Good Morning!
As we started last week on this trio of chapters in our Confession of Faith that deal with the Sacraments we touched on a couple of introductory topics: 1) What is a Sacrament?, 2) Why are they important? Well, this Thursday we begin to go a little deeper into the first of the signs of the covenant of grace, and that is Baptism. Our Shorter Catechism on this point says:
Q. 94. What is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
To define our terms a little bit the word “Baptism” refers to a ritual washing, pouring, or sprinkling. A similar word is used in Isaiah 44:3 when the prophet says, “I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed…”. There were many such washings in the Old Covenant way of doing things, so the Jews of the 1st Century would have had no problem understanding what was taking place when John the Baptist showed up and began to pour water over folks as they came to be prepared for the coming of Christ. They likewise would have had no problem understanding, at least logically, how the covenant sign changed from circumcision to water baptism, though the subjects (infants and proselytes) and purpose (signify membership in the covenant family) did not.
One of the ways that it did not change is that Baptism symbolizes the blood covenant God had made with Abraham, that He would be Abraham’s God forever and Abraham and his children would always be His people. (Gen. 17:10, Rom. 4:11). Remember John the Baptist tells the Pharisees in Matthew 3 that his work was to, “…baptize…with water unto repentance.” He did this as a means to show forth in an outward sign the inward work that Christ would accomplish through the cleansing power of His blood for His people. The Messiah who was now present in reality was foreseen to be the one who would fulfill the picture of Leviticus 16 where Moses writes:
…Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, bring its blood inside the veil and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins.”
So as we see this ritual washing signifies what Paul will later write to Titus, “...Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:4-5). There is much more to Baptism than sometimes we remember. Here we see a reason why Baptism is not an act which is to be entered into lightly, but with the utmost seriousness. Not only because we are to take only those vows that we intend to keep, but that there are grave consequences to those who ignore the warning of the Third Commandment, that God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain while asking for His blessing. Let’s move on to one of the positive aspects of Baptism.
In the Confession itself in section 6 we have this promise:
The efficacy of Baptism 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.
Being reminded that it is in and through this mighty Triune work that we can have such confidence in the actual working of Baptism for salvation in God’s covenant people is such a blessing. The Divines make it clear that while the placing of water on the head of an infant, or an older person who is outside the bonds of the covenant family who has come to faith, is not regeneration in itself (in other words no one is saved by the application of water, only by the work of the Holy Spirit) it is a means of assurance for those who have been baptized. In the Larger Catechism in fact we are instructed to “improve on our Baptism” in Q. 167 by looking back at the application of the sign by a lawful minister of Christ and find peace and comfort in it.
It is not only our own souls which can be comforted in looking back at the covenant sign of Baptism. One of the great concerns many parents have is that they have adult children, baptized and raised in the Church, who have not at this point shown any fruits of faith, are otherwise actively engaged in sin and iniquity, and given fleshly considerations illustrate no outward hope of changing any time soon. Well, in this section we have a word of comfort and peace to parents in this situation. As we noted before while we certainly do not believe that Baptism saves, we also do not believe it means nothing and is just some kind of cute thing we do in worship. The last words of the above section are meant to remind us that salvation is on the Lord’s time, not ours. Part of the prayer that we raise up for wayward covenant children is grounded in God’s promise in the act of Baptism. This is a powerful tool in witnessing to our own hearts as much as to the young people who are the subject of such supplications before Jehovah.
We have only began to scratch the surface of what Baptism means in the New Covenant Church and what we believe the Scriptures to teach on the subject at Bethany ARP. For more here is a quick read from Kim Riddlebarger:
https://www.wscal.edu/blog/basics-of-the-reformed-faith-baptism
Take care and have a blessed day!
Rev. Benjamin Glaser
Pastor, Bethany ARP Church