Does baptism matter? Is it important?
What is baptism?
Baptism is symbolic of our death to an old way of life and being reborn into a new one. Like many things in our “postmodern” era, we have tended to individualise this and make this about my new life, but for the New Testament church it was more than this.
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptised into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)
For Paul and for the church in the first century, baptism was not just about a new life, but a new family. Baptism was the sign of becoming part of the people of God. In this passage, Paul is arguing against the snobbery that exists in Corinth, where some are holding to racial or social status. His entire argument is based on the fact that they were all baptised into the same body and thus had equal standing before God and in his kingdom.
In his book, “Paul, the Spirit and the People of God”, Gordon Fee argues that throughout the New Testament, the moment of baptism was the moment that believers received the Holy Spirit (which Paul bluntly states as the definition of a follower of Jesus – Romans 8:9). I think that there is some truth in this and we should not be quick to dismiss this as it may well have been the norm, even though there are exceptions (Acts 10:47).
Certainly, for the early church, the moment of giving your life to Christ was immediately followed by baptism, which was about becoming part of something. The New Testament knows nothing at all of a faith without being part of the community which is the people of God. Baptism is about that statement of dying to self and being born anew into that family of God. In some ways, one could argue that it is an initiation rite.
Symbolism
Perhaps we do not understand symbolism so well in our culture and are quick to write it off as irrelevant, but sometimes symbolism is important and we do not realise it. We are surrounded by symbols and understand their significance but perhaps do not recognise it as symbolism. Fashion, designer labels, tattoos are all symbols and tell us something about the person and how they identify themselves and with whom.
But these are modern symbols and so perhaps we do not connect them with ancient ones.
In scripture Jesus left us with two acts of symbolism – communion and baptism. Communion is about remembering what has been done for us and the freedom bought by the cross. Baptism is about the statement to God, to the powers, to the church, to the world and to ourselves that we have begun a new life as part of the people of God.
My opinion
Baptism is really important. Even if you do not buy any of what I have said here, it is important because Jesus told us to do it (Matthew 28:19,20). In my humble opinion, if you are a follower of Jesus then you should be baptised.
What to do about it?
Once again, we are having Barbecue and Baptisms at Royal Victoria Country Park this summer (instead of a church service). The date is Sunday July 30th and the time is 11am.
So, if you have not been baptised, then get baptised.
Simples.
Talk to your housegroup leaders and let’s make it happen!
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