[The Mystery of Baptism] [Aaron O.]
As I mentioned in a previous post, I come from a Christian tradition (Church of Christ) that believes that one must be baptized in water to be saved by God. Why do they believe that? Well, for one it?s all over the New Testament. Jesus commanded it (Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), the apostles followed it, and the new converts embraced it (Acts 2:1ff; 8:34-39; 10:1ff; etc). To my knowledge there?s no record of a New Testament conversion that occurs without baptism. Also, the symbolism that Paul ascribes to it in Romans 6 makes it a way for us to join Christ in his death, and that by his death we die to sin, and by his resurrection we begin a new and eternal life. To me it seems very plain from scripture that God wants us to be baptized for reasons pertaining to our being saved and graft into the body of Christ. The semantics of these issues are debatable, but not tonight. 
This post isn?t about trying to convince you, me, or anyone else that they have to go jump in the swimming pool to be saved. In fact, this post is about the salvation of the unbaptized. ?GASP?, my COC brethren say. My preacher is speeding his way to my home for a Bible study even as I type. I want to share a passage from Romans that has helped me to understand that while God wants us to be baptized, that doesn?t necessarily mean that gives us the right to condemn (judge) the salvation of others who are not.
Romans 2:25-29 (NRSV)
25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. 29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart?it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.
What does this have to do with baptism? Well, exchange circumcision with baptism, law with scriptures, and Jew with Christian. I think there’s a very important principle that God is trying to get across.
Romans 2:25-29 (Aaron O. Version)
25 Baptism indeed is of value if you obey the scriptures; but if you do not follow the scriptures, your baptism has become unbaptism. 26 So, if those who are unbaptized keep the requirements of the scriptures, will not their lack of baptism be regarded as baptism? 27 Then those who are physically unbaptized but follow the scriptures will condemn you that have the written code and baptism but do not follow the scriptures. 28 For a person is not a Christian who is one outwardly, nor is true baptism something external and physical. 29 Rather, a person is a Christian who is one inwardly, and real baptism is a matter of the heart?it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.
See what I mean?
So if someone ever asks me, ?What must I do to be saved?? I will definitely devote some time to explaining why I think baptism is important to the salvation process. And if I have a conversation with an unbaptized person who claims to be a Christian, I will explain to them why I think baptism is important and listen to their views as well. But thanks to the scripture above, I can rest assured that baptism or no baptism, God knows his own and will surely take care of his own. Feedback appreciated. God bless.
“To my knowledge there?s no record of a New Testament conversion that occurs without baptism.”
Does Luke 23:40-43 count?
I completely agree, Justin. I think you’ve captured the biblical balance.
I’m thinking of Mk. 16:16 where baptism is mentioned on one side of the equation, but not the other.
Aaron,
We also came out of the coc tradition!
Lunch sunday is getting more interesting!
See you then.
George
Josh -
I would have to say that the guy on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23:40-43) probably wouldn’t count in any argument. I, for one, am willing to grant that Jesus can see straight to the heart and make exemptions as necessitated by circumstance. Otherwise we fall into a situation of, “Hey, Romans! Can you let me down for a while? I just want to be baptized and then you can put me back up. Quit laughing - I’m serious!”
Aaron -
You’ve heard my opinion on the subject more than you probably care to recall, but I think it worth observing that your influence on me has also brought changes in my perspective. I think that you capture well the meaning of 1 Peter 3:21 - “Baptism…now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It’s all about the heart, but because we customarily interact with a physical world, oftentimes we cement our mental/spiritual decisions in physical sacraments.
Great posting. Baptism is a subject that has been on my mind a lot lately. The church I thought I was a member of requires a believer’s baptism by immersion. I am a Methodist through and through, but have been going to a nondenominational church headed up by “Rehabilitated Baptists.”
After joining the church and having them seemingly overlooking the fact that I was baptized as an infant and then chose to go through confirmation and a baptismal remembrance service when I joined the church officially, I was asked to take a leadership role in our small groups. I got to discussing doctrine with them and baptism came up and they were taken aback that I have not been baptized since I was a baby. Somehow they totally missed it and now I’m no longer going to be in a leadership role and I’m no longer considered a member of the church.
They’ve been trying to convince me that I need to be baptized on my own, not on a decision of my parents, and I know that many will argue for that, but I simply will not be re-baptized just as an initiation rite.
Good post, Aaron (Felix - Aaron’s posts are in [brackets] to distinguish them from mine). I think it’s one of those situations where I don’t know why someone wouldn’t want to be baptized, but at the same time I wouldn’t be a jerk about trying to convince them.
Yeah, I guess that “Posted by Aaron O.” should’ve given it away! :o)
While I do not share the CoC view, I am puzzled by the de-emphasis that other evangelical traditions place on baptism. …You know, if you pray the prayer, then you’re saved. Oh. Then what the heck is this baptism thing for?
I think this schism between “salvation” and “baptism” has American origins. In Japan, you’re not considered a Christian until you are baptised — because the non-Christians don’t consider you a Christian until you’re baptised. That’s the dividing line, the commitment that could lead to your expulsion from your family. So for them, baptism is not a question of salvation, but of IDENTITY.
It really makes me wonder, again, why baptism ever fell into disdain among certain groups.
My wife is reading The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, which is about a missionary family that lives in Africa. They don’t realize for quite some time that the local words for “baptize” and “terrorize” are very easy to mix up. Couple that with the fact that the local baptistry is a river full of crocodiles, and praying the prayer becomes a pretty appealing alternative, unbiblical though it may be.
So that’s their reasoning. What about the rest of the Christian world? Huh.
I’m a missionary in Nicaragua sent out from a Christian Church (which I think split from the Church of Christ over musical instruments) and we also have problems baptizing people - in our case many Nicaraguans can’t swim and are, quite frankly, afraid of being dunked. My wife re-read the Poisonwood Bible after being in the developing world for a year and, this time around, she understood the book in a far deeper way than when she read it in the States. We see that the American Jesus planted in Nicaraguan soil grows into something very different…but that’s another post!
I really like your rewrite–I think you’re right on, man (says a campus minister from the Christian Church–GASP!)