“Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
— Matthew 28:19 (GNT bold added)
The Great Commission, Jesus’ imperative to “go... make disciples,” is clarified by the specification to “baptise them” or immerse
them. Indeed, Jesus, himself, was baptised by immersion. Further, to be
“baptised” is to be
“immersed.”
Pauline theology explains the three-phase process in baptism
that replicates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. (See Romans 6:1-10)
By being baptised just as Jesus was – by immersion – we take on the identity of
Jesus by experiencing something that he experienced. And so many baptisms by
immersion are tangibly transformational. Many new baptisees are profoundly
touched in the event of their baptisms and through the sharing of their
testimonies.
There are many places in Scripture where baptism by immersion
takes place immediately after conversion. The eunuch asks Philip why he
shouldn’t be baptised there and then (Acts 8:36-38). The jailer of Paul and
Silas and his whole family were baptised immediately they came to faith (Acts
16:33). And, of course, on the day of Pentecost, Peter urged those who sought
right standing with God to, “Repent and be baptised...” (Acts 2:38).
Baptism is both a theological and a devotional mandate if we
read our Bibles truly.
Because “baptism” and “immersion” are synonymous, we are not to
blur the lines further.
The coherence between the event of salvation, baptism, and the
receipt of the gift of the Holy Spirit are the established pattern of the New
Testament church.
The gift of the Holy Spirit comes as a response to a believer’s
obedience; they have done what Jesus instructs them to do.
As evangelicals, can we really contemplate being a member of the
body of Christ (in a Baptist church) without baptism?
Matters of regeneration are a key in attending to the lack of
spiritual depth in Christian circles these days. But if we baptise or even
rebaptise we encourage the Holy Spirit to take the person in question on a new
journey of self-discovery, because Christ has come into them.
Keeping to a standard of baptism or immersion cannot be
problematic in the theological landscape. Baptism, especially when shared with
a testimonial reflection, is a very powerful instrument in the hands of the
Spirit of God.
Conversion is the regenerative event. It is the moment that a
decision is made for Christ. It is also the moment that Christ puts his Spirit
into the emergent believer.
***
There is the imperative of baptism as a forerunner to the real
regenerative journey we all need to undertake.
© 2014 S.
J. Wickham.
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