Christ. In it we are clothed with Christ. "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ." "For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death..." (Romans 6:5). The context shows this to be in baptism.
9. Baptism is like the flood of Noah's day in that it separates the righteous and the wicked. The flood waters destroyed sinners upon the earth at the same time it floated those within the ark to safety. "Which also after a true likeness doth now save you, even baptism..." (I Peter 3:21). The water of baptism stands as a distinct line separating the saved and lost. All the saved have experienced baptism. All who have not are yet in sin.
How beautiful are the many sides of Christian baptism. Surely every soul that loves God will eagerly desire to obey this command of King Jesus. (Mark 16:17; Acts 10:48). Of such great importance is it that we urge you to do so today. If you need assistance in fulfilling your obedience to God, please contact us and a faithful Christian will soon be in touch with you.
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