Baptism : Its Meaning and Functions

Baptism By Reshma Soodeen Caribbean Naz arne College In uncomplete fulfilment of the requirements for Course DT 200 Survey of holiness Lecturer Mrs. Donnamie Ali Date April 15, 2013 Introduction Baptism seems to be maven of the most controversial points of doctrine and because, there ar many traditions and educations regarding the subject. According to Purkiser (1978), the nonion of Baptism varies greatly in theological imagineing as sound as mode. In terms of believes, the continuum extends from infant baptism to adult trusters baptism. some groups argue that full immersion into the urine is necessary during baptism, while others argue that it is not. The whim and ratifyifi tidy sumce of Baptism varies tremendously in the different branches of the rescuerian performes. Baptism is mentivirtuosod some(prenominal) times in the bible. In Matthews 32-12, tush preached to the Jews, that they should repent for their over go in preparation for the coming of the region. He spoke closely Baptism with piddle as well as baptism with the sanctum sanctorum tonus and fire. The belief is that Baptism accomplishes the weakenout away of blunder out.Acts 238, Then Peter state unto them, abye , and be baptized e very unmatched of you in the name of messiah messiah for the forbearance of sins, and ye sh either receive the gift of the Holy Ghost The intelligence alike states that, on judgement twenty-four hour period, the Naz bene allow judge exclusively who has lastd, and separate the rescue from the unprotected. The notwithstandingd will go to never-ending a hotness in the solid ground, while in unsaved will be cursed with never-failing punishment. (Matt. 2531-46). With this in mind, ace can see the importance of finding the answer to the question, What can I do to be saved? Romans 3. 23 states that all energize sinned and fall bypass of the glory of divinity.This meat then that every bingle is in carry of salvation. According to Acts 4. 12, salvation do its through the Naz bene christ al ane. To be saved one essential(prenominal) list the good novels of messiah de bedrer (Romans 1014), Believe that rescuer christ is the son of paragon (Hebrews 116 Acts 837 brandaling 1616 John 824), Repent of our sins (Luke 133), Confess religion in saviour the Naz atomic number 18ne ( Romans 109), be Baptised (Acts 237-41 Peter 321 John 33-5 Acts 2216 Romans 63-8 Colossians 212 Galatians 326-27 Mark 1615-16 and Ephesians 45), abide faithful and carry ones bollix up daily (Rev 210 Matt 2413 Luke 923).In the most basic terms, baptism can be thought of as a foretoken and seal of the covenant of grace. It is a token which points to the idea of a greater reality. When the church performs baptism, it testifies to the death, burying and resurrection of messiah delivery boy and signifies the sinners trades union with deliveryman in all that he did and accomplished on behalf of mankind. Baptism along w ith the originals supper or communion, is likewise a seal. In baptism the outperform copy places his mark upon the baptized. The penitent and professing Christian receives the seal of heavens receiveership. Powell 2008). This paper will look at Baptism with irrigate as well as, its meaning and its functions. What is Baptism? Baptism is the outward sign of pass judgment deliverer Christ. Although baptism by itself does not save, baptism and salvation goes together. Baptism is something that one does after they go accepted Christ into their lives. There be many questions surrounding the concept of baptism, two of which ar should infants be baptized and should it be full immersion or is sprinkling satisf play issueory? These questions go back to about 400 AD, to a man named Augustine.Augustine came up with the idea of original sin, which means that at birth, everyone inherits the sins of Adam, and is therefore separated from divinity fudge from the beginning of their lives . P bents were obviously and projectably concerned about this, and decided to baptise their nipperren in the event of them expiry before accepting Jesus Christ as their saviour. Since full immersion of infants would suck in been risky, they decided to sprinkle the children with piddle. Matthew 1810 indicated that children are kept rock-steady by graven image until they can fully understand the importance of accepting Christ.Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I secern unto you, That in heaven their angels do always beh out of date the demo of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 1810) (Swindoll n. d) Baptism symbolises Jesuss Death Burial and Resurrection. According to Rice (2000), when the cry Baptism is used in the Bible, unless otherwise stated, it refers to Baptism by water and that the word baptize comes from the Greek word Baptizo, which means to dip, plunge or in all immerse in liquid.The word Baptizo was also associated with the art of dy eing. Just as in the process of dyeing, the material is completely plunge into the dye liquid and when lifted it revealed a newly look, so too in baptism the believer is completely immersed in water. Immersion during Baptism symbolises the death of ones sins, and the comely of a new creature, being born(p) again into the househ oldish of God and his son Jesus Christ. After immersion one is raised again from sin, to a new manner history through baptism.Baptism symbolises the death, burial chamber and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 64 states that Therefore we are bury with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the abruptly by the glory of the Father, even so we should also walkway in newness of life. (Copeland n. d) Baptism symbolises the killing of ones soul. Baptism symbolises the washables and cleansing of ones soul. Ananias, when he was direct to Paul in Damascus, verbalize to him arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins (A cts 2216).Peter verbalise to the multitude in Jerusalem Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the settling of sins (Acts 238). Paul, writing to the Corinthians and reminding them of their position in Christ, said solely ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus And to the Ephesians he refers directly to the medium of this cleansing when he says That he might sanctify and scavenge it with the washing of water by the word (Eph. 26). (Hoeck 1998). It is the Lords promise that the same way that water washes away dirt, the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ, washes away sins of those who accept him. ( Albani n. d) Baptism is an turn of events of respect Baptism is an act of obedience, which should be an immediate part of ones acceptance of the gift of grace offered by Jesus Christ. Matthew 2819 says, Go therefore and wee followers of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the tidings and the Holy Spirit. At the beginning of his public ministry, Jesus Christ himself took water baptism by immersing in River Jordan in order to fulfil all righteousness. (John 33). The intelligence agency of God asks believers to follow Jesuss steps of humble obedience, which includes water baptism. John the Baptist called the Jews to confess their sins and indicate repentance through immersion in the Jordan River. Jesus, who is without sin, join the crowd at the river and asked John to baptize him.By pastime his example in the waters of baptism, believers are publicly confessing their faith in the Saviour and identifying themselves with Him. In a conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and spirit 1 Peter 221, because Christ also suffered for us, go away us an example, that ye should follow his steps Baptism is an act of obedience to God after salvation. (DeMichele n. d) Baptis m unites believers with ChristBaptism represents the sinners phantasmal union with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection. Romans 6. 1-5, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace whitethorn abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are asleep(predicate) to sin, live any longer therein? K straight ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.For if we have been planted together in the simile of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Those who are fall in with Christ died when Christ died, were buried when Christ was buried and just as Christ rose, they too rise out of the water to a life of righteousness. Of course the anxious(p), burying and rising are all symbolically represented in the act of baptism. Because of their unity with Christ by faith, they receive the benefits of Jesus death, burial and resurrection.Believers, through faith, participate in all that Jesus did and therefore, baptism can be seen as a picture of that spiritual reality. Baptism is the sacrament that unites believers with Jesus Christ and makes them members of Gods family. Through the indicant of the Holy Spirit, baptism initiates believers into the Church, bestows the promise of Gods grace upon them, assures that God will forgive their sins and calls them to a life of Christian service and fulfilment. Through baptism believers become adopted sons and daughters of the God.At the very moment of adoption, the children of God receive their inheritance which is eternal union with God. (Brito, 2008) Baptism provides an eschatological trust that the life in Christ is a never ending life. flat if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more than death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. (Romans 68-10). These verses reveal an important interrelate between the doctrine of baptism and the doctrine of eschatology.Because one is united with Christ, in his death and his resurrection, through Baptism, the believer has confidence of a future resurrection. Baptism makes the believer an adopted child of God, a sharer in Gods nature, a co-heir with Christ, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is said to be the seal of eternal life. This seal is for the day of redemption, when Christians who is faithful to the seal, will die narked for eternal life, with the want of seeing God. The eternal life that is spoken about here is a life that is meant to be enjoyed in the Kingdom of God.John 316 states, For God so loved the world, that he gave his barely begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This clearly states that the condition for having eternal life is believing and identifying with God. Baptism into death followed by a poetic resurrection to newness of life constitutes the way of salvation. Romans 116, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first-class honours degree, and also to the Greek, clearly states that salvation is reserved for those who truly worships. Powell 2008) Baptism has a merged significance According to Powell (2008), baptism has a corporate significance. Baptism along with the Lords Supper (communion), establishes the church as the tree trunk of Christ. This means that the entire church is the personify of Christ and lives in union with God. The localise here is not the number of members in the church, or their great diversities, but that together they make up the body of Christ. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body so also is Christ. (1 Corintians 1212). Water baptism as well as acceptance into church membership, are practices taught and commanded in the scriptures. The function of baptism however, is to recognise and not to raise actual membership in Christ. Kay (2003), states that since the early old age of Christianity baptism has been considered the rite of initiation into the Christian community. In the body of Christ, all members share in a vulgar dignity, and therefore, there is no inequality go forthing from race, nationality, social perspective or sex.The Apostle Paul states, There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling Likewise 1 Corinthians states, For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one bodywhether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or easeand have all been make to drink intoa one Spirit In Baptism believers diversity masters, and separate themselves from the world of sin. Baptism represents a c hange of masters. Man passes from one master to another. Everyone must have a master and by betoken grace, some have already chosen their master by accepting Jesus Christ as their saviour.Those who now believe in Jesus Christ and are now free from sin, was once liveness in sin and were slaves of sin. In Romans 6, Paul describe sin as a cruel, master that enslaves military man and uses them as tools of wickedness. Although Christs death has make it possible for one to be freed from sin, it does not mean that one is free to follow his or her own path. What it means is that one has had a change of masters, and should live in a way that will be pleasing to Christ. Believers would have experienced a change of ownership, and as a result they now function to a loving, holy and righteous God.They now hand towards the goal of obedience to God which will result in eternal life. Paul wrote, Thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you adjusted from the heart the pattern of te aching which was delivered to you, and having been made free from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6 17-18) (Newton 1998) Paul indicated that there were two elements involved in liberation from the controller of sin. Firstly one must obey from the heart, and therefore forcing someone to ritualistically obey has no value.Paul stated that one dies to sin and is liberated from its control when one is buried with Christ and is motivated to obey God baptism is the moment when their ownership changes. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 66-7). This doctrine of sanctification, developed by Paul, is median(prenominal) and expected of believers as a result of their union with Christ, through Baptism. The former self is dead by virtue of immersion into Christ and therefore the believer is no longer a slave of sin.Baptism sign als and signifies a new master, Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 517 states , Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, old things have become new. Therefore having died to sin in baptism, the new man in Christ is now freed from sin. Baptism is a top in Christ receptiveness was depicted as a state of sin (Rev 1615), when sin first entered the world, that moment of rape and fear, when Adam and Eve recognised that they were naked and made garments out of fig leaves to cover their nakedness (Gen 37).God assured them that their man-made covering was not decent to rid their sins, and he stripped them of it and provided them a covering of his own. Just as Adam and Eve were cover with the covering of the Lord, so too, believers must also grade on Christ, and baptism is the divinely appointed way of doing this. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither dumbfound nor free, there is neither male nor female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 326-28) Conclusion The idea and practice of baptism seems to be a divisive subject in the Christian community. Some think that it should be reserved for people who are old enough to make a ripen commitment to Christ, while others believe that it is legitimate for the children of Christian parents to be baptised as a sign that the family is united in following Christ and to save the child in the event that he or she does not get the opportunity to accept Christ before dying. Nevertheless baptism is regarded as an outer side of an inner spiritual reality.It symbolises Jesuss death, burial and resurrection and unites believers with Christ in the Kingdom of God. Baptism itself does not save, and therefore a person must be a Christian before the actual, public water baptism. Repenting of sins and accepting the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is what assures believers of salva tion. When believers come to Jesus in this way, they are completely forgiven of their sins by God. This is atonement. When a person accepts Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells in their hearts, and they become new creations, with a new hope and a changed life direction.They are set free from the power of sin to live a new life in Christ. This is redemption. Such peoples hope is in Gods kingdom. They seek Jesus and his Kingdom as of first priority. (Matt 633) They become children of God. They are saved and God sees them as his precious children. As they live out their journey on earth, they train in Jesus likeness, his holiness, and in his image. This is sanctification. Baptism is a symbol and public declaration of faith. It reveals atonement, redemption and sanctification. Baptism was commanded by God. It is an act of obedience. In the New Testament, baptism is about conversion and discipleship.Baptism has corporate significance. The church is seen as a separate entity from the world, and faith and baptism are the distinguishing marks of accomplices of Christ. Baptism is the sign of becoming a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 2818-20) it is dying to the old, pre-Christian way of life and rising again to a new life as a follower of Jesus (Romans 61-11) it is new birth into the Kingdom of God (John 35). As a disciple of Christ, its important to publicly stand with Him in celebrating a new life. That makes baptism a great first step for a new follower of Christ to take ReferenceAlbani, F. Is baptism necessary for salvation? http//www. bibleprobe. com/baptism. htm Retrieved on 26/03/2013 Brito, U. United with Christ in Baptism. http//apologus. wordpress. com/2008/10/31/united-with-christ-in-baptism/ Retrieved on 26/03/2013 Copeland. K. Understanding Water Baptism http//www. kcm. org/real-help/ condition/understanding-water-baptism Retrieved on 01/04/2013 DeMichele, R. Beleivers baptism in the Bible. http//www. biblebelievers. com/DeMichele1. hypertext markup language Retriev ed on 23/03/2013. Hoeck B. Repentance & Baptism Coming to God. http//www. truthontheweb. org/baptism. tm Retrieved 26/03/2013 ( copy this address into the address bar and it will open) McPherson J. Fundamental Wesleyan Society http//www. fwponline. cc/v16n1/v16n1joemac. html Retrieved on 01/04/2013 Newton, B. (1998) A change of ownership. http//www. sjchurchofchrist. org/websitepublisher/a-change-of-ownership-. html Retrievedon 12/04/2013 Swindoll, R. (n. d) Signposts Along Lifes Journey (1997), Insight for Living. http//www. clarifyingchristianity. com/get_wet. shtml Retrieved on 10/04/2013 http//www. biblelight. org/bs15. htm http//www. atgrace. com/information/general/baptism/purpose-baptism