Our 67th Word Is Baptize
The simple definition is a meaningful New Testament ritual that pictures acceptance into God’s family of faith.
“I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will…baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:16)
Some people are shocked to discover the Bible never actually says, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
What the story of God shows instead is various ritual washings in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 16: 3-4) and something called “baptism” in the New Testament.
The first three gospels (Matthew 3: 1-17; Mark 1: 2-11; Luke 3: 1-20) begin with a flurry of baptisms. Specifically, a man named John appears in the wilderness southeast of Jerusalem and thunders, “Repent!” to all who will listen.
Soon people are flocking from Jerusalem to hear this insect eating prophet, who dresses like Elijah. And they don’t just listen to him, they line up in front of him. Matthew tells us, “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.”
Our English verb baptized comes straight from the Greek baptizo. It means “to dip” or “immerse.” Can you see it? People wading into the Jordan, either to disappear under the water, or to have water sprinkled or poured over them. This ceremony was anticipatory. It looked forward to the day when one greater than John, that is, Jesus, would also baptize His followers, not with mere water but with the Holy Spirit of God!
Following his death and resurrection, Jesus gave His disciples the command to go and take His message everywhere. Part of that job description? Baptizing every new believer.
Like so many spiritual activities, prayer, communion, confession, and so on, baptism is understood and practiced in many different ways.
Here’s what we can agree on: Religious rituals are powerless to make anyone right with God. It is faith alone in Christ alone that saves us. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2: 8-9).
We could liken getting baptized to putting on a wedding ring. Wearing jewelry doesn’t make a person married (that requires making vows and signing a marriage license in the presence of witnesses). A ring is simply a visible expression of an invisible reality. Baptism is like that, an outward symbol of an inward commitment to Jesus Christ.
Baptism serves as a powerful illustration of some important spiritual realities: (a) the death and burial of one’s old life; (b) immersion into the life of Christ, and union with Him; (c) cleansing from sin; and (d) resurrection with Jesus into a brand new life.
Baptism further functions as a kind of initiation. It’s a way for the “church” to say, “Welcome to the forever family of God.”
The book of Acts shows people being baptized soon after placing their faith in Christ. Maybe this is your experience as well. Or maybe you were raised in a faith tradition that observes infant baptism.
If you’re a believer in Christ, but you’ve never been baptized, here’s something to consider. Baptism is a great way to go public with your faith. In addition to being an illustration and an initiation, it’s also a proclamation. It says to others, I want to be identified by others as a follower of Jesus.
Questions to Ponder
- What’s the purpose of baptism?
- Is it a means of salvation, an illustration, an initiation, or a proclamation?
- What’s your own experience of baptism?
No Thought Police 