The Sacraments Pt 3 Baptism Review I Baptism
The Sacraments Pt 3 Baptism
Review: I. Baptism is the sign and seal of: A. A sign/seal of the covenant of grace: God’s guarantee that the promises of the Gospel are through faith in Christ. "What is symbolized in baptism is not faith, but the Christ in whom faith rests…baptism is…a Christocentric emblem, not a fidecentric one. " Ferguson B. Union with Christ. C. God's placing us into the visible church. D. Our public commitment to be a follower of Christ. II. Mode: JI Packer: "No prescription of a particular mode of baptism can be found in the NT. The command to baptize may be fulfilled by immersion, [pouring], or sprinkling; all three modes satisfy the meaning of the Greek verb baptizo. . . ”
Baptism – The Modes III. Subjects of Baptism: those who profess faith and "…the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. " (WCF 28. 4): A. Unity of the Covenant of Grace (Gospel): 1. Gal 3: 7 -8 "…those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you. "… 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Israel, because he has come. . . to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham. " B. Sign and sign/seal: Circumcision/baptism:
*Gen 17: 7; 10 "7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you…This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. " *Rom 4: 11 "He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well…" *Col 2: 11 -12 "11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God…"
1. Stott: “…what circumcision was to Abraham…and his descendants, baptism is to us…To truly believing adults the covenant sign of baptism (like circumcision to Abraham) signifies and seals a grace which has already been received by faith. To the infant seed of believing parents, the covenant sign of baptism (like circumcision to Isaac) is administered because they are born into the covenant and are thereby ‘holy’ in status (1 Cor 7: 14), but it signifies and seals to them graces which they need to receive by faith. ” Baptism - Intro 2. "It was a visible pledge from God, a reminder and guarantee that God will honor his covenant with Abraham’s people…To justify those who have faith. The mark served as a reminder to each Israelite that they would be counted righteous like Abraham if they, too, had the faith of Abraham. " 3. Where is the command to no longer apply the sign and seal of the covenant of grace (Gospel) to children of believers?
C. The nature of the church: B. B. Warfield: "God established His church in the days of Abraham and put children into it. They must remain there until He puts them out. He has nowhere put them out. They are still then members of His Church and as such entitled to its ordinances. " *Matt 28: 19 -20 - “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them. . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. " D. The OT and NT emphasis on the household. 1. Family solidarity in the ancient world: Joachim Jeremias: “…All important questions were decided by the father of the household and his decision was binding on all. In particular in its relation to God the household was a unity. Correspondingly it was normal for the ancient mind to regard the faith of the father of the household as decisive, if a household broke away from the old religious community and embraced a new religion. " Baptism - Intro
2. Household texts: Act 2: 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. " Act 16: 15 "When [Lydia] and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. " Act 16: 32 -34 "32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole household. " 1 Cor 1: 11 "I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else. "
IV. Important, but not necessary for salvation: WCF 28. 5 "Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it; or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated. " Baptism - Intro V. The efficacy of baptism: WF 28. 6 "is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time. " VI. WCF 28. 7 "The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. "
VII. The ongoing significance of baptism: WLC Q 167: The needful – Past and Present but much. Baptism neglected duty. Event of improving our Reality Baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation by: *Serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it *Being humbled for our sinful defilement *Growing up to assurance of pardon of sin *Drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ *Endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness and to walk in brotherly love
Baptism: Past Event and Present Reality “In effect, baptism is something we carry around all the time, and the idea of improving our baptism suggests that we should think more about this mark that we bear…its reality reminds us of our sin, our need for a savior, and what he did to reconcile us to him, and also comforts us in times of doubt, encourages us when confronted by temptation, and points us toward a life a holiness. ”
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