This study was first taught on February 12, 2017

Topic: The Doctrine of Baptisms_2: Rites of Passage

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Background
In our last meeting, we saw a multiplicity of baptisms, which made us note that there is more than one baptism. Hence, under the heading “The Doctrine of Baptisms” which we described as God’s word, precept, or instructions about baptisms, we began to discuss the subject of baptisms in a broad sense. The Jews had thought of baptisms as washings/ablution; but baptisms are more than the application of water for the purpose of washing away the filth of sin from a person.

From our discussion, last week, we concluded that:
1. Although baptism refers to being dipped, immersed, or, submerged in a medium, that medium is not always water.
2. Every baptism is a matter of faith, because the medium of baptism is not always visible, except in the case of Christian baptism, also known as water baptism.
3. Where water is the medium of baptism, the water is nothing more than a ceremonial means of baptism, and does not result in salvation—only Jesus saves!
4. In general, for a baptism to be really a baptism, there must be:
(a) A baptizer, who is divinely appointed;
(b) The baptized, who has been prepared a priori;
(c) The medium of baptism, which is not always water;
(d) The purpose of the baptism, which is always Christ-centric;
(e) The pre-condition of baptism, which is that the baptized is born again; and,
(f) The confession for the baptism, which is the declaration being made at the baptism, and must be a statement of faith of the baptized in the life, suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
5. Based on 4 (e) and (f) above, John’s baptism, is not one of the baptisms that Christians engage in today; although its significance for Christianity is incontrovertible—the confession of sins, leading to repentance!
6. Nonetheless, John’s baptism served the purpose of revealing Jesus to Israel, as the Messiah.
7. Baptisms must bring believers in Christ to the experience of living under the Lordship of Christ by doing the Will of the Father, and leaving all in His hands.
8. Baptisms can be likened to dipping a piece of cloth in a dye solution, in which the cloth takes on the colour or characteristics of the dye solution; thus baptisms are about a Christian taking on the nature of Christ in every respect.
9. Baptisms are only a blessing when a baptized person does not live contrary to Christ; otherwise he is still a sinner, though he may have been baptized, and, sadly, a candidate for hell!

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:4-5; Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:2a
As we press on in our discussion on the doctrine of baptisms, we shall not be taking on any one specific baptism; rather, we shall be focusing on the crux—the core, the essence, the significance, the purpose, and, the application—of baptisms in general, to the Christian—at three aspects shall be considered. May the Lord help us not to be ignorant, or babes in this matter, so that we can teach others the truth about baptisms as declared in the scriptures.
The first of the crux of the doctrine of baptisms is that baptisms are like rites of passage for a believer in Christ. A rite of passage is usually a ceremony that depicts the transition of a person from one age group to another, or from one status to another. In baptisms, the believer in Christ transitions from a past, sinful, and, sin-loving life, to a new, holy, and, sin-abhorrent life; from Satan’s kingdom of darkness and wickedness, to the God’s kingdom of light and righteousness; from death in the world, to life in Christ; and so on.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (MSG); 10:1-13; Ephesians 4:11-16; Colossians 1:13; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Romans 6:3-4; 2 Timothy 1:5-8; Matthew 18:1-9; Acts 3:19; Romans 12:2.

Conclusion
In baptisms, the believer in Christ is being made to realize and appreciate that he/she is no longer a part of a former life and lifestyle; but a part of a new life and lifestyle. Indeed, baptisms serve to give knowledge that a change has indeed taken place. It is like a wedding ceremony, in which a previously unmarried woman is joined to an unmarried man, and although it is the same woman, many things about her changes—her last name, her residence, her responsibilities, her head, her authority, etc. Baptisms are the transition of a Christian from a life of sin, self, and lived for the world, to a life of righteousness, selflessness, and lived for Christ. Such transition is usually in phases, but the goal is to bring the Christian to the fullness of Christ in everything; hence, the Christian is brought into the body of Christ, where he/she is separated from the world and Satan’s control, and then empowered to witness and live for Christ, and, enabled to overcome the challenges of life no matter how overwhelming they may seem to be.

Baptisms make the Christian realize that he/she is no longer a part of the world, but now a part of the body of Christ; that he/she is no longer a subject of Satan and his kingdom, but one who lives under the authority of God, and a citizen of heaven; that he/she no longer lives for himself/herself, but for Christ Jesus and God, the Father; that he/she is no longer to be subject to fear and its torment, but rather to recognize his/her power and authority in Christ. Such a transition must be understood to be permanent. Hence, another way of looking at the essence of baptisms is that they bring to the fore, the irreversible conversion of an erstwhile sin-laden, self-centred, evil, and worldly nature, to a nature that is sin-abhorrent, others-centered, righteous, and Christ-like. Both the transition and conversion of the believer in Christ culminate in a transformation, which enables the believer to be able to prove the Will of God in everything, and to do it!

Baptisms thus, bring believers in Christ to the place of recognizing that they can no longer live as they did before they met with Christ and were saved from the wrath of God upon sinners. Baptisms reinforce the truth about the new life which the believer must continue to live—a life that is intricately bound to other believers; a life of unity with other believers; a life of love toward all men; a life of humility before God and man; a life of absolute dependence on God for everything including, breathing, eating, working, raising a family, etc. Indeed, baptisms are more than a ceremony, they are a mark of the transformation or change that has taken place in the life of a believer in Christ. May the Holy Spirit help us to live accordingly, as we yield ourselves to Him!

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