Baptism and Union with Christ
1. The first piece
in this brief look at baptism said that baptism bears a powerful
witness to the central truths of the Christian faith—the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ and because this is true, it's very hard to
understand why professing Christians would dismiss baptism as of little
importance or as something we can take or leave. The second piece
said that, whatever modern believers did, the New Testament treats
baptism as a matter of great importance. It does this by the space it
devotes to the subject and by linking it with the fundamentals of the
Christian faith. The second piece also showed that the New Testament
consistently links baptism with faith and never speaks of it apart from
faith. It does this by repeatedly linking the words themselves and (as
Beasley-Murray reminds us) by telling us that what is offered to faith
is given in baptism. This third piece will take a closer look at the way
baptism is linked to foundational truths of the Christian faith.
BAPTISM AND UNION WITH JESUS CHRIST
2. The apostolic preaching and teaching offered to its hearers all the blessings of God. But those blessings were offered in Jesus Christ. Those who gladly received this message were anxious to enter into union with the Christ. This they did by faith, said Paul in Galatians 3:26-27 when they were baptized into Christ. “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.” The text speaks of faith, baptism, entrance into and clothing with Christ.
3. Romans 6:3-7
tells the same truth from another angle. (See the comments later for
the Roman context.) These people had been “baptized into Christ” (6:3). This union with Christ is focused in their union with his death ("baptized into his death”—6:4). And they were baptized into his death “in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may live a new life” (6:4).
Their union with Christ meant union with his death and resurrection but
how does this text say they experienced that union? It says they were
baptized into Christ. They were baptized into his death. They were
baptized into his death that they might share his
resurrection. To allow the text to speak its own message we need to
allow the words to mean what they obviously mean. Union with Christ is
offered to faith in baptism.
4. Colossians 2:11-13
speaks of a ‘circumcision’ which takes place “in Christ”. If false
teachers were saying they had to be circumcised in their flesh (see Colossians 2:16-17),
Paul is making it clear that “in Christ” they have already been
“circumcised” with the circumcision that really matters. Not the one
where physical flesh is cut away but one in which the “body of sin” is
cut away. This forgiveness and newness is found “in Christ” (three times
in verses 9-11).
And how and when is that new life found in Christ? This is what the
text tells us: “Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with
him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the
dead.” (2:12)
Like the Galatian and Roman disciples, the union of the Colossians with
Christ involved their union with his death and resurrection in baptism
by faith. In baptism—buried with him. In baptism—raised with him. And
what led them to be buried with him that they might be raised with him?
It was their faith in God who raised Jesus Christ (2:12). The Colossians experienced unity with Christ “in baptism by faith”.
BAPTISM AND FORGIVENESS
5.
There is only one who saves—God through Jesus Christ. There is no
saving power in any human response (whether that is faith, baptism or
honourable deeds). The apostles knew this! The Christ knew this! So when
we read of faith, repentance or baptism linked with forgiveness or
salvation we know there is nothing “meritorious” in them. There is no
“legal heresy” taught by the Scriptures (“so much salvation for so much
goodness”) but there is no conflict between salvation by pure grace and
saying “yes” to that gift on God’s terms. Time and time again the NT
explicitly links baptism with forgiveness. (If we find it linked with
“union with Christ” we know it must be linked to forgiveness since if we
reject union with him we suffer complete loss.)
6.
People who wanted to have their sins forgiven were told “repent and be
baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be
forgiven” (Acts 2:37-39). They didn’t debate it, they gladly obeyed what they were told (2:41).
When the persecutor Saul (Paul, the apostle) wanted to have his sins
washed away in Christ, he was told: “And now what are you waiting for?
Get up, be baptized and wash away your sins calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). He didn't argue either, he just got up and was baptized (Acts 9:18). And we need to remember that this is the apostle who laid such a stress on salvation by pure grace as a free gift (Ephesians 2:6,8-9). Later, he re-baptized about twelve men because their first baptism was invalid (Acts 19:1-5).
The Ephesian church to which Paul wrote so plainly about salvation by
grace apart from “works” began with men who were baptized a second time
by an apostle who had been baptized to have his sins washed away by the
gracious Lord Jesus Christ. To deny that the New Testament links the
wholly gracious forgiveness of sins with the ordinance of baptism is to
deny what the New Testament expressly says again and again.
7.
Christ came to heal; to bring peace and harmony between God and people
and between people and people. We who believed and were baptized were
brought into one Body with all that that means. We’ve made its history
ours, its friends and enemies ours, its Lord ours. And we’ve come from
all nations and every social level. Galatians 3:26-28
sees Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, women and men all baptized by
faith into union with Jesus Christ who came to destroy all elitism
without killing the joys of our various cultures. Baptism is an act of judgment, done in the name of the Prince of Peace, against all that divides!
8. The chaotic city of Ephesus (Acts 19:13-41)
saw a little church begin when some humble and brave believers said
“yes” to the “one faith” about the “one Lord” and were baptized with
'one baptism' into “one Body” guided to “one hope” by “one Spirit” under
“one God and Father” (see Ephesians 4:3-5 and Acts 19:1-5).
That church learned of the reconciling power of Jesus Christ which
brought Jews and Gentiles together as one through and in his body (Ephesians 2:11-22).
9.
Baptism, with faith in Christ as its motivating principle, is a
confession and a commitment which all humans are privileged to make—
“Whatever our backgrounds or condition, we need and trust ourselves to
the One who died and rose again to save us.” It brings people of all
nations together under God who was in Christ reconciling the world unto
himself (Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 5:19).
10.
Critics of Paul's gospel were saying, “If God gets more glory by
forgiving more sin we ought to sin more and get him more glory” (Rom 5:20-6:1).
In dealing with that heresy Paul reminds them of what baptism means. He
said Christians can’t possibly live in sin because they had been:
· Baptized into Christ (6:3) who came to destroy sin and deliver them from it;
· Baptized into his death (6:3) which was a death aimed at destroying sin and
severing Christ's connection with it;
severing Christ's connection with it;
· Buried with Christ through baptism into death so that like Christ they would
live a new life (6:4 with 6:5-8,10,11,14);
live a new life (6:4 with 6:5-8,10,11,14);