What is Baptism?

SHORT DEFINITION:
Baptism is the washing away of sin for purification. Baptism has two forms: water baptism and spiritual baptism. It is important to note that water baptism alone cannot cleanse sin, rather, only God can cleanse sin. Water baptism is an appeal to God for clean conscience.

LONG DEFINITION:
Baptism is the washing away of sin for purification. We cannot cleanse ourselves, this is a work of God by the Spirit. Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit..." As such, we need to be baptized by the Holy Spirit, in other words, born again. We are baptized in the name of Christ, meaning that we have shared with Him in His death and resurrection. We are partakers of the new convenant which Christ established by the shedding of His blood. In this way, we are given new life and made new persons.

The Bible speaks of two forms of baptism. The first is water baptism that was initiated by John the Baptist. The second is spiritual baptism which comes from Christ. John the Baptist said to his followers in Matthew 3:11, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Water baptism does not cleanse us from our sin. Rather, it is the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit that we may be cleansed from sin. Jesus Christ brought forgiveness of sins by His death on the cross. Forgiveness has come to all of humanity because Jesus Christ died for all (Romans 5:18; 1 Timothy 2:6; 1 Peter 3:18). However, not all receives forgiveness because not everyone will accept Christ and partake of His death. In order that we may receive forgiveness, we must partake in Christ's death by repentance. Water baptism is a visible portrait of repentance.

Water baptism is an appeal to God for a clean conscience (1 Peter 2:18-22). Being immersed in water, we make an appeal to God in the form of a pledge or demand for a clean conscience. In other words, we are earnestly seeking a clean conscience from God. We have turned away from sin and want to be cleansed. This is a portrait of repentance. We renounce sin and consider ourselves dead to this life, this world, and ourselves. In water baptism, we fall backwards into a bath of water. This portrays our death.

However, baptism does not end there. It is not enough for us to just to repent. We must also believe in Christ. Baptism also portrays our faith in Christ. We fall backwards as we are surrendering our lives unto Christ. We do not control our fall or try to cleanse ourselvse. We fall backwards as dead. We are making a plea to God for cleansing by relinquishing ourselves to His authority and will. In a sense, we say, "I give up" and then throw ourselves into God's arms. This is our faith that we depend upon God to raise us to new life. We rely on Christ to save us from ours sins. We cannot cleanse ourselves or give ourselves life. We need Christ.

In rising from the water, we proclaim Christ's work in our lives and testify to the work of God within us. The water represents the Holy Spirit which works within us to cleanse us from sin and give us new life. We rise out of the water a new person. We have been cleansed. We have been given new life. Water baptism, therefore, becomes a means by which we may proclaim Christ in us. We no longer live for the ourselves, the world, the Devil, or sin. We have relinquished all authority to Christ who is our Lord and master.

Everyone who watches this visible proclamation of faith by being dipped into water have a witness to the work of God in us. This is a wonderful blessing to other Christians. They have confidence as well knowing that the baptized believer has accepted Christ and become a part of the church.

However, water baptism means nothing if it has not been coupled with spiritual baptism. Water baptism is merely an appeal and display. It is not the work of God itself, just an expression of that work as we cry to God to work within us. We need to experience a new birth. As Christ said in John 3:3, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Spiritual baptism is the washing and cleansing by the Holy Spirit. In spiritual baptism, we share in Christ's death and resurrection by means of the Spirit (Romans 6:3-7). In faith, we deny ourselves and follow Christ. We surrender our lives to His authority and mastery. By this surrender, we are considered dead to ourselves and the world. A dead person does not work or live. They are buried in the ground to lay in rest. When a person has surrendered their lives in such a manner to the power and authority of Christ, He is free to work within them how ever He wills so as to produce new life. In 2 Corinthians 4:10 Paul says, "We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." When a person has died spiritually, they can be reborn spiritually. They can receive new life. And so, when a person is spiritually baptized, they receive the Holy Spirit and eternal life. The Holy Spirit cleanses the conscience of the sinner and then makes a home within them to direct their daily life. In this way, they have become a part of Christ. Jesus Christ lives within them by means of the Holy Spirit. They are "in Christ" because Christ is within them. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Baptism is not something God forces upon anyone. We must ask Christ for purification. We first repent of our sins seeking to change from our wicked ways. (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:18-22) In repentance, we turn from sin. In faith, we lay down our lives unto Jesus Christ and receive Him as Lord. This renunciation of sin and reception of Christ is proclaimed by water immersion. It is vital that we proclaim our faith as Paul says in Romans 10:10, "it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Christ also says in Matthew 10:32, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." Our confession of faith may be made public by water immersion or by proclamation. Nonetheless, we do this so as to enter a covenant with Christ. This means that baptism is both a choice God makes in desiring us and a choice we make in petitioning Him.

Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.