Category Archives: Baptism

Thoughts from the Theological Roundtable

This morning a group of men from Grace Baptist Church gathered over coffee and bagels to discuss one of the two ordinances of the New Testaments church – baptism.  I chose the topic, not intending to get into a protracted discussion on what baptism is, and why believers are to receive the sign.  I wanted to discuss how baptism can strengthen our faith.  The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith describes baptism this way:

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

Baptism is a sign.  A sign describes or points towards something.  Baptism points towards our fellowship with Christ and our sharing in His death and resurrection.  It points to the fact that we are engrafted into him, and of the remission of our sins.  Lastly, it signifies that we walk in newness of life in Christ.  If these important facts are forgotten after our baptism they are forgotten to our harm.

Here is a post I made last November on this very topic.  I hope it encourages your faith.

“Of Road Signs and Baptism”

 

A review of “From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism” by Dr. W. Gary Crampton

Earlier this year it was announced to the Reformed community that Dr. Gary Crampton made the change from being a paedobaptist to a credobaptist. The news has caused no small stir among Presbyterians and Reformed Baptists alike. When it was made public that Dr. Crampton planned on writing a book refuting the errors of paedobaptism the news was met with criticism from the paedobaptist camp. One of the more oft heard criticisms was that, if Dr. Crampton was going to write a book on his personal journey from paedobaptist to credobaptist, he would be adding nothing more to the centuries old debate. Indeed, some paedobaptists simply wished he would ride off quietly into the sunset. Obviously that did not happen.

During this summer Reformed Baptist Academic Press published Dr. Crampton’s book, “From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism.” The subtitle is, “A Critique of the Westminster Standards on the Subjects of Baptism.” The title alone informs the reader that the author approached the ongoing debate from a unique perspective. After completing the first chapter, any lingering suspicion that Dr. Crampton’s book is a chronicle of his personal theological journey should be dispelled. “From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism” is a deft and capable treatment of the shortcomings of the Westminster standards in regards to paedobaptism.

In the first two paragraphs it is evident that Dr. Crampton holds the Westminster Standards in the highest regard. Indeed, he writes:

“As a minister of the gospel, I believe that the Westminster Standards provide the finest summary of the system of doctrine taught in Holy Scripture. In this sense, the Standards are considered to be a subordinate standard to the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. The Bible alone has a systematic monopoly on truth.”

Early on in his treatment of the Westminster Standards error regarding paedobaptism, Dr. Crampton lays out his threefold disagreement with the Standards.

1. There are no examples of infant baptism in the Bible.
2. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper go together.
3. There are multiple differences among paedobaptists as to why infants should be baptized.

Dr. Crampton takes an honest and transparent approach towards the Westminster Standards and how it’s teaching on infant baptism fails under the scrutiny of scripture. First, he takes a look at how the Standards define baptism. He then compares the definition with further statements in the confession as to who are the worthy recipients of baptism. It is here where Crampton begins his critique of the Standards. It is not the purpose of this book review to provide a word-for-word regurgitation of what Dr. Crampton wrote; but rather a glimpse into the highlights of his argument. However, Dr. Crampton does come to an early conclusion in the last sentence of the first chapter, borrowing from Neville Clark, “from the earliest times infant baptism has been a practice in search of a theology; [and] in many quarters it is still today.”

I was impressed at how Dr. Crampton was able to keep true to the subtitle on the front cover. He consistently stayed on target in critiquing the Westminster Standards instead of heading off into a rambling polemic, detached from the matter at hand. “From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism” is not without criticisms, however. Dr. Crampton displays a tendency to insert a few assumptions when making his point. These assumptions seem to indicate that the author considers his conclusions to be de jure (a term Dr. Crampton uses repeatedly) without providing supporting evidence. This did not happen often, but just enough to cause me to wince; wishing that Dr. Crampton attestations were not left wide open to criticism. That tendency aside, “From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism” surprised me as it should any paedobaptist who reads it. This work most certainly adds to the continuing dialog from a new perspective while avoiding the pitfalls most anticipated.

Of Road Signs and Baptism

Yesterday I drove my mother back to New Jersey after her visit for the Thanksgiving holiday. I must have passed hundreds of road signs on the way up and on the way back. Each sign was informational in nature. There were signs telling me the maximum speed I could drive, upcoming exits, rest stops, construction sites, airports, slippery road surfaces – ad infinitum, ad nauseam. But at the heart of each sign was a purpose. I am thankful for road signs. When they are heeded they prevent serious accidents. There is one such sign on one of the back roads I take to Annapolis. It warns of a sharp “S” turn. If that sign did not exist I am sure there would be more than a few vehicles in the South River.

Chapter 29, paragraph 1, of the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession reads:

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

The Westminster Confession of Faith uses similar language:

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 unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.

Baptism is a positive ordinance, meaning that is a command to be obeyed. It is not inferred or consequential. Both the 1689 LBC and the WCF rightly describe it as a sign. Most of us travel the same roads over and over again. We see the same road signs over and over again. They become a bit redundant. Their redundancy is mostly because we are familiar with our destination and what these signs are saying. It is much the same way in our lives. While we are in our routine we seldom need daily instruction. We get up, take care of personal necessities, have breakfast, have time in the word and prayer (hopefully), go to work, come home, eat dinner, spend time with the family, and go to bed. The actual sequence and substance of events may be different, but I think you get the general gist. We do these things regularly, if not daily. They become second nature to us. We do them without even thinking. Because they are so routine we seldom heed the signs around us. But what happens when our routine is upset? If you find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings, what do you make of signs then? If you were traveling to an out of town destination would you be thankful for a sign that told you your exit was coming up? If you never traveled a road before, would it be valuable information to know that there was a sharp bend up ahead? Your answer will most likely be an enthusiastic, “Of course!”

What if the routine of our spiritual life is upset? What if circumstances throw us into a time of crisis or testing? What do we have to hold onto during times like these? How about the road signs of our baptism? Let’s look at these signs for a moment:

1. A sign of His fellowship (Phil. 3:10; Rom. 6:5)

Baptism signifies our close union with Christ; our fellowship with Him. David spoke of His close fellowship with the Father even during times of great distress.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

2. A sign of His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12)

Unless the Lord returns during our lifetime, all of us will feel the bitter sting of death. Because Christ died and rose from the grave, we have the promise that we, too, will be resurrected.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

3. A sign of our being engrafted into Christ (Gal. 3:27)

Fifteen times in Ephesians chapter one we read the words, “in Christ”, “in God”, or “in Him.” Our identity is hidden in Christ, so much so that we are considered to be part of Him.

Romans 11:17 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

4. A sign of the remission of sins (Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16)

Water is pictured as a purifying agent. Baptism in water symbolizes the cleansing from sin.

Psalm 51:2-3 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 51:7 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

5. A sign of living in newness of life (Rom. 6:4)

The person who is born from above is a new creature. His affections have changed, and he is no longer subject to the cruel master he once served (Eph. 2:2). We are now free, and able, to walk in the Spirt.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17 16 Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

His fellowship, His death and resurrection, engrafted into Him, remission of sins, and walking in newness of life; baptism is a sign of these truths. But while baptism is a sign of these things, Christ is the substance. The road sign is not the destination, it points to the destination. It is necessary and useful, so is baptism and the signs it provides.