Living in our baptism
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
The sacrament of salvation
Baptism is the sacrament of salvation — baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). Scripture describes this salvation in many ways - the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5); we are baptised into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3); we have put on (clothed ourselves with) Christ (Galatians 3:27); having been buried with Christ, and raised with him (Colossians 2:12); for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38); Jesus has called us out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9); we are crucified with him (Romans 6:6).
Baptism brings faith. That is why it is the sacrament of salvation. Does this mean the unbaptised won’t be saved? Scripture doesn’t say so. Mark 16:16 is silent about those not baptised. It says unbelief leads to condemnation - ‘not the absence but the contempt of baptism condemns’. Those who are baptised are invited to live and enjoy their new life. In doing so they bear witness to the salvation which God offers to all through baptism.
Baptism is received in faith. The benefits of baptism - ‘forgiveness of sins, life and salvation’ - are received through faith, through trust in the promise of God’s word. So yes, Christians do need to trust in baptism to receive its benefits. But this trust is not something believers need to achieve by themselves before their baptism begins to work for them. This faith, this trust, is one of the gifts of baptism. When pastors declare a man and a woman husband and wife the words spoken make them husband and wife. Similarly, in the baptismal rite the Holy Spirit, through the proclaiming of God’s word, creates the faith, or trust, that God promises through the power of his name.
In the name of . . . Father, Son, Holy Spirit
Members become part of Christ’s body in the name of the triune God. ‘In the name of the Father’ ties baptism to the Creator and his gifts, especially water. ‘In the name of the Son’ grounds baptism in the death of Jesus, the ultimate ‘baptism’, and his resurrection which are the centre of faith, salvation and the new life ‘in Christ’. ‘In the name of the Holy Spirit’ links the born-again believer into God’s ongoing work in and through the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. It also answers the Psalmist’s cry - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10).
When Christians call on the name of the triune God in prayer and at the start of the Divine Service, they recall their baptism. In doing this they call upon the Lord who made heaven and earth, and upon the only name given under heaven by which they must be saved (Acts 4:12). They call upon the name of the Lord and Giver of life who guides the church in all truth, and who comes to them in water and Word.
Repent and be baptised
After hearing Peter’s sermon (and the law in it which condemned them), the Pentecost crowd asked - ‘Brothers what shall we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptised . . . so your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:37,38).
Baptism involves turning from darkness to light, putting off the old and putting on the new, the death of the old, the rising of the new. Repentance is just that: turning away from the former ways to embrace new ones. The desire for baptismal cleansing implies repentance — the recognition and rejection of sin.
Since believers fail at living the new life received through water and the Spirit, repentance is an inevitable part of living one’s baptism. The faith received in baptism enables these failures to be confessed, as believers daily turn away from sin to life in Christ.
The whole life of a Christian is one of repentance (Luther).
Baptising, and teaching
The Great Commission tells us baptism and teaching are partners in ‘making disciples’ (Matthew 28:20). Much of the instruction in the New Testament flows from baptism. For instance, Paul’s discussion of baptism in Romans, 6:1-11, leads to a section of teaching. The baptismal references in Ephesians 4:1-6 introduce several chapters of instruction. Baptism, teaching and God’s word are inseparable.
Just as believers need to live in, and return, to the new life received in the font, they need to keep hearing the Word which created this new life. Only through Word-based instruction can believers live a life worthy of the (baptismal) calling they have received (Ephesians 4:1), grow into their salvation and proclaim the mighty acts of him who called them out of darkness into his marvellous light (1Peter 2:3,9).
Walking wet
Baptism means that our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through daily repentance, and that day after day a new self should arise to live with God in righteousness and purity forever (Luther).
Baptism provides a new beginning, wiping out the past and creating a new future, and a new present. That new beginning is not a once-only event. Each day, each moment, God wants his children to continue putting off the old and putting on the new, making a fresh start, ‘walking wet’ from the waters of their rebirth.
The new life received in the font is given to be lived and enjoyed. While it is a good practice to recall the anniversary of baptisms by lighting a baptismal candle, the best way to remember and honour baptism is to live all day every day in the light, leaving the darkness behind.
Paul writes to the baptised in Colossae (Chapter 3), since you have been raised with Christ (ie. have been baptised)... put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature... therefore, as God’s chosen people clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility... These are not rules which will lead to some reward when followed. They are an invitation to be what God makes believers in baptism - a holy, reconciled community called and enabled to ‘walk wet’, daily returning to the baptismal bath.
‘All the believers were together’
Our society is characterised by individualism, alienation, division and family breakdown. People sense this is not the way things are meant to be, and they search for alternatives.
While it is individuals who are baptised, the process is all about community; about being incorporated in the church, becoming children of the Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus and other members of the congregation. In the new reality created by water and the Word, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female (Galatians 3:28).
Baptism adds members to a dynamic new ‘communion of saints’. A community where peace, love and forgiveness reign (Col 3:12-15) and all the believers were together and had everything in common (Acts 2:44).
Ordained into the priesthood of the baptised
Baptism commissions or ordains all members of Christ’s body as priests, the priesthood of the baptised (or priesthood of all believers). What do priests do? Priests are go-betweens serving God and people. They offer sacrifices, they pray to God on behalf of the world and speak to people about God.
The church, and its members intercede on behalf of the world in their prayers. As intermediaries, members of the church bring God to others , acting as ‘little Christs’ to their neighbours. The commission to offer sacrifices is most important. This is not sacrificing by killing an animal but being living sacrifices. Paul writes to the congregation in Rome - I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship (Romans 12:1). By serving faithfully at their daily tasks, their vocations, believers offer acceptable sacrifices to God, and their baptism bears fruit on earth and in heaven.
(This article is based - with permission - on bulletin inserts prepared by Mervyn Wagner. It is copyright free.)