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A Concise Theology of Baptism

January 30, 2022 Speaker: David Townsend Series: Standalone Sermons

Topic: Romans Scripture: Romans 6:1–14

Due to a technical difficulty, the audio picks up 5min into David's sermon. Below is a letter from Pastor David that captures the heart of the message:

Baptism is one of two ordinances (the second being Communion) instituted by the Lord Jesus for His people, the Church. The ordinances visibly reveal the mysteries of salvation, and God working in and through His people. The practice itself predates Jesus’ earthly ministry, and is rooted in Old Testament cleansing and covenant. Baptism upholds and declares multiple realities for the Church, and therefore must be kept and shepherded faithfully by the Church. In Baptism, we find the following:

Covenant: Baptism is a both a sign of covenant, and serves as entrance into covenant. This is evident as far back as the Flood (1 Pet. 3:20-21), when Noah and his family were saved through the waters of judgment and wrath. Next we see that Israel was joined to the Mosaic Covenant by passing through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1-2). This covenant was then re-established with Joshua as the people passed through the Jordan River (Josh. 3). Finally, we see Jesus establish that all believers in the New Covenant be baptized (Matt. 28:18-20). Therefore, baptism is entrance into the Church.

Confession and Profession: Baptism is a confession of needing to be rescued (repentance), and a profession that Jesus is the Messiah, the only one who can save (see Matt. 3:16; Acts 2:37-38). We therefore, hold that baptism is an ordinance reserved only for those who do confess sin and profess Christ. Not only must confession and profession be manifest verbally, but we as the church must be able to bear witness to this fruit in the life of one seeking baptism.

Union with Christ: Baptism reveals the miracle and mystery of God uniting the believer with Jesus in His death, and His resurrection (Rom. 6:5). This “death” is not just symbolism, but is an actual joining to Jesus and His victory over sin at Calvary. Because of this death, our union with Him in resurrection is both a present reality, and a foretaste of the final, bodily resurrection to come. Through this revealed mystery, the Lord teaches and reminds us that we are dead to sin, and by His Spirit strengthens us to walk alive to God. We must therefore renounce our former way of life, and walk faithfully and obediently with Christ in the newness of life.

An Appeal to God: Baptism is the visible act of an invisible reality. In baptism, the believer is pledging themselves to God, in faith, that they might be saved from the Day of Judgment (Mark 16:16). The believer is making public what they believe to be true, and is banking on the reality that God is merciful, and does indeed save those who cry out to him and walk in obedience to his commands. In this way, baptism serves as a declaration of faith from an individual, the affirmation of faith by the Church, and a warning to the world of the judgment to come.

Our Practice: In keeping with these glorious truths, and because the ordinance of baptism was entrusted to the Church by the Lord Jesus, it is our responsibility and privilege to guard it and practice it faithfully. To the Church was given the authority to bind and loose, that is, the authority to declare who belongs to the Church and who doesn’t (Matt. 16:19). Therefore, we are constrained by Christ and His word to only baptize those who confess sin, profess Christ, bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and are willing to join Rivertown Church in covenant community through Covenant Membership.

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