I recently got baptized, actually earlier today. Before it, I really had to ask the question. Why do it? Is it just going in a plunge of warm water and ruining a nice combed up hair or is it more than that? I mean really. Every one knows Christianity does it. It is just one of those activities to do in becoming a Christian, but why? I hope to begin to figure out.
First, for those of you who dont know my background, I grew up in a Lutheran Church. This meant, Pastors with White Robes, Repeated phrases like the "Lord's Prayer" during services also others, Hymnal and Organ Player, and also Infant Baptism. Sounds real exciting I know, but that doesnt negate their legitimacies.
However, after attending a Baptist church for a time I have been challenged to consider what Baptism is in fact. Not that I listen to all that the baptists say and take as quick facts, but that I consider their beliefs and the beliefs of the Lutheran church or any view of baptism even Atheists in light of the Word of God to see what it says about baptism.
Because it really goes back to, what is the authority to tell me what is and what isnt true about anything. This is the issue. Ultimate authority. In light of this, I think there are a lot of things we go to for ultimate authority and not even realizing it. The source of this authority is crucial, for if we go to an unreliable source, every knows that the truth may be altered and down right wrong for the sake of some purpose rather than being correct.
This authority ought to define how we think, live, act, love, and desire. Because it is true and the way we think is probably not in connection with it or our actions or desires and etc...
To cut to the chase so I can go onto baptism is that I really believe that the ultimate authority that debunks everything else if in opposition, which includes my own thoughts and feelings, is the Word of God, the Bible.
A few reasons why I think the Bible is the ultimate authority:
It claims to be the ultimate authority. (Hebrews 4:12-13, 2 Timothy 3:16, Luke 1:37, Matthew 4:4, Proverbs 30:5, Isaiah 1:10, and read the whole Chapter of Psalm 119)
If it is from God as it claims, then it must be.
Most of its claims about reality are being confirmed and seen in my day to day life.
I am just not smart enough to know everything.
Everyone is not smart enough to know everything.
There is nothing we can create that is smart enough to know everything.
Impersonal ideas (Impersonal God, Science, strong energy) have no connection or valid argument to explain why living, personal beings exist and have a deep feeling and desire to live for something above themselves. If you want to discuss about this I would be pumped to talk.
Those are the biggies for me. Anyway, now back to baptism. As looking to the ultimate authority, I looked through it to see what it spoke on baptism.
The old testament has no direct talk on water baptism.
The new testament some. So I stuck with it.
So the first question, does being immersed under water by a pastor or minister of Christianity save that person from hell and give them the opportunity for heaven?
I dont think it does and this is why.
John 3 is a good chapter to run to, because of a lot of confusion that comes from it. Lets take a look.
John 3
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[e] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I bolded the first part of the passage to make a comment. Some take the "born of water and spirit" to mean that I need to literally get baptized to be able to enter God's kingdom. I really dont think this is the case and I will say why.
After Jesus says this, he says a lot more. Actually adding and explaining what he just said. This is acting like a great teacher to Nicodemus in that Jesus is first stating in general and blunt terms what he wants them to know, but if a student poses a questions then the teacher in concern for the student must elaborate and explain themself more as they go. This is what Jesus does when talking with Nicodemus, he patiently teaches and explains more on what it means to be "born with water and spirit".
In Jesus' further explanation of being "born of water and spirit" from verse 8 to verse 21 (after verse 21 he is finished explaining with Nicodemus) there is no discussion of water baptism whatsoever. Not even a hint. But he does explain something else, which I will touch on. Not to mention that right after saying that he says this :
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
Even if it is water baptism then why would it have a behavior like this? That it blows where ever it pleases, then when do we know that it is a legit baptism? It seems not to make sense here. Although you could explain it away saying: well being brought to baptism is what displays this as the Spirit doing as it please, because we dont understand when people will come to do it and we dont force it, because it is God who causes them to do it etc etc. Valid point, but I think the next part will make more clear.
Believe I think rings loudly in his explanation of being "born of water and spirit". He states it at least four times. I would like to explain it more if but briefly. This is becoming a long blog (prob longest one ever). A deep trust and reliance upon another for the eternal position of ourselves. We are unable to save ourselve from our current state. The bible claims that we are not only people that mess up, but way more is that we are wicked and corrupt people who do nothing but think and act wickedly and evily (Genesis 6:5 paints a good picture of this). Because of this we deserve to be punished by a good and eternal God forever. But, Jesus by his love for us offers himself to jump in front of this punishment for us, so that we could have hope to actually be able to be with God personally.
So I came to the point that I just reestablished my conviction that Jesus' and his work on the cross is the only means by which anyone am saved and that baptism doesnt have an absolute connection with being saved from God's wrath and given forgiven through Jesus' death and ressurrection, although it is important and commanded by God (see Matthew 28:18-20). God's effort to cause me believe in this gospel saves me. God saves me, not me save myself.
No power in my ability or things around me to save myself, but only the rich mercy and grace of God on my helpless behalf.
This great mercy should make me want to get baptized to show the world that I am not saved by myself, but Jesus alone died for me and was raised to life to give me his status as son of God.
