Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• Matthew 28:19

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

• Galatians 3:26-27

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

• Romans 6:3-5

having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

• Colossians 2:12

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

• Acts 22:16

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

• Mark 1:4

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

• Revelation 1:5

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

• John 3:5

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,

• Titus 3:5

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

• 1 Corinthians 15:29

“Q. 75. What is Baptism?
“A. Baptism is an ordinance pf the New Testament, instituted by Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:19), to be to the person baptized a sign of his fellowship with him, with his death, and burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3; Col. 2:12), of his being ingrafted into him (Gal. 3:27), of remissions of sins (Mark 1:14; Acts 22:16), and of his giving up himself to God through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4-5).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 94. What is Baptism?
“A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

“Q. 165. What is Baptism?
“A. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, of remission of sins by his blood, and regeneration by his Spirit; of adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life: and whereby the par[1]ties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’s.”

• The Larger Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

The question is the same, but there are three drastically different answers.

But while Spurgeon avoids the word “sacrament” in this question and the previous question, he gives the definition that the Shorter and Larger Catechisms give in the questions in between, a holy ordinance established by Jesus Christ.  They also all three speak of the ingrafting of the baptized into Jesus Christ.  Only the Shorter catechism leaves out the remission of sins, opting for the benefits of the covenant of grace instead.

The Spurgeon catechism also speaks of fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Baptism was performed by John the Baptist (Baptizer) on Jesus.  It is clearly significant in the ministry, having the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and verbal approval of the Heavenly Father.

Next week we will discuss the controversy on who gets baptized.

And now let us sing.

The following song is sung by Randy Travis, Baptism.  Each time I hear it, I get choked up.

“The summer breeze, made ripples on the pond
Rattled through the rings and the willow trees beyond
Daddy in his good hat, mama in her Sunday dress
Watched in pride, as I stood there in the water up to my chest
And the preacher spoke about the cleansing blood
I sank my toes into that East Tennessee mud

And it was down with the old man, up with the new
Raised to walk in the way of light and truth
I didn’t see no angels, just a few saints on the shore
But I felt like a new baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord

Amazing grace, oh how sweet the sound
There was glory in the air, there was dinner on the ground
And my sins went for many, were washed away and gone
Along with a buffalo nickel I forgot to leave at home
But that seemed like such a small, small price to pay
For the blessed peace of mind that came to me that day

And it was down with the old man, up with the new
Raised to walk in the way of light and truth
I didn’t see no angels, just a few saints on the shore
But I felt like a new baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord

This road is long and dusty, sometimes the soul must be cleansed
And I long to feel that water, rushing over me again

Down with the old man, up with the new
Raised to walk in the way of light and truth
I didn’t see no angels, just a few saints on the shore
But I felt like a new baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord
I felt like a newborn baby, cradled up in the arms of the Lord.”

• Mickey Cates, Baptism

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
You are all we need.  But sometimes we need reminders of who You are and what You did for us.  Thank You for baptism.  Thank You for what it represents, that our sins are washed away.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.