5. The Symbolism of Baptism.
There are two interpretations of this.
a. The View of the Affusionists.
He is the one who sprinkles or pours the baptismal water. He believes that the object lying behind baptism is to symbolise the coming of the Holy Spirit on the believer.. He reasons that the Lord’s supper represents Christ’s death at Calvary then there would be no need for a second ordinance representing the same thing.
b. The View of the Immersionists.
He is the one who requires the complete submersion of the believer in water.He relates water baptism to Christ’s death, burial and resurrection on the grounds that the Believer is said to have been baptised into Christ’s death and buried with Christ. and risen with Christ to a new Life.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Rom 6:3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been joined together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection;
Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, that from now on we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he who died has been justified from sin.
Rom 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
Rom 6:9 knowing that when Christ was raised from the dead, He dies no more; death no longer has dominion over Him.
Rom 6:10 For in that He died, He died to sin once; but in that He lives, He lives to God.
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| Water Baptism by Immersion |
Col 2:11 in whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Note these differences these differences between the symbolism of the Lord’s Supper and baptism.
1) The Lord’s Supper speaks primarily of Christ’s death.
2) Baptism speaks primarily of the believer’s death with Christ.
3) The return of Christ is seen in the Lord’s Supper.
4) The resurrection of Christ is seen in the Believer’s Baptism.
5) Justification (the Cross) and the glorification (the Crown) are seen in the Lord’s Supper.
6) Sanctification is seen in Baptism. Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6. The Purpose of Baptism.
Willmington uses a two purpose:
a. Identification with our Saviour. the candidate is now entering the realm of the Lordship and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is baptised into the name of the Father and oon and of the Holy Spirit and He has called on the Name of the Lord.
Act 22:16 And now what do you intend? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
This is the time when one surrenders completely to the Lordship of Christ. For Baptism is for believers who have come in repentance and faith to Christ for Salvation and forgiveness from sin. Acts 2 :38.
Identification with Christ is an identification with the Christ of Calvary.
Most often in Scripture Baptism is associated with Christ’s Death Burial and Resurrection.
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Rom 6:3 Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Baptized into (εἶς)
See on Mat_28:19. The preposition. denotes inward union, participation; not in order to bring about the union, for that has been effected. Compare 1Co_12:12, 1Co_12:13, 1Co_12:27.
Into His death
As He died to sin, so we die to sin, just as if we were literally members of His body. Godet gives an anecdote related by a missionary who was questioning a converted Bechuana on Col_3:3. The convert said: “Soon I shall be dead, and they will bury me in my field. My flocks will come to pasture above me. But I shall no longer hear them, and I shall not come forth from my tomb to take them and carry them with me to the sepulchre. They will be strange to me, as I to them. Such is the image of my life in the midst of the world since I believed in Christ.” VWS
So many of us as were baptized into Christ, etc. The fact that every follower of Christ has died to sin is shown by his baptism. All its symbolism points to death. To be baptized into Christ means to enter into a vital union with him, so as to be found in him (Gal_3:27). But this baptism into Christ implies death, for it is a baptism into the death of Christ. That the subjects of baptism are partakers of his death is shown by the form of baptism. It is a burial.
Col 2:12 buried with Him in baptism, in whom also you were raised through the faith of the working of God, raising Him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
Buried with him in baptism. See notes on Rom_6:4. Paul teaches that we must re-enact the tragedy of the cross: The agony of the garden, the complete submission to the divine will, confession of Christ, crucifixion (Gal_2:20; Rom_6:5), death (Rom_6:3), burial (Rom_6:4; Col_2:12), rising with Christ (Rom_6:5; Col_2:12; Col_3:1); nay, we must ascend and reign with him (Eph_2:4-6). Let it be noted that "the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh" (Col_2:11) is associated with baptism (Col_2:13). PNT
Baptism is also the Identification with the Church the Body of Christ.
It is more than just union with Christ but also the union with His Body, the Church.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.
Since baptism signifies the inward reality of the participation into His Body, it is the normal initiatory rite into the visible body of believers. In this act the new Converts were identified outwardly with the fellowship of local believers. The transition from the old life to the New Life in Christ is made public by baptism.Willmington p.713
Please read "Is Church Membership Scriptural?"
http://theresurgence.com/2011/07/06/is-church-membership-biblical Matt Chandler from the Highland Village Church
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