Baptism

Baptism (baptizo, baptisontai, washing) is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations share in common.

What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a Christian rite recognized as of particular importance and significance. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of the reality of God, as well as a means by which God enacts his grace. The definition of sacrament formulated by Augustine of Hippo is "an outward sign of an inward grace that has been instituted by Jesus Christ". In Ancient Rome, the term meant a soldier's oath of allegiance. Tertullian, a 3rd-century Christian writer, suggested that just as the soldier's oath was a sign of the beginning of a new life, so too was initiation into the Christian community through baptism and Eucharist. Sacraments signify God's grace in a way that is outwardly observable to the participant.

The basis for baptism

Matthew 3:4-6 - John himself had a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then people from Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the vicinity of the Jordan were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.
Mark 1:4 - John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:16-17 - John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
John 3:22 - After this, Jesus and His disciples went to the Judean countryside, where He spent time with them and baptized.
John 4:1-3 - When Jesus knew that the Pharisees heard He was making and baptizing more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went again to Galilee.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.
Galatians 3:27 - For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.

Infant Baptism

In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith and to free them from the original sin they were born with.

To the Catholic Church, original sin isn’t a personal sin of the unborn, but a sin transmitted from generation to generation by birth. All men and women are born with original sin, and only Baptism can wash it away. Baptism can be regarded as a vaccine against sin.

Acts 2:38-39 - “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Whole families were baptized

(See Acts 16:13-15, Acts 16:30-34)

This is an argument from silence, as there was no indication that infants were in the families. Furthermore, those who were baptized were shown to be active believers.

Mark 1:5 - The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.
Acts 16:33-34 - He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.

Circumcision => Baptism?

Is baptism to the new covenant as circumcision is to the old? The males of whole families were circumcised.

Genesis 17:12 - For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
Colossians 2:11-13 - You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah. Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses.
Romans 4:11 - And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.
2 Corinthians 1:22 - He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts.
Ephesians 1:13 - When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

Circumcision was the Abraham's seal of the covenant, but the seal of the new covenant is the Holy Spirit, not baptism.

Ephesians 1:13-14 - When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eph. 4:30 - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
1 Cor 10:1-2 - Now I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
2 Cor. 1:21 - Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us.

Side note: Anabaptism is defined as "a second baptism, re-baptism. The baptism over again as a due performance of what has been ineffectually performed previously." It was a derisive term which baptists have generally repudiated, as they believe they employ only one true baptism.

Is baptism essential to salvation?

Mark 16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Acts 2:38-41 -“Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”
Acts 22:16 - And now, why delay? [Paul] Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.’
Romans 6:3-4 - Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.
1 Peter 3:19-21 - In that state He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:29 - Otherwise what will they do who are being baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are people baptized for them?

But we're not saved by works!

Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Galatians 2:16 - We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Titus 3:4-7 - But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Arguably, the 'works' we're not saved by are works of the Law of Moses. It does not necessarily exclude baptism as a possible requirement for salvation.

What about the thief on the cross?

Romans 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

The thief may be in a different class of salvation from those after Christ's resurrection, along with the others whom Jesus had told were forgiven.

Is baptism now just a codeword for 'rebirth by the Holy Spirit'?

John 1:33 - I didn’t know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
Acts 1:4-5 - While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Baptism by the Holy Spirit is arguably to receive an extraordinary spiritual power for ministry. It may be different from baptism by water.

Acts 19:1-7 - While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism were you baptized with?” he asked them. “With John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the One who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy. Now there were about 12 men in all.

Water is still present in post-ascension baptism

Acts 8:35-38 - So Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning from that Scripture. As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water! What would keep me from being baptized?” [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 10:46-48 - For they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of God. Then Peter responded, “Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

Further arguments

1 Corinthians 1:14-17 - I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t know if I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.
"Born of water" can mean being physically born of a woman.
Jesus repeatedly told people their sins were forgiven or cast demons out of a person and did not follow that up with baptism.

Debate over what constitutes a baptism

Does baptism have to be immersion, or could it be sprinkling or pouring?

Immersion

The classical Greek meaning of baptizo is usually to immerse, dip, plunge or submerge.

Baptism is burial and resurrection

Romans 6:3-4 - Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.
Colossians 2:12 - Having been buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Sprinkling/Pouring

Nazah [sprinkle] is used 24 times in the Old Testament.

Numbers 8:6-7 - “Take the Levites from among the Israelites and ceremonially cleanse them. This is what you must do to them for their purification: Sprinkle them with the purification water. Have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.
Numbers 19:18-20 - A person who is clean is to take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle the tent, all the furnishings, and the people who were there. He is also to sprinkle the one who touched a bone, a grave, a corpse, or a person who had been killed. The one who is clean is to sprinkle the unclean person on the third day and the seventh day. After he purifies the unclean person on the seventh day, the one being purified must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and he will be clean by evening. But a person who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person will be cut off from the assembly because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.
Leviticus 14:7 - He will then sprinkle the blood seven times on the one who is to be cleansed from the skin disease. He is to pronounce him clean and release the live bird over the open countryside.
Isaiah 44:3 - For I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants and My blessing on your offspring.
Isaiah 52:15 - so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him, For they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard.
Ezekiel 36:25 - I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Joel 2:28 - And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
John 1:22-25 -“Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”
Mark 7:4 - When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they have washed. And there are many other customs they have received and keep, like the washing [baptizo] of cups, jugs, copper utensils, and dining couches.)
Acts 9:18 - At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up [arose, stood up] and was baptized.
Hebrews 9:10,19-20 - They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings [baptizo] imposed until the time of restoration... For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you."

Baptizo arguably means "wash", rather than solely "immerse".

Josephus tells us of people that were baptized and he says it was done by sprinkling, and yet he uses the Greek word baptizo in speaking of it.
In the apocryphal book of Judith, which may have been written in Greek originally, Judith baptizo herself every day for a number of days at the horse trough, in order to deceive a king. This would have been sprinkling or pouring.
It can be argued that baptism already existed in Judaism before John the Baptist, and it involved sprinkling.
We are not told directly how John the Baptist's baptisms were carried out.
The Holy Spirit in baptism was 'poured out', rather than immersed.
Orthodox Jews allegedly would have found immersion in a body of water shared with others insulting and distasteful.
If John baptized by immersion, then he started a new mode of baptism. The Pharisees recognized his mode of baptism and expected it from prophets and the Messiah. If Jesus came to fulfill the law, he arguably would have been sprinkled and would have done the same to his followers.
Even if baptism particularly signifies sharing in Jesus' death and resurrection, it doesn't have to be immersion.
Baptism of the eunoch in the desert by immersion would have been against the desert code of perserving water. He also was reading Isaiah, which refers to sprinkling.

spsaucier/Baptism.md