Transcript

What's the Point of Baptism?

Introduction

If you've ever read the Bible, you may have noticed that there's this odd ritual called baptism that appears suddenly in the New Testament. In fact, many times in the New Testament, we read that baptism is essential to being a follower of Christ, but... why? What's so important about a ritual dunking in water, and if it's so important, why does it show up only near the end of the Bible?

What is Baptism?

First, it's important to answer what baptism even is. The English word baptism comes from the Greek word "baptizo," which means to dip, immerse, or submerge. In ancient times, this word often referred to submerging garments in a dye to change their colour. Simply put, the physical act of baptism is a full water submersion, which contradicts the widespread practice of sprinkling.

But submersion is only the first step of baptism. The second step, which is equally critical, is belief. As it says in Mark 16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." 

So that's what baptism is—a full submersion in water of someone who sincerely believes the Gospel. But what we really want to consider in this video is why baptism is so important. Because if we don't know why we're being baptized, then we're simply taking a bath.

Circumcision

So, baptism only occurs in the New Testament. That being said, it shares its significance and finds one of it’s first forms in the Old Testament law of circumcision. Like Baptism, circumcision appears odd and strangely ritualistic. Why would God make such a big deal about having every male cut off their foreskin?

In Genesis 17, God gave his reasoning. Just after having given the covenants of promises to Abraham, God commanded him to be circumcised as a "token of the covenant." In other words, it was a daily reminder and acknowledgement that Abraham and God had made a covenant.

But while circumcision was a physical representation of the covenant, it was also intended to mean something much more. Later on, Moses told the people that the true intention of circumcision was that they circumcise the foreskin of their hearts and be no more stiffnecked. Going further, God said that he would circumcise their hearts so that they would love the LORD their God with all their hearts and souls so that they might live.

So, while the physical act of circumcision had to be done and was commanded by God, the whole point of it was that in cutting off a part of their flesh, they were being reminded that they must obey God and cut off whatever in their lives was causing them to disobey. But what does any of this have to do with baptism?

Well, you can think of circumcision as the original baptism, at least in principle. But while circumcision and baptism taught many of the same ideas, circumcision had some key limitations.

• Only males could be circumcised.

• Since it was done at a very young age, no deliberate choice (or belief) was involved.

• It wasn't something that could act as a public witness for God.

• The Jews eventually twisted it into a marker of righteousness, forgetting the point. Paul had to remind them that "he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart."

Baptism on the other hand didn’t have these same limitations, which is why it was introduced in the New Testament. But circumcision wasn’t the ONLY Old Testament counterpart to baptism. In fact, there was another early form of Baptism that in many ways appears to be very similar.

Ritual Immersion

Under the law of Moses, the ancient Israelites were repeatedly told to immerse themselves in water to wash away their uncleanness. Uncleaness was very common under the law. The law imparted ritual uncleanness for things like touching a dead body. It imparted uncleanness every month for women. It imparted uncleanness for sex and for conception. All kinds of activities, some of which were essential for continuing the existence of humanity, were seen as bringing uncleanness.

The solution?

When an individual became unclean, they have to fully immerse themselves in water. 

So, essentially, though baptism may feel sudden or surprising in the New Testament, it was really just an extension of a practice that already existed in the Jewish community historically. 

And yet, it wasn’t exactly the same. While baptism removes uncleaness, it goes much further than that.

Baptism - NT 

Baptism brought together both this ritual immersion and also circumcision into a more complete concept. 

Unlike immersion, one only has to be baptized once, rather than every time they become unclean. 

Unlike circumcision, baptism does not limit gender, ethnicity, or status. Paul says that "as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

There also isn't a specific age required to be baptized. While circumcision had to be performed on the eighth day, baptism is something that is done when an individual comes to understand the gospel and believes. 

We also mentioned how circumcision couldn't be a witness to others. Baptism on the other hand, is an incredible public act of faith. In Acts 2, when 3,000 people were baptized on the same day together, they publicly declared that they believed in the Gospel so that everyone would know and maybe start asking questions themselves.

Baptism is a Covenant

Now, there's one more important thing about baptism that really makes clear why it's commanded. Remember when God instituted circumcision as a token of the covenant that he had made with Abraham? In the same way, baptism is a token of a covenant.

In Romans 6, Paul says "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

In other words, baptism is a symbol of our promise to God to follow in Jesus' footsteps. It represents a new covenant with God. When someone is baptized, it's a public confession that they have chosen to put sin to death in their lives, just like Jesus did in his. And, just like Jesus rose from the dead, they will come out of the water and choose to live a new way of life, dedicated to the will of God.

Of course, we'll always need help following Jesus. He was and will be the only one who ever followed God perfectly. The beauty of baptism is that when we enter into the covenant with God, as long as we maintain a repentant spirit, God is always willing to forgive. 

Summary

So that's baptism—a covenant of water submersion that publicly declares one’s intention to follow in Christ's footsteps. As we said, though, baptism requires both action and faith. And so, if you're interested in learning more about what faith is and why it's so important, make sure to watch this video right here.