Christian baptism. What does it mean?

Jesus commanded the apostles: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

And they did. 

1. They made disciples everywhere by preaching the gospel of salvation by faith in Jesus.

2. They baptized those who believed, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and

3. They taught everything Jesus commanded.

But why did they baptise? What did it accomplish?

Before Christian Baptism, there was John the Baptist’s baptism. And before that there was Jewish baptism.

Baptism indicates a changed profession and identification.

In Jewish baptism, former pagans were professing they now worshiped the Jewish God; the God of the Bible. They thus identified publicly with the Jews by water baptism, i.e. the end of one profession and the beginning of a new one.

In John the Baptist’s baptism, Jews who were living lives in disobedience to God repented of their sinful behavior and professed renewed commitment to the living God and his commandments. They thus identified with those who were expecting Jesus, the Messiah, to come.

In adult Christian baptism, both Jews and Gentiles, profess they have left their pagan, faithless position and have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They thus identify with the Christian position. Infants of Christian families are sometimes also baptized to show they are now under the Christian system of faith instead of paganism and idolatry.

Baptism does not change anything. It only professes publicly an identification.

This is important to understand.

Contrary to many false teachings, Christian baptism does not save anyone from their sins. And it cannot change anyone into a Christian. It only professes that an individual has accepted the Christian position; salvation by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone, to the glory of God alone.

The Christian position still requires faith. Adults who profess but who have no real faith are not saved because they are baptized. Likewise, infants who are baptized still must eventually believe in order to be saved.

“For by grace are 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” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).

Faith in Christ alone as Savior makes Christians. Nothing else.

Amen