on Christian Baptism

Jared Oliphint is to be commended for a very carefully argued and graciously stated response to the question of re-baptism. Please see his article posted on The Gospel Coalition blog on 2/6/13: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/02/06/you-asked-should-i-get-re-baptized-paedobaptist-answer/.

I have been studying the Scriptures with regard to the question of baptism since I have encountered it in preaching through Acts.  I wish that I was as well-organized with my thoughts as Jared is.  This is a very helpful starting point to addressing the question of Christian baptism.

Certainly there is more to the doctrine than what has been stated in this article.  This past week I worked through Understanding Four Views on Baptism. Counterpoints (Zondervan, 2007).  I found this resource to be very helpful.  The four views presented here are Baptist, Reformed, Lutheran, and church of Christ.  In my opinion, the best articles (and responses) are those by Richard Pratt (Reformed) and Robert Kolb (Lutheran).  These two writers tackle this issue from a use of both Old and New Testaments.  This is important, because it takes into consideration the grand picture of redemption, wrestling with both continuity and discontinuity between the testaments.  They also do well by way of connecting the discussion with the historic practices and creeds of the Christian Church, which is also important because we do not live in a vacuum but must (or, rather, we get to) regularly evaluate and build upon historic tradition and previous theological discussions.  

Also, a few years ago my wife and I watched a video produced by Third Millenium Ministries in which Dr. Richard Pratt explained the Reformed view of baptism.  This video is available online at Vimeo.

Why Do We Baptize Our Children? from Third Millennium Ministries on Vimeo.

If you are more of a visual learner, I highly recommend this video to you.

Finally, our home church provides a copy of John P. Sartelle's little booklet What Christian Parents Should Know About Infant Baptism which is a very handy and readable tool for distribution.

I hope these resources will help you to see the Christ-exalting beauty of the sacrament of Christian Baptism.

on Christian Baptism

Unchallenged Corruption of the Gospel

From one the Church's most thoughtful, articulate and non-conforming pastor-theologians, here's an unsettling charge against the Constantinian expansion of the Church.

“From this influx, it is not surprising that the doctrines of faith and, most especially, that of the new birth became so rapidly corrupted in the churches. With separation from the world spurned, there is no wonder that the sanctity and glory of the gospel was overshadowed, and superstitious practices flooded in along with the unconverted pagans, until, at length, Christian church discipline was remodeled on the fashion of the pagan secular state. Once hypocrites and other unregenerate people began, as it were, to swamp and overwhelm the believers, there soon emerged leaders who were pleased enough to accommodate spiritual doctrines to the prevailing systems of philosophy. And so it came about that faith was neglected, doctrine no longer studied, regeneration equated to the mechanical performance of the rite of baptism, truth and piety no longer defended by any great efforts in the assemblies and councils, the majorities at best indifferent, at worst bitterly hostile, to the total over-shadowing of these essential things. By that time, most of the world had taken up the Christian profession so, at most, everything that had been instituted by Christ had been basely transmuted into another gospel. Strange to tell, it was done without a protest or major split in the Church.”

John Owen, Biblical Theology (Soli Deo Gloria, 1994), 660 (emphasis mine).

(HT: R. Scott Clark)

Unchallenged Corruption of the Gospel

The Keystone in the Life and Ministry of Jesus: Baptism

Here's another quote that has been helpful in understanding the ministry of Jesus in Mark's Gospel. 

Mark 1:9-11 (ESV)
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

James R. Edwards, in his fine commentary on the Gospel of Mark, remarks that,

The baptism is the keystone in the life and ministry of Jesus. The empowerment by the Spirit to be God’s Servant, and the declaration from heaven, “‘You are my Son,’” enable Jesus not only to speak and act for God but as God. This is demonstrated by his forgiveness of sins (2:5), acceptance of sinners (2:15), calling of tax collectors into discipleship (2:13), true intent of the Sabbath (2:28) and challenge to the Jewish religious establishment as represent in the oral tradition (7:1ff), the temple (11:12ff), and the Sanhedrin (14:61ff). It is not coincidental that when Jesus is later confronted by the Sanhedrin asking, “By what authority do you do these things?” he drives his questioners back to his baptism (11:27-33). What Jesus does as God’s servant ultimately has meaning only because of who he is as God’s Son. (The Gospel According to Mark. Pillar New Testament Commentary, p. 38)

Interesting, Jesus' baptism is not about what he does, but rather about what the Father and Spirit say and do.  The Father declares his love and discloses their relationship.  The Spirit fills and equips Jesus for service.

That this event is the keystone to the life and ministry of Jesus is also indicated by the fact that the apostles seek for a replacement for Judas among those who were witnesses of Jesus' earthly ministry "beginning from the baptism of John" (Acts 1:21-22; cf. Edwards, p. 34).

The Keystone in the Life and Ministry of Jesus: Baptism

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Book Review--Believer's Baptism

There has been an ongoing storm of discussion in the blogosphere regarding the issue of Baptism (Justin Taylor's Summary | Phil Gons' Summary). Here is a new book dealing with this issue from a solid Baptist perspective. Stewart has done of fine job of reviewing this book and I hope that you will take the time to consider this subject and share your thoughts and/or questions about the book. (The full review has been posted at www.sharperiron.org.)

Reviewed by Stewart MacLean Jr.

Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. Edited by Thomas R. Schreiner and Shawn D. Wright. NAC Studies in Bible & Theology. Nashville, Tenn: B & H Academic, 2006. 364 pages, Hardcover. $19.99.

Purchase: B&H | CBD | Amazon

Note: This is volume 2 in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE AND THEOLOGY.

Special Features: Forward by Timothy George; Author Index; Subject Index; Scripture Index

Sample Chapter: PDF

ISBN: 0805432493 / 9780805432497

DCN: 243.161 B431

LCCN: BV803 .B34 2006

Subjects: Baptist Doctrine, Baptism

Editors: Thomas R. Schreiner (Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary) is James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean of Scripture and Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books and many articles on New Testament interpretation and biblical theology. He also serves as preaching pastor of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. (from the back cover) (more…)

Book Review--Believer's Baptism