"The Shepherds Way" E.W.King: Baptism, a Supernatural Act

Baptism, a Supernatural Act

By Eric William King

For years I have been studying God’s word. I find it amazing that I never stop learning things that absolutely are life changing, invigorating, exciting and the lessons continue to bring me closer to the Lord. One of those things I am learning is regarding the importance of the Sacrament of Water Baptism.

For years I had attended churches were I was taught that the act of water Baptism was simply a symbol, an outward “trinket” and not really all that important. I did not understand it as a “sacrament”. What is a sacrament? A sacrament is a sacred act that Jesus Christ established and instituted for Christians to do. Jesus says in Matthew 28:18,19; “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

So we could also say that it is a New Testament commandment.

Jesus Christ was baptized by “John the Baptist” and when Jesus came up out of the water the “third person of Deity”, the Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove. It says that the “heavens opened” when this happened and that the voice of God was heard. Now I would say that this was a supernatural act.

“As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my son whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:10-11)

We must also understand how the early church understood this ordinance in light of the Scriptures (Sola Scriptura). Though ministers of the gospel and those who are truly regenerated in Christ baptize and have the right to baptize - for those coming into the true faith the act of Baptism as a “seal” of true redemption in one’s life is an act of God, not the act of man.

When baptism is done using and pronouncing out loud the Word of God then, and only then, does it truly have force and power. So though Jesus asks us to do the outward act only He can do the inward (spiritual sealing) in water baptism. We note that the Scriptures confirm this for us;

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with the circumcision done by hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12)

St Martin Luther describes Baptism as God’s act this way:

“To be baptized in God’s name is not to be baptized by men but by God himself. Although it is performed by men’s hands, it is nevertheless truly God’s own act.”

So true baptism is not mans work but God’s. Many fallen churches teach that baptism is a mere “outward” symbol that man does. It is true that it is an outward symbol to the rest of the Christian congregation that your salvation is being accomplished…so there is an outward symbology in it…but that is not the ultimate work of true Baptism.

So it is Christ who truly does the spiritual sealing at Baptism through “your faith in the power of God." This sacrament is extremely important. Notice what Jesus Christ says about baptism;

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

So what does our Christian Baptism ultimately signify? St Martin Luther states it correctly in the small catechism when he says;

“It signifies that the old Adam in us, together with all evil sins and lusts, should be drowned by daily sorrow and repentance and be put to death, and that the new man should come forth daily and rise up, cleansed and righteous, to live forever in God’s presence.”

You must believe in Baptism

True Christian Baptism also demands true faith. We are saved “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) and that Baptism itself is a gift from God. In closing this short article I wish to quote from St Martin Luther regarding faith and belief in Baptism:

“God’s works, however, are salutary and necessary for salvation, and they do not exclude but rather demand faith, for without faith they could not be grasped. Just by allowing the water to be poured over you, you do not receive Baptism in such a manner that it does you any good. But it becomes beneficial to you if you accept it as God’s command and ordinance, so that, baptized in the name of God, you may receive in the water the promise of salvation. This the hand cannot do, nor the body, but the heart must believe it.” (“Large Catechism”, Baptism 36)

May you consider the sacraments of God through faith and not through mere human reason and logic. Please continue your in-depth Bible studies here at “The Shepherds Way” and “Nugget of Truth”.

Thanking Jesus Christ every day,

Eric William King (April 13^th 2020)

Also read Eric's other articles about the Sacrament of Baptism:

"Christian Baptism"

"Water and the Word"

"Baptized Once"

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1 comment:

Nugget of TruthJuly 16, 2020 at 8:59 AM
Matthew 21:15-17

15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Baptism, a Supernatural Act

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1 comment:

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