BAPTISM
Baptism is the first sacrament we engage as Christians. In baptism, God marks us as his own and reveals his unrelenting commitment to his people through Jesus Christ. While baptism is often treated as a symbol of our commitment to God, the Bible says something different, it symbolizes God’s commitment to us.
AT REDEEMER, OUR PRACTICE OF BAPTISM MAY DIFFER FROM WHAT YOU’VE EXPERIENCED — WE BAPTIZE NEW BELIEVERS AND THE INFANTS AND CHILDREN OF AT LEAST ONE BELIEVING PARENT.
“Why would you baptize someone who can make a profession of faith, but then baptize an infant that can’t make a profession of faith?”
We recognize this practice may be new to you and it creates all sorts of questions. You get the new believers part, but not the baptizing infants part. The truth is, baptizing both has been the practice of the Church since it’s earliest days. At the same time, you won’t find any direct references of baptizing infants in the New Testament. So why then do we do it?
Below is an explanation of our tradition’s view of baptism, that we also largely share with the historical traditions of the Church. While it’s not exhaustive, what’s laid out below is a good start to understand more. But first, a few frequently asked questions.
A ROADSIDE BAPTISM IN THE DEEP FOREST
DO YOU BELIEVE THE INFANT IS SAVED JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE BAPTIZED?
No.
We do not believe that an infant or child is automatically saved when they're baptized. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ. However, we don’t believe that just because an adult is baptized that they are absolutely saved either. We can't really know the heart of the one being baptized, only God does. Either adult or infant baptism is a symbol of entrance into Christ’s church, in which we learn and grow in our understanding of what it means to be a child of God. Before any child can come to the Lord’s Table, we require that she gives a confession of faith that articulates the gospel in a way that shows her understanding of her need for a Savior.
When an adult convert professes faith we baptize them to announce their entrance into the life of God’s church. But, we also believe that God has blessed us with the children he's given to us and that he calls us to raise them as children who belong to him. They too have been set apart and must embrace the call of God upon their lives and trust in his promises. Baptizing our children expresses our faith that God deeply cares for our children and that he has given us baptism to remind us of his promise to be their God (Genesis 15 and 17).
DO I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN INFANT BAPTISM TO BE A MEMBER?
Absolutely not. We believe in the unity of the church, because in Christ we're one family, and certainly within any family there can be disagreements. We recognize there are different ways of administering baptism that are practiced within the church. Each one is trying to be Biblically faithful.
In no way is adhering to infant baptism a requirement for attendance or membership. While we have our views as a church, we also celebrate the joy of having diversity on this issue within our church. There are many among our body that come from different contexts and practices who call Redeemer Rockwall home.
WHAT DOES BAPTISM ACTUALLY SYMBOLIZE? TO REALLY UNDERSTAND BAPTISM, YOU CAN’T JUST LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT — YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE WHOLE SCRIPTURES INTO VIEW.
ENTRANCE INTO THE VISIBLE CHURCH
Baptism has its roots in the Old Testament, because water has been a part of how God tells his story from the very beginning. The particular events that shape our understanding of baptism are the flood of Genesis 6 and the crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus 14. Both stories contain elements of salvation and judgment through the use of water. The same is true in baptism and those who “passed through the waters” were saved from the judgment in each respective event and it marked a new beginning.
Baptism was ordained by Christ himself at the Great Commission where he sent his disciples into the world to “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism marks the entrance into the ‘visible church’ and being brought into the one body of Christian believers. This baptism is where they now live out their new identity that replaces any that previously existed. Baptism renders all other markers and distinguishing factors secondary (Galatians 3:27–28).
A SIGN AND SEAL
Baptism testifies to the truth of an enduring promise which God made, it’s the promise of redemption for all who place their trust in Christ alone. By the power of the Holy Spirit, attended by the words of institution that consecrate it apart from a bath, baptism is a ‘sign and seal of the covenant of grace.’ Baptism preaches to Christians in the same way that circumcision preached to the patriarchs and Old Testament believers – it is a sign and seal of the righteousness that is our by faith (Romans 4:11).
Paul makes a connection with baptism and circumcision in Colossians 2, and how baptism pictures salvation in a similar manner to circumcision. The cutting off of the flesh symbolized the removal of our sin by Christ, who was cut off in our place and made sin for us and cleansed in his resurrection. Baptism reflects the cutting off of the flesh, but also our being buried with Christ and raised to new life.
One of the most important aspects for modern Christians to consider is that baptism does not represent “our choice.” While personal choice is part of the process, as a symbol, baptism does not symbolize our faith, baptism symbolizes the work of Christ and the promises of God in him. Baptism cannot represent the faith of the person being baptized. There is virtually no way to know whether a person truly believes when they are baptized. Many are baptized yet never live the Christian life or fall away and never return. Therefore, baptism cannot symbolize what we do not know to be true. This is why baptism must be seen as a symbol and sign of God’s promises to us, not our promises to him, because God’s promises are true and never waiver.
INGRAFTING INTO JESUS CHRIST
Baptism points to our union with Christ. Paul says that we are buried with Christ in baptism and baptized into his death (Romans 6:1–4). Baptism is also a sign of judgment. The Hebrews passed through the Red Sea while the Egyptians did not. They went into the water but did not come out. The same waters of Israel’s salvation were the same waters of judgment for the Egyptians.
Similarly with baptism, it is a sign of judgment in that we were buried with Christ who was cut off from the land of the living for judgment for sin, but Christ was raised for our justification. This is what Paul says encourages us to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). By baptism we share in Christ’s death, but we must also share in his resurrection life. To be baptized is to no longer live in ignorance. We cannot be baptized and then ignore the life and death reality of the cross. Therefore, the waters of baptism can as easily represent the judgment that is placed on the individual for a lack of belief, just as much as it represents salvation unto life.
In Galatians, Paul also speaks of those who are baptized in Christ have “put on Christ” and there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female (Galatians 3:27–28). Baptism renders all other identities and classifications as null and void, or secondary. After one is baptized, the entirety of their being is now defined by Christ.
REGENERATION AND REMISSION OF SINS
Baptism symbolizes the removal of sin and the cleansing work of the Holy Spirit. The word ‘regeneration’ is from the Scriptures but also one that is carefully used by the divines. The Holy Spirit applies the resurrection life of Christ to us and raises us to spiritual life. But they intentionally do not use the word “resurrection” to describe this process, but that also involves a future event where we are bodily raised unto resurrection life. Therefore, regeneration refers to a “partial” resurrection in that our spirits are raised to new life, but we also await the redemption of our bodies on the last day.
Regeneration also references the language of new birth that Jesus uses with Nicodemus and the importance of being “born again” of water and Spirit. Nicodemus’s trouble with the concept was rooted in his understanding of his condition: why would he need to be born again if he was already alive?
Baptism therefore symbolizes this work of the Spirit where we hear God’s word, the Spirit raises us to new life in regeneration, we pass from spiritual death to spiritual life, and our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. Both regeneration and remission of sins go hand-in-hand and are symbolized in baptism.
WALKING IN NEWNESS OF LIFE
Those baptized make real choices to follow Christ. Our choices matter and are important. In baptism we give our lives to God through Jesus Christ. Baptism is a symbol of the Christian life, where we turn away from evil and the power of darkness and we live our lives in full surrender unto God through Jesus Christ. Baptism is not just a picture of a one-time event, but an ongoing representation of how we are to live each and every day: we die and rise with Christ daily. We choose to lay aside every sin and every weight, and run the race in light of the victory of Christ.
Lastly, baptism is to be practiced until the end of the world. It is so bound to the mission of the church that as long as Christ has not yet returned, we baptize in the name of the Triune God.
