Hey, Church! 

Last week, we studied the topic of sacraments in general. Today, we will narrow our focus on one of the two: baptism. Before we do, here’s a refresher from last Saturday–Westminster’s definition of “sacraments.” 

1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ, and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in him: as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the church, and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.
2. There is, in every sacrament, a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.
3. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it: but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.
4. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.
5. The sacraments of the old testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the new.

The Confession mentions five aspects of baptism’s significance:

1. Baptism is a visible sign and seal of God’s invisible yet enduring promise of redemption. “Baptism preaches to Christians in the same way that circumcision preached to the patriarchs: it is a sign and seal of a righteousness that is ours by faith, to paraphrase Paul in Romans (Rom. 4:11).”* 
2. Baptism is a sign and seal of “a vital connection to the Savior.”* Granted, not all who are baptized are baptized in heart, just as not every circumcised Jew was circumcised in heart (Rom. 2:28-29). Yet, the scriptures make a strong connection between baptism and union with Christ (e.g., Gal 3:27; Rom. 6:5). Since baptism marks one’s entry into the visible Church, some have referred to it as a Christian’s birth certificate.
3. Baptism is a sign and seal of regeneration–that is to say, “newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4). Water in the Bible is often a symbol of death. When the Ark was delivered through the flood, when Israel passed through the Red Sea, and when Jesus walked to His disciples on the Sea of Galilee, these reveal a God who delivers His people through death to new life. (see “the washing of regeneration” in Titus 3:5)
4. Baptism is a sign and seal of forgiveness. Water is also often a biblical symbol of washing. John the Baptist proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 1:4). As circumcision was a bloody cutting off of the procreative part, baptism is a washing away of sin by laying claim to the once-for-all bloody sacrifice of Jesus (Col. 2:11-12). 
5. Baptism is a sign and seal of a life surrendered to Jesus. Charles Spurgeon once said of Christians, “I am afraid we are too much like the world for the world to hate us.” Baptism is a public declaration of allegiance to Christ the King that sets the believer apart from the world. We have died to sin, been buried with Christ, and raised again to walk according to His Spirit (Rom. 6:5).

When Jesus established baptism for His Church until He returns, He added a promise: “I will be with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:18-20). When I proposed to marry my wife, I promised my faithfulness and signified it with an engagement ring. Similarly, Jesus pledged His faithfulness to wash, sustain, and usher us, His Bride, into His Kingdom, and He represents it with visible signs of water, bread, and wine. And so the Shorter Catechism calls baptism a token of “our engagement to be the Lord’s” (WSC, Q94).  

“In baptism, God, by water and the Spirit, incorporates us into the new creation in his Son, Jesus Christ, and joins us to Christ’s body, the church; to this gift we respond in faith and seek to shape our lives more and more to this new identity we have in Christ.” (Vander Zee)1

We conduct baptisms publicly for the purpose of prompting all who bear witness to remember our own baptism into Christ and all of His benefits. We remember how He has washed us to be “whiter than snow,” that we have died to our old self, that we are engaged to be the Lord’s, and that His Spirit is at work within us to walk according to His purposes. When you witness a baptism, be more than a passive observer; take the vows to heart, as if to renew your own, and rejoice in the washing, resurrecting, and promise-sealing power of God who has raised you from death to life! 

Having said all that, there are some frequently asked questions I realize may be difficult to answer based on the information above. Here are a few I hear most often. 

FAQ

Q: Is baptism necessary for salvation? 

A: No, baptism is not necessary for salvation. Only faith in Jesus Christ saves. Baptism is, however, ordinarily a necessary act of obedience to Christ. An analogy may help: a wedding ceremony is not necessary for marriage, but ordinarily weddings are occasions for celebration with family and friends, and accompanied by commemorative symbols (i.e., rings, vows, etc.). Doing so emphasizes the sacred nature of the marriage and serves as a communal ebeneezer (stone of remembrance) to which all can point as the beginning of a mutual covenant.

On a related note: while there is no reason to delay and we encourage all to be baptized when they place their faith in Christ and join the church, there is also no reason to be motivated by fear. Some have come to the church with such a sense of urgency that if they don’t hurry up and get baptized, or get their child “done,” then eternity hangs in the balance. Sometimes the best weddings take a little time to coordinate. It’s okay! Yes, make it a priority and get baptized as soon as possible! But there’s no need to worry about eternal consequences. Your faith in Jesus Christ has already saved you. You just need to exchange rings and publicly say, “I do.” 

Q: I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic Church. Do I need to be re-baptized, now that I am part of a Protestant Church? 

A: No. If you were baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (which, we may fairly assume was the case in your Catholic baptism), then we believe God honors it as sufficient and effective. 

Q: I’ve only seen Rio baptize babies. Why aren’t there more adult baptisms? 

A: Being Presbyterian means that infant baptism is one of our doctrinal distinctives (so, something you won’t see at Calvary, Church by the Glades, or a Southern Baptist Church, for instance). 

Secondly, we do baptize believing adults (“adults” meaning anyone “of the age of accountability,” which includes new 5th-grade communicants)! It is, granted, rarer for us than places like Calvary, again, because we believe that one who was baptized as an infant in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit should not be re-baptized as an adult. They’re already a member of Christ’s Church! Regardless of the character or particular beliefs of the minister, God honors their baptism as valid. There is, therefore, no need to be rebaptized, since the first baptism was sufficient and effective. 

Q: Do you ever have beach baptisms? 

A: We do not have a regular schedule of beach baptisms at this time. However, there is a possibility that we will hold one in September of this year. So, if you haven’t already been baptized and you’ve been waiting for a beach baptism, stay tuned!

Q: Are there any scripture passages or other materials that I can turn to for more information? 

A: The primary passage that relates to baptism as a sacrament is Matthew 28:19. As to how it is to be administered…

• With water (Heb. 9:19-21)
• In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19)
• To adult believers and their infant children (1 Cor. 7:14; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 16:31; cf. Gen. 17:7)
• As a sign of God’s promise to set apart a people for Himself; the new circumcision (Col. 2:11-12)
• As a seal that credits us with Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 4:11)
• Once only, if the first baptism was true (Eph. 4:15)

Baptism is ordinarily to be administered by an ordained minister of the gospel, as sacraments are a means of God’s grace to be given by those whom He has placed in authority over His Church. 

Additional reading:  The Gospel Coalition

Also see:

1 Van Dixhoorn, Chad B. 2016. Confessing the Faith: A Reader’s Guide to the Westminster Confession of Faith (Edinburgh, Scotland; Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner Of Truth Trust), 366-368. 

2 Leonard J. Vander Zee, Christ, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper: Recovering the Sacraments for Evangelical Worship (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004), 102.

Further questions? Email ryan@riovistachurch.com