BAPTISM

Baptism is one of the important sacraments of the Church. Nevertheless, it is one of the most controversial sacraments often turning out to be a topic of heated discussion among different denominations and traditions. Through this blog let us seek to have a short study into the basics of baptism (not dealing much with the controversies).

What is Baptism?

Baptism is a sacrament that admits a person, whether an adult or an infant, into the membership of the church. What is then a sacrament? The sacrament is the outward visible sign of the grace of God. In Baptism, water is the outward and the visible sign of the grace of God that bestows upon our new life in Christ.

Tracing back to the origin…

The word Baptism is derived from the Greek root word ‘Bapto’ (βαπτω) which means to dip, rinse or immerse. The Jews made extensive use of water for the purpose of religious purification, especially before worship. The Jews also followed ‘proselyte baptism’ to the Gentiles who desired to become Jews. Thus, baptism was probably adopted by Christians from these practices. However, Christian Baptism is unique as the candidate experiences a great new reality of incorporation into Christ’s body, with whose death and resurrection, the believer will henceforth be identified. The parallelism between ‘being baptised’ and ‘dying with Christ,’ goes back to the life of Jesus and can be found in Rom. 6:1 ff and 1 Cor. 1:13.

Was Baptism there in the Early Church?

The universal practice of baptism by the apostolic Church from its earliest days is attested in letters of the New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, and the writings of the Church Fathers. Biblical records suggest that from the earliest days of the Church a rite of baptism with water was the recognised mode of entry into the Christian community. Romans 6:3 and Colossians 2:12 provide instances of early baptisms. Before baptism, the candidates were given careful instruction in the Christian faith (Gal. 6:6). And at baptism, they were to make a public profession of faith in the presence of the congregation (Romans 10:9f, 1 Cor. 12:3; Phil. 2:11; 1 Tim. 6:12).  Baptism helped in the washing away of sin and all the stains and filth of heathendom (John 13:8-10; Acts 22:16; Eph. 5:26; Tit. 3:5; Heb. 10:2). The baptised person was described as the enlightened (Heb 6:4; 10:32) as it was assumed that the individual passed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

The situation in the early church warranted adult baptism because the people who responded to the gospels were adults. Nonetheless, there are instances in the New Testament where whole families were baptised. For instance, passages like Acts 10:48 (Cornelius and family), Acts 16:15 (Lydia and family) Acts 16:33 (Roman Jailor and family), Acts 18:8 (Crispus and family) I Cor. 1:15 (Stephanas and family). The usage of ‘families’ here suggests that children were also part of those who underwent baptism. In I Cor. 15:29 proxy baptism was practised on behalf of children who died before baptism. Paul addressed the children, “Children, obey your parents” (Col. 3: 20, Eph. 6:1-4). John says “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of him”. This shows that children were baptised and experienced forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:35). Church fathers like Justin Martyr (AD 155), Irenaeus (185), Cyprian (280), Augustine (400), etc made references to the practices of infant baptism. This implies that the early church had no difficulty accepting and practicing infant baptism.

Why Baptism?

1.      Baptism is the sign of new life through Jesus Christ.

2.      Through Baptism, one is participating in Christ’s Death and Resurrection (Rom. 6:6-13; 7:4-6; Col. 3: 1-3).

3.      Baptism is a sign and seal of common discipleship (Matt 28:18,19).

4.      Baptism is the process of incorporating an individual into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 6:25) and with the worshipping community.

5.      Baptism unites the one baptised with Christ and with his people.

6.      Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit through Baptism (Water, fire, dove are conspicuously the symbols used for Holy Spirit (John 3:8-10; 7:38,39)).

7.      Baptism is a sign of the Kingdom of God and of the life of the world to come.

8.      Baptism is both God’s gift and our human response to that gift. It looks towards growth into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph. 4:13).

9.      Baptism is related not only to momentary experience but to life-long growth into Christ.

10.  Those baptized are called upon to reflect the glory of the Lord as they are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, into his likeness, with ever-increasing splendour (2 Cor. 3:18).

So, Baptism is…

Baptism is a gift of God, and is administered in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Baptism the individual is anointed with the Holy Spirit and therefore Baptism is at once the ordination and coronation of the believer, whereby the candidate is made priest and king within the new Israel of God. Baptism initiates the reality of the new life given in the midst of the present world. It gives participation in the community of the Holy Spirit. It is the sacrament of commencing life in discipleship. It clothes us with a new identity, we become royal priesthood. It is a hope, a call and a realisation.

 Article by: Samji Roy