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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
First, it must be understood that baptism is an outward proclamation of an inward conversion. In other words, baptism is a ceremonial act undertaken after a person accepts Jesus Christ as his or he...
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David Robinson
Like most of the essential doctrines and rites of the Christian faith baptism has deep symbolic roots in the types and shadows of the Old Testament and profound implications for New Testament believers. Linguistically and historically, it can be linked with most of the cleansing rituals of Judaism, especially the sprinkling with water or with the blood of sacrificed animals using hyssop (Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14, Numbers 19, Psalm 51:7, John 19:29, Hebrews 9:19). The subject of baptism is initially introduced in the New Testament through accounts of the ministry of John the Baptist. Although we encounter John in the pages of the Gospels, he was actually an Old Testament prophet. John was under the law, not grace, and his mission, to prepare the way for Christ, came prior to the inauguration of the Kingdom of God (Mt. 11:7-15). His audiences and baptismal candidates were also Jewish people under the law (Mt. 3:5-6). The more pious of the Jews deeply resented John's call to repentance and cleansing. Up to that point only gentile proselytes to the Jewish faith were required to be baptized. When John appeared, he told devout Jews that being Jewish was not enough (Mt. 3:9). Like the gentiles, they needed to be cleansed and to make themselves ready (repent). The King is coming; make His paths straight (Isa. 40:3, Malachi 3:1, Mt. 3:3). It is significant that Jesus as well as the Jewish people recognized John the Baptist as a true prophet of God under the law (Mt. 11:9-11). As such, he literally spoke for God and his words were law, just as binding as the written law. That is why Jesus insisted on being baptized by John. In order to be an acceptable sacrifice for our sins, He had to be perfectly righteous, fulfilling all of God's law on our behalf including the latest oracles delivered by John (Mt. 3:13-15). However, the baptism ordained by Jesus prior to His ascension is fundamentally different from John's baptism in its significance, i.e., what it signifies. The baptism ordained by Jesus (Mat. 28:19-20) transcends John’s baptism of repentance (Ephesians 4:4-6). While John's baptism was a cleansing rite, the sacrament of baptism we practice now is a sign and seal of the new covenant in Christ Jesus in the same sense that circumcision was a sign and seal of the old covenant (1 Peter 3:21-22). Baptism in the new covenant is the counterpart of and replacement for the rite of circumcision in the old covenant. Circumcision was a physical act producing a physical mark that signified a person was a member of the Jewish nation and household of faith either by birth or through conversion. Baptism today is a physical act producing a spiritual mark that signifies a person is a member of the household of faith in Jesus Christ by new birth and conversion (Galatians 3:26-27, John 3:5). It is a better sign and seal for a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6-13). Baptism does not mutilate the body (the temple of the Holy Spirit), is available to everyone equally (not gender specific), and is wonderfully symbolic of our identification with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:1-7). So then, the origins of baptism are seen in story of the flood (1 Peter 3:20-21), in the first Passover prior to the exodus, in the exodus itself, in the crossing of the red sea, in the cleansing rituals under the law, and in the rite of circumcision. It follows the general pattern in scripture of progressive revelation (first the physical, then the spiritual) as God demonstrates His will and His character to His people in ever increasing detail and clarity. Today, we enjoy the privilege of participating in the sacrament of baptism as a wonderful means of grace, rich in the beauty of symbolism. As we publicly identify with our Lord by physically acting out the drama of His suffering, death, burial and resurrection through the Christ ordained ritual of baptism we are spiritually marked as children of the household of faith by His grace and mercy.
Todd Rushing
The modern definition of baptism is different than that of the old testament that Jews practiced. Baptism for the Jews was a cleansing practiced by priests before donning sacred garments. The new testament definition must be looked at in the way it was written in the Greek language. Baptidzo, the Greek word for baptism, was used to describe a ship sinking under the water. We use this definition to describe the symbology of death, burial and resurrection of Christ, a way of putting away the old man (singul) and taking on the new man (redeemed/resurrected to new life). Many churches will say, "Buried with Christ in baptism and raised to walk in new life."
Salem Markus Purba
The origin of baptism is based on the Words of God given to the Israeli people through prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36: 22-32). These prophesies is fulfilled when we really believe in Jesus as He said : "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creations. Whoever believes and baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark.16:15-16).
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