CHAPTER III.

Chapter 623,858 wordsPublic domain

CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.

BAPTISM.

Christian baptism is a sacrament instituted by Christ himself. The authority and obligation of baptism, as a universal ordinance of the Christian Church, is derived from the commission of Christ, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

That baptism is obligatory is evident from the example of Christ, who, by his disciples, baptized many that by his miracles and discourses were brought to profess faith in him as the Messiah, from his command to his apostles after the resurrection, and from the practice of the apostles themselves. That it was administered to all Gentile converts, and not confined to the Jews, appears from Matthew xxviii, 19, 20: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world;" and from Acts x, 47: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Ghost as well as we;" and that the baptism of the Spirit did not supersede water baptism appears clearly to have been the judgment of Peter and of those that were with him.

_As to the design and benefits of baptism_ various views are held by different bodies of professing Christians. The following are the principal ones:

1. _That it is a direct instrument of grace._ This is the view of the Roman and Eastern Churches, and of what is known as the High Church Party in the Protestant Episcopal and Lutheran Churches, and also of the Reformers or Campbellites, who regard baptism as the remitting ordinance of the Gospel, or the appointed means through which the penitent sinner obtains the assurance of that remission of sins purchased by the death of Christ.

2. That held by the Socinians; which is, "_That baptism is neither an instrument nor seal of grace, but simply a ceremony of initiation into Church membership._"

3. _That it is a token of regeneration_, to be received only by those who are really regenerated. This is the view held by the Baptists.

4. _That it is a symbol of purification_, the use of which simply announces that the religion of Christ is a purifying religion. This opinion is held generally by Congregationalists.

5. _That it is a rite of initiation into the visible Church, and that, though not an instrument, it is a seal of grace._ This is the view taken by a majority of the confessions of the Reformed Churches.

The Westminster Confession holds that "baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up to God through Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life; which sacrament is by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in the Church to the end of the world."

In the seventeenth article of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it is declared that "baptism is not only a sign of profession and mark of difference whereby Christian men are distinguished from others that are not baptized, but it is also a sign of regeneration, or the new birth. The baptism of children is to be retained in the Church." The same language is substantially used in the Articles of Religion of the Church of England, and with some addition by the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

Richard Watson, in his Institutes, Vol. II, page 646, says: "Baptism introduces the adult believer into the covenant of grace and Church of Christ, and is the seal and pledge to him, on the part of God, of the fulfillment of all its provisions in time and in eternity; while on his part he takes on him the obligation of steadfast faith and obedience. To the infant child it is a visible reception into the same covenant and Church, a pledge of acceptance through Christ, the bestowment of a title to all the graces of the covenant as circumstances may require, and as the mind of the child may be capable or made capable of receiving it, and as it may be sought in future life by prayer, when the period of reason and moral choice shall arrive. It conveys also the present blessing of Christ; of which we are assured by his taking children in his arms and blessing them, which blessing can not be merely nominal, but must be substantial and efficacious. It secures, too, the gift of the Holy Ghost in those secret spiritual influences by which the actual regeneration of those children who die in infancy is effected, and which are a seed of life in those who are spared, to prepare them for instruction in the Word of God, as they are taught it by parental care to incline their will and affections to good, and to begin and maintain in them the war against inward and outward evil, so that they may be Divinely assisted, as reason strengthens, to make their calling and election sure. In a word, it is both as to infants and adults, the sign and pledge of that inward grace which, though modified in its operations by the difference of their circumstances, has respect to, and flows from, a covenant relation to each of the three persons in whose one name they are baptized--acceptance by the Father, union with Christ as the head of his mystical body, the Church, and the communion of the Holy Ghost. To these advantages must be added the respect which God bears to the believing act of the parents, and to their solemn prayers on the occasion, in both of which the child is interested, as well as in that solemn engagement of the parents, which the rite necessarily implies, to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

Dr. Schaff remarks: "The ultimate authority for infant baptism in the bosom of a regular Christian community, and under a sufficient guarantee of pious education--for only on these terms do we advocate it--lies in the universal import of Christ's person and work, which extends as far as humanity itself. Christ is not only able, but willing, to save mankind of all classes, in all circumstances, of both sexes, and at all stages of life, and, consequently, to provide for all these the necessary means of grace. [Com. Gal. iii, 28.] A Christ able and willing to save none but adults would be no such Christ as the Gospel presents. In the significant parallel, Rom. v, 12, sq., the apostle earnestly presses the point that the reign of righteousness and life is, in its Divine intent and intrinsic efficacy, fully as comprehensive as the reign of sin and death, to which children, among the rest, are subject; nay, far more comprehensive and availing; and that the blessing and gain by the second Adam far outweighs the curse and the loss by the first. When the Lord, after solemnly declaring that all power is given to him in heaven and earth, commands his apostles to make all nations disciples by baptism and instruction, there is not the least reason for limiting this to those of maturer age. Or, do nations consist only of men, and not of youth also, and of children? According to Psalm cxvii, 1, 'all nations,' and according to Psalm cl, 6, 'every thing that hath breath should praise the Lord;' and that these include babes and sucklings is explicitly told us in Psalm viii, 2, and Matt. xxi, 16. With this is closely connected the beautiful idea, already clearly brought out by Irenæus, the disciple of Polycarp, and the faithful medium of the apostolic tradition descending from John's field of labor--the idea that Jesus Christ became a child for children, for youth a youth, for men a man; and by thus entering into the various conditions and stages of our earthly existence, sanctified every period of life, infancy as well as manhood. The Baptist view robs the Savior's infancy of its profound and cheering significance."

1. BAPTISM A CHRISTIAN DUTY.

ACTS II, 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

MARK I, 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

MATT. XXVIII, 19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

JOHN III, 22. After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

ACTS VIII, 12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

ACTS VIII, 36. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

ACTS IX, 17. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

ACTS XVI, 14. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshiped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

16. And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.

ACTS XXII, 16. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

ACTS XIX, 4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

ACTS II, 41. Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

2. DESIGN OF BAPTISM.

GAL. III, 27. For as many of you as have been baptized unto Christ have put on Christ.

1 PET. III, 20. Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

ROM. VI, 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

COL. II, 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

3. EXAMPLES OF BAPTISM.

ACTS II, 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41. Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

42. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

43. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44. And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47. Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved.

ACTS VIII, 36. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

1 COR. X, 1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

ACTS X, 46. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

ACTS XVI, 29. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31. And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32. And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

ACTS XVIII, 8. And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

ACTS XIX, 4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

ACTS XXII, 16. And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

JOHN III, 23. And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

MARK I, 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

MATT. III, 5. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.

MATT. III, 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

4. BAPTISM OF HOUSEHOLDS.

15. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

ACTS XVI, 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

1 COR. I, 16. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1 COR. VII, 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

5. THE SPIRITUAL IMPORT AND SCRIPTURAL MODE OF BAPTISM.

ACTS I, 5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

ACTS II, 18. And on my servants, and on my handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

ACTS II, 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

ACTS II, 15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

1 COR. X, 1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

1 COR. XII, 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

TITUS III, 5. 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;

6. Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.

EZEK. XXXVI, 25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

ISAIAH XLIV, 3. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.

ISAIAH LII, 15. So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.

MARK VII, 2. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they found fault.

3. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables.

HEB. IX, 10. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

HEB. IX, 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

HEB. X, 22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

HEB. XII, 24. And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

1 PETER I, 1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.