by Richard Shin
The importance of baptism in a believer’s life cannot be over-emphasized. While the ordinance itself does not effect salvation, the depth of meaning behind it is paramount. Beginning with John the Baptist’s baptism of repentance, we looked at Jesus’ ministry and how His full obedience to the Father’s will included His own baptism. We also saw how highly the early church apostles regarded and practiced baptism. And then we delved deeper into two highly influential leaders in the early church and how their teachings spoke highly of believer’s baptism. Then we topped off our discussion with a quick look at the Reformed Presbyterian position of infant baptism.
The topic is weighty. People’s views on baptism range all over the spectrum, and we as Christians should not let this topic go easily. The significance of the ordinance of baptism in the life of a Christian is vital. We have to study it from the Bible (as with anything else) and grasp the full meaning behind it, not only because we have to understand it, but so that we can teach others, especially new believers, why it’s so important. However, we must never lose sight of what baptism is supposed to point us towards, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Paul, “Christ did not send [us] to baptize but to preach the gospel” (1 Cor. 1:17). And like Paul, we ought to hold the doctrine of the gospel at the center of all our other doctrines; it has and always will be the focus of all our preaching (1 Cor. 2:2). Therefore, the doctrine and practice of baptism has and always will represent the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And much like in the study of the Lord’s Supper, our continual preaching of the gospel will inevitably bring us to worship God in a deeper way, both in spirit and in truth.
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