Church and Sacraments 6

7/30/2019 Church and Sacraments 6

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BAPTISM


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5/16/2013 Church and Sacraments 6 2

BAPTISM: DEFINITION

WCF 28:2,3 The outward element to beused in the Sacrament is water, wherewiththe party is to be baptized in the name of

the Father and of the Son, and of the HolyGhost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfullycalled thereunto. Dipping of the person intothe water is not necessary; but Baptism isrightly administered by pouring orsprinkling water upon the person.


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BAPTISM: DEFINITION

Per WCF, there are some Key Elementsinvolved:

Water is necessary

The Formulais in the name of the Father,Son, and Holy Spirit

Baptism is performed only by a lawfullyordained minister

Immersion is not necessary Pouring (affusion) or Sprinkling (aspersion) are

satisfactory modes of baptism


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BAPTISM: DEFINITION

The interpretation of this statement It was the position held by a majority of the

commissioners assembled at Westminster andwas the accepted position in Presbyterian

churches generally Immersion cannot be required from Scripture;

it is unnecessary and is not the normal practice

in Reformed churches Pouring and Sprinkling can be demonstrated

from Scripture and are the most appropriatemeans of baptism


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SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM

Baptism is engrafting into Christ. (See J. Murray,Christian Baptism, 6) It is mentioned often in Scripture, especially in

connection with Jesus death, burial, and resurrection

Union with Christ Rom. 6:3-6, baptized into union with Christ

I Cor. 12:12-3, baptized into Christs body

Gal. 3:27-8, baptized into Christ

Col. 2:11-12, buried with him in baptismAll these refer to spiritual baptism, not water baptism;

yet the significance of spiritual baptism should bereflected in water baptism


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Baptism signifies the forgiveness of sins by hisblood Scripture links baptism to purification/cleansing: Matt.

3:6, they were baptized by him in the river Jordan,confessing their sins.

Mark 1:4 baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a

baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Luke 3:3, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the

forgiveness of sins. John 3:25, Johns baptism= a discussion arose between

some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.


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SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM Baptism is the outward washing symbolizing

inward regeneration by the Holy Spirit John 3:5, Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one

is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom ofGod.

I Cor. 6:11, And such were some of you. But you were washed,

you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the LordJesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Titus 3:5, he saved us, not because of works done by us inrighteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing ofregeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 2:38, And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptizedevery one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgivenessof your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 22:16, Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins,calling on his name.


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SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM Col. 2:12-13, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you

were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working ofGod, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead inyour trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God madealive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

Heb. 10:22,let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance offaith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience andour bodies washed with pure water.

I Peter 3:21,Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you,not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for agood conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

The same term is used for water and spirit baptism They are linked in John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16

Perhaps referred to in I Cor. 12:13, Gal. 3:27

The baptism of the Holy Spirit points to union with Christin which all the benefits of redemption are received


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Baptism seals our adoption as children of God Baptism unites us with Christs resurrection to

everlasting life

Baptism is the sacrament of initiation, that gives

admission to the visible church Baptism is linked by Christ to discipleship, Matt.

28:19 Baptism is a prerequisite for church membership, Acts

2:41 Baptism signifies our engagement to be the Lords own

treasure


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Baptism shares a parallel significance withCircumcision

Baptism becomes the initiatory rite of Church in NT

NT links significance of baptism with circumcision, Col.

2:11-13. Cf. heart circumcision, Rom. 2:28-9

Gen 17:13, circumcision is perpetual

OT circumcision shares the same meaning with

NT baptism, namely, union with God and Hispeople, cleansing from sin, regeneration, and thecovenant of grace in general.


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SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM For the OT meaning of circumcision, see the

following: Gen 17:10- covenant- circumcised

Gen 34:14-17, union with Gods people (intermarriage)

Ex. 12:44,48, required to eat Passover

Deut. 10:16, (30:6) regeneration, love for God (cf. vss.12-13)

Joshua 5:7-9, cleansing from defilement

Jer. 4:4, regeneration, cleansing heart (vs. 14)

Jer. 9:25-6, know and love God in heart Since baptism is practiced in the NT, circumcision

is no longer necessary: I Cor. 7:18-20; Gal. 2:3-5


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As sign, Baptism is a testimony whichGod has been pleased to give to us sothat we may better understand the highprivilege of union with the Father and

the Son and the Holy Spirit. J. Murray,Christian Baptism, 87

As seal, Baptism authenticates,

confirms, guarantees the reality andsecurity of this covenant grace.Murray, CB, 87.


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BAPTISM: ITS MODE

Baptizo, according to Arndt and Gingrich lexicon,has the following range of meanings: dip,immerse, dip oneself, wash, plunge, sink,drench, overwhelm.BAG, 131

In LXX, Baptizois used 4x: II Kings 5:14, dipped (But, cf. Lev. 14:7-8, rachatz/bapto,Lev. 14:6, dip living bird in blood of dead bird; Lev. 14:16,dip finger in oil in hand)

Isa. 21:4, horror overwhelms me (NASB)

Judith 12:7 she would wash herself in the camp at thefountain of water.

Ecclesiasticus, 34:25, being cleansed from the dead (Cf.Num. 19:11-19)


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BAPTISM: ITS MODE

In NT, Baptizois used 74 times, but there is noexample of a specifically stated mode It appears, however, that Mark 7:4 favors sprinkling,

and Luke 11:38 pouring

In many other instances, circumstances rule out

immersion Baptismos(3x), Baptisma(20x) and Baptistes (12

x) Baptismosis used in Mark 7:4 and Heb. 9:10 where it

favors sprinkling In Heb. 6:2, no mode is indicated in the context

Baptismaand Baptistesare not used with sufficientcontext to determine mode


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BAPTISM: ITS MODE Baptois used 4x: Luke 16:24 dip, John 13:26

dip(twice), Rev. 19:13 dye. Cf. to Daniel 4:30,5:21 in LXX (ebafh)

Regarding the use of prepositions and the modeof baptism: Nothing can be proved from the use

of Greek prepositions. In the examples normallycited, the prepositions (en: in with, at, by; eis: to,into, unto, toward; ek: out of, from, apart from,away from) indicate at most that the parties to

the baptism went down to where the water was(river, stream, fountain), then the baptism tookplace, then the parties went up the banks tonormal ground level. See esp. Acts 8:38,9


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BAPTISM: VALID AND PROPER AValid Mode is a mode by which baptism truly

has taken place- the person is baptized In the Reformed view: as long as there is a duly

authorized minister, water, and the Triune formula,baptism has taken place. All three modes produce a

valid baptism. AProper Mode means that the mode is the

method taught byScripture & apostolic practice In the Reformed view: pouring and sprinkling are

proper modes (rightly administered); immersion isnot a proper mode. However, an improper mode doesnot negate the sacrament. Thus an improper baptismmay nonetheless be a valid baptism


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BAPTISM: MEANING AND MODE

The central import is that ofunion with ChristJohn Murray, Christian Baptism, 9 Rom. 6:3-6; I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27,28; Col. 2:11,12.

The outward washing of baptism symbolizes the

inward washing by the Holy Spirit and thesprinkling of the blood of Christ: John 3:5, born of water and the Spirit

I Cor. 6:11, but you were washed

Titus 3:5, Washing of regeneration/renewal of H.S.Acts 2:38, be baptized . . . receive the gift of H.S.

Acts 22:16, be baptized and wash away your sins

I Peter 3:21, saved by baptism = inward cleansing


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Baptism is the outward washing that symbolizes,signifies, and seals the inward washing, whereinthe Holy Spirit applies the blood of Christ foractual cleansing

In the Old Testament, Levitical cleansing tookplace primarily through the sprinkling of blood,water, etc.; sometimes through pouring, andsometimes dippingor wiping.It is very hardto find an Old Testament ritual cleansingthat requires immersion


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This is most important in view ofHebrews 9:10 which speaks ofvarious ceremonial washings, or

baptismois In I Cor. 10:2, Israel is described asbaptized into Moses; the only

immersion that occurred in this contextis the immersion of Pharaohs army, Ex.14:28!


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Sprinkling and pouring appear to be the modesmost often associated with the new covenant: Jer. 31:31,33 cf. with Ezekiel 36:24-7 sprinkle,

cleanse

Isa. 52:15, sprinklemany nations Heb. 8, new covenant replaces Mosaic covenant

Heb. 9:11-15; 10:19-22, baptisms of Mosaiccovenant; replaced by sprinkling of blood of Christ

I Peter 1:2, sprinklingof blood of Christ Joel 2:2-32; Acts 2:17, promise of New Covenant, the

pouring out of the Spirit


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BAPTISM: ITS SUBJECTS

Throughout the OT, the covenant promise wasmaintained that God would continue to blesschildren through the faith and obedience oftheir parents Job 1:5, Job offers sacrifices for his children Gen. 26:2-4 Abrahams blessings are passed down through

Isaac Gen. 28:12-14, Abrahams blessings are passed down through

Jacob I Kings 11:12-13,32; 15:4; II Kings 8:19; 19:34; II Chron.

21:7, the blessings of the Davidic covenant are passed downto Davids natural children

Deut. 7:9, Psalm 103:17-8, promise and blessing are extendedto thousands of generations of descendants of Gods people

Deut. 4:37-8; 7:7-8, the blessings of Mosaic covenant flow tothe children of covenant-keepers


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This blessing on children required theparents to be responsible and rear theirchildren in the fear of the Lord Parents were to apply the covenant sign, Gen. 17:9-

14; Ex. 4:24-6, etc. Parents were to train their children, and teach the

covenant to them, Gen. 18:19; Deut. 5:29; 6:6-9;20-25; Psalm 78:1-8

Parents were to discipline their children properly,

Prov. 13:24; 19:18; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17 Parents were to protect their children from unbelief,Nehemiah 13:23-7


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The NT applies the provisions of theAbrahamic covenant to believers and theirchildren By faith, NT believers are tied directly into the

Abrahamic covenant, Gal.3:16-18; 26-29

Jesus blessed the infants, saying of such was thekingdom, Matt. 19:13-5; Mark 10:13-6; Luke18:15-7

Peter affirmed that Jews in Jerusalem wereincluded in Abrahamic covenant (after Pentecost),Acts 3:25-6

Peter spoke to the same group and offeredcontinued covenantpromises to their naturalchildren if they would repent, Acts 2:39


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The NT applies the provisions of theAbrahamic covenant to believers andtheir children The promise to the Philippian jailer, based

on his (sing.) belief was the salvation of

you and your house.Acts 16:31 By virtue of at least one believing parent,

children are covenantally in a specialrelationship to God, holy, I Cor. 7:14

Thus, in NT, children of believers areconsidered to be in covenant relation withGod

AND, remember I Cor. 10:2AllIsrael


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BAPTISM

Church and Sacraments 6

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