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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ECCLESIASTICAL
VIEW OF THE CHURCH: BAPTISM (Mt 28:18-20) 11/18/12 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE INSTITUTION OF BAPTISM A. Baptism is an Ordinance 1. In our
discussion on the difference between an ordinance and a sacrament, Baptism is
not a sacrament. Baptism does not dispense merit of salvation, forgiveness of
sins, or divine grace. 2. However, Baptism is an ordinance much the
same as the Lord’s Supper. An ordinance is something instituted by our Lord
that carries a mandate for the believing church. B. Baptism is part of the
Great Commission 1. Mt
28:18-20 is called the Great Commission and outlines the mandate from our
Lord Jesus who has been given “all authority in heaven and on earth” from the
Father. 2. This certainly includes Christ’s headship
over the church (Ep 1:22; 5:23; Col 1:18) and sets the context for His
mandate to the church for the Great Commission. 3. Though we would all say that the Great
Commission is the Church’s plan for evangelism and furthering His Kingdom on
earth, it includes more, such as making disciples, teaching, and in addition,
Baptism. C. Baptism is part of Making
Disciples 1. The main
thrust of the Great Commission is “making disciple.” Though sometimes thought
that the emphasis is to “Go!,” the main verb of Mt 28:19-20 is “make
disciples.” In fact, here the verb mathêteu,ō (“make
disciples” fr. mathêtês - learner or follower) is a command in the
imperative mood and literally is translated, “You must make disciples.” 2. There are three participles connected
with that verb which explain how to make disciples, they are “going” (poreuthe,ntes),
“teaching” (dida,skontes), and in addition
“baptizing” (bapti,zontes). Therefore, in
Jesus’ mandate, baptism is part of the Great Commission just as much as
going, evangelizing, and teaching. D. Baptism was Instituted by
our Lord 1. It is in
Mt 28:19 that the church has understood that Baptism is an ordinance
instituted by our Lord in the same way the Lord’s Supper is an ordinance. 2. Our Lord is not teaching that Baptism is
necessary for salvation, but there is no question according to the Scriptures
that He mandated Baptism as an ordinance for His church. The participle
“baptizing” comes with the force of the command to make disciples. 3. Though denominations may disagree on the
doctrinal intent of Baptism, no church denies that Baptism is an ordinance
instituted by the Lord for His Church based on Mt 28:18-20. E. Baptism is the Disciple’s
Initial Step of Obedience 1. Without
getting into the doctrinal arguments and significance of Baptism at this
point, what does the ordinance of Baptism mean for every believer? 2. It means that every true believer and
every true disciple is expected by our Lord to be baptized. In this sense,
baptism is one of the believer’s initial steps of obedience. 3. Understanding that every believer needs
to be obedient to God’s Word in everything, not everything He asks us to obey
is considered an ordinance for the church. Therefore, Baptism, though not a
greater step of obedience than other exhortations from God’s Word, is a step
of obedience that is considered by our Lord as a perpetual ordinance to be
carried out by the New Testament Church. II. THE EXAMPLE OF THE EARLY CHURCH A. Jesus spoke of Baptism, not for salvation,
but as an expected step of obedience for believers (Mk 16:16). B. Peter understood the mandate of Baptism
and exhorted his hearers to come to Christ and then be baptized (Ac 2:38). C. Paul himself was baptized after believing
(Ac 9:18) and taught that the church about its one baptism (Ep 4:4-6). D. Philip, after preaching the Gospel,
baptized his new converts (Ac 8:12). E. The three thousand who came to Christ on
the day of Pentecost were baptized immediately (Ac 2:41). F. The Ethiopian asked Philip to be baptized
him after believing in Christ (Ac 8:38). G. After, their salvation was confirmed,
Peter ordered a number of Gentiles (Cornelius included) to be baptized (Ac
10:48). H. Lydia and those in her household were
baptized after believing in Christ (Ac 16:15). I. All those who believed in the Philippian
Jailer’s household were baptized (Ac 16:33). J. Disciples in Ephesus who had been
baptized into John’s baptism, were baptized by Paul in the name of the Lord
Jesus (Ac 19:3-5). III. THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISM A. Baptism
Does Not Mean Baptismal Regeneration. 1. Baptismal
Regeneration is the belief that baptism is essential to salvation and results
in the remission of sins. 2. Paul refutes baptismal
regeneration when he states that Christ did not send him to baptize but to
preach the gospel (1Co 1:17). B. Salvation
Is By Grace Through Faith, Not By Works Of Baptism 1. Those
who hold to Baptismal Regeneration make baptism a work for salvation. But the
Scriptures teach that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works
(Ep 2:8-9). Therefore, the Scriptures teach that
faith in Christ alone is the requirement for salvation. 2. The same
conclusion is deduced from the Gospel of John where the word, “believe” is
used some 88 times (cp. Jn 20:31) and from Acts where “believe” is used some
46 times (cp. Acts 16:31). 3. Many other
passages support the biblical theme of faith alone without works (Ro 3:20,
28; 4:5; 5:1; 8:3; Ga 2:16; 3:11; Php 3:9; Tit 3:5). C. Problem
Passages 1. Mk
16:16 a) Baptism
was synonymous with belief in the early church, not because belief plus baptism
saved, but because it was customary for a convert to be baptized immediately. b) The passage teaches faith
is the sole means of salvation and the absence of faith (not baptism) results
in condemnation. 2. Ac
2:38 a) Unfortunately, the Greek emphasis (two
commands) is difficult to see in English. b) Literally
it is, “All of you (plural) repent, and each of you
(singular) be baptized (i.e. after repentance and faith)” 3. Ac
22:16 a) Acts
22:16 does not view baptism as a part of a formula for salvation. b) The Greek shows that the phrases in this
passage are not connected but are clearly two separate phrases. (1) Phrase #1 - “After rising (participle) you yourself be
baptized (imperative);” (2) Phrase
#2 - “and wash away your sins (imperative) after calling
(participle) on the name of the Lord” IV. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM A. It
is a public confession of salvation, thus negating Infant Baptism (Ro
10:9-10). B. It is an identification
with Christ’s death and resurrection (Ro 6:3-6). C. It is
also an identification with the body of Christ (1Co 12:13). D. It
is an initial obedience to Christ’s command (Mt 28:18-20). E. It is a precursor to
obedience to all Christ’s commands (Mt 28:18-20). F. It is a precursor to
obedience to Christ’s Great Commission (Mt 28:18-20). |
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