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March 15, 2006, Vol.5, No.6. Baptism Part 14 Keith Sharp Baptism itself is the culmination of conversion. Being converted is turning to God. (cf. Acts 3:19; 26:20) Conversion is the comprehensive word to describe the whole process by which the sinner returns to God. (Acts 15:3) To be converted, the sinner’s heart must be changed. (Acts 16:14) This involves faith (Acts 15:9); but there is more to conversion than faith (Acts 11:21). There must also be a change in one’s life. (Matthew 18:1-4) This involves repentance (Matthew 12:41; cf. Jonah 3:10); but there is more to conversion than repentance (Acts 3:19). Conversion also involves a change of loyalty. (1 Thessalonians 1:9) This involves confession of faith with one’s mouth (Romans 10:10); but, since confession is "unto" salvation, there is more to conversion than confession (Ibid). Conversion also involves a change of relationship, leaving Satan and becoming one with Christ (Colossians 1:13). This is accomplished in baptism. (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27) Mr. Lane continues: If we ask about the grace of which baptism is the means, the answer must be: the grace of assurance. It is not the grace of salvation, for that is assumed to be present in those who come to baptism. What baptism is intended to do is to seal to the heart of the believer the benefits of Christ’s work which he has already taken by faith. (119) He adds: We easily doubt the reality of the invisible and spiritual. And even if we continue to believe in its reality we may doubt whether we have any part in it. So Christ gave sacraments or ordinances - simple, tangible and dramatic presentations of his work for and in us. (120) Remember, this whole idea of a sacrament is wholly foreign to the Scriptures and was borrowed by the Protestants from the corrupt system of Roman Catholicism. The only benefit Mr. Lane sees in baptism is a mysterious assurance we have been saved. What a pathetic caricature of the Gospel teaching about baptism. When a penitent believer obeys the Lord from the heart in baptism, he becomes a disciple of Christ (Matthew 28:19), is saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21), is born again (John 3:5), has his sins remitted (Acts 2:38), i.e., washed away (Acts 22:16), gets into Christ (Romans 6:3-4), is freed from sin (Romans 6:17-18), gets into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), becomes a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27), is sanctified and cleansed (Ephesians 5:26), has the body of sins put off (Colossians 2:11-12), and has his heart sprinkled from an evil conscience. (Hebrews 10:22) Now those are indeed important reasons to be baptized. It is true that we receive assurance of our salvation as the result of baptism but not in some mysterious way. The apostle Paul assures us: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him], that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:16-17) He doesn’t say the Spirit bears witness to our spirits. Rather, He bears witness "with" our spirits. The Holy Spirit, in the word, tells us how to be saved. If our spirits can testify we have done this, we have the witness of the two spirits, the Holy Spirit and our own spirits, to our salvation. The Holy Spirit informs us, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." (Mark 16:16) If we know we have done this, we have the testimony of the two spirits to our salvation. The Spirit commands, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38) If we can truthfully testify we have obeyed, we have dual testimony to the remission of our sins. The Spirit teaches, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:26-27) If we have the inward assurance we have complied, we have divine and human testimony that we are children of God. Finally, the author teaches: Baptism, in a sense, is our first act of obedience apart from the initial ‘obedience of faith’ by which we accepted the terms of the gospel and responded to them. (121) Baptism is the act obedience by which we get into Christ and His death and receive the benefits of His blood. (Romans 6:3-4, 17-18) It is the obedience of faith by which we become sons of God (Galatians 3:26-27). It is a term of the Gospel by which we are saved (Mark 16:15-16). Conclusion Remember, as Mr. Lane correctly taught, there is only one baptism presently in effect with the approval of the Lord. If you have not received that baptism, you need to. That baptism is by the authority of Jesus Christ, immersion in water for penitent believers, and is for (in order to) the remission of sins. If you haven’t received this baptism, it stands between you and becoming a disciple of Christ, being saved, being born again, having your sins remitted, i.e., being washed away, getting into Christ, being freed from sin, getting into the body of Christ, becoming a child of God, being sanctified and cleansed, having the body of sins put off, and having your heart sprinkled from an evil conscience. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16)
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