The following is the results of your search for Baptism, Christian.
Baptism, Christian: An ordinance immediately instituted by Christ
(Matthew 28:19,20) and
designed to be observed in the church, like that of the Supper, "till
he come." The words "baptize" and "baptism" are simply Greek words
transferred into English. This was necessarily done by the translators
of the Scriptures, for no literal translation could properly express
all that is implied in them.
1.This term, which designates a NT rite, is confined to the vocabulary
of the NT. It does not occur in the LXX, neither is the verb with
which it is connected ever used of an initiatory ceremony. This verb
is a derivative from one which means to dip
(John 13:26; Revelation 19:13),
but itself has a wider meaning .. to wash whether the whole or part
of the body by immersion or pouring of water
(Mark 7:4; Luke 11:38) The
substantive is used:
a. of Jewish ceremonial washings
(Mark 7:4; He 9:10)
b. in a metaphorical sense
(Mark 10:38; Luke 12:50) cf. plunged in
calamaty
c. most commonly in the technical sense of a religious ceremony of
initiation.
2. The earliest use of the word baptism to describe a religious and not
merely ceremonial observance is in connection to the baptism of John
and the title which is given him is probably an indication of the
novelty of his procedure
(Matthew 3:1; Mark 8:28). He preached the
baptism for the repentance of sins
(Mark 1:4) i.e. the result of
his preaching was to induce men to seek baptism as an outward sign
and a pledge to inward repentance on their part, and of their
forgiveness on the part of God.
3. Jesus himself accepted baptism at the hands of John
(Mark 1:9)
(See Baptism of Christ) 4. Baptism was given as part of the great commission
(Matthew 28:19)
(Acts 2:37-38)
5. In the Epistles, Christian baptism is analysed into its various
elements.
a. In baptism the believer was to realize most vividly the total
breach with his old life involved in his new attitude to God
through Christ, a breach comparable only with that affected by
death
(Romans 6:2-7; Colossians 2:12). He was to realize that also that
the consequences of this fellowship with Christ were not only
death to sin, but a new life in righteousness as real as that
which followed the resurection
b. Baptism confered incorporation in the one body of Christ
(1 Corinthians 12:13) and was thus adapted to serve as a symbol of the
true unity of Christians
(Ephesians 4:5). The body with which the
believer is thus incorporated is conceived of sometimes as the
corporate community of Christians.
