Baptism is a Personal Death, Burial, & Resurrection
Article #5 on Baptism
Water baptism symbolically portrays a personal experience of death, burial, and resurrection. Immersion into the water is metaphorically depicting death and burial, while emersion out of the water is metaphorically depicting resurrection. This is a physical demonstration of a spiritual reality at work in the salvation of sinners by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the real thing is performed spiritually it is called a spiritual baptism or the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
baptizedwaterbaptizedthe Holy Ghost
Baptism is important. It was a major component of apostolic evangelism in the Book of Acts. It all started when the apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4-5). This marvelous event is then showcased repeatedly in the biblical history of Acts.
Peter and Paul were Experts in Baptism
First, we see the apostle Peter’s baptism on the Day of Pentecost, along with many others (Acts 2:1-41). What follows is the baptism of the Samaritans and an Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8). Secondarily, we see Paul’s baptism, the apostle of the Gentiles (Acts 9:18, 22:16; Rom. 11:13). And what follows is the baptism of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, along everyone in his house (Acts 10:47-48, 11:16). The same things then kept happening in Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus (Acts 16:15, 33, 18:8, 19:3-5). This is the story of early biblical church history. Peter and Paul were the primary evangelists presented in the Book of Acts. Therefore, we can be sure that they were experts in baptism.
Peter Referred to the Baptism of Noah in the Flood
The apostle Peter was obviously influenced by the symbolic existence of baptism in the Old Testament. Peter referred to the baptism of Noah’s flood in 1 Peter 3:18-22.
eight souls weresaved by waterThe like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us
Peter very boldly declared that these believers of old were “saved by water” in Noah’s baptism (1 Pet. 3:20). This sheds light on the doctrine of baptism in the New Testament because the flood is a figure of symbolism, as Peter said, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us” (1 Pet. 3:21). The saving work of Noah’s baptism can be symbolically analyzed in two stages: Death and Resurrection.
(1)deathburialbaptismal water
(2) savedbaptismal waterkilledburiedraised upwater
This is how the Old World was washed and renewed into a New World (2 Pet. 2:5). The believers of the Ark went into the baptismal water – passed through it – and came out on the other side of the flood to joyfully inherit the New World.
Paul Referred to the Baptism of Moses in the Red Sea
Paul was similarly impacted by the symbolic existence of baptism in the Old Testament. Paul referred to the baptism of the Red Sea by calling it, Moses’ baptism, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2.
and all passed through theseabaptized unto Mosesthe sea
Paul is pointing out that the Jews “passed through the sea” and thus were “baptized unto Moses” (1 Cor. 10:10-2) This sheds light on the doctrine of baptism in the New Testament because the Red Sea was performing the same saving work as Noah’s flood, thus creating another figure of symbolism. I can hear the prophet Moses saying, “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Ex. 14:13), while standing on the shoreline of the Red Sea. The saving work of Moses’ baptism can be symbolically analyzed in two stages: Death and Resurrection.
(1)deathburialbaptismal water
(2)savedbaptismal waterkilledburiedpassed through
This is how God made all things new for the Jews. Their pilgrimage eventually led them to joyfully inherit the Promised Land as a gift of divine grace.
Baptism is a Personal Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Water baptism teaches us about spiritual baptism. Peter and Paul’s biblical and historical understanding of spiritual baptism is further reinforced in the Epistles of the New Testament. Spiritual baptism is an internal purification experienced by all believers only one time in their life (Eph. 4:5). It is an “operation of God” (Col. 2:12-13). It is the only way for Jews and Gentiles to be joined to Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:27), and it is the only way for them to be joined to the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). Have you been baptized into Jesus Christ? Examine yourself (1 Cor. 13:5). This is personal. The saving work of the Holy Ghost during spiritual baptism is a personal death, burial, and resurrection. This is made abundantly clear in Romans 6:1-7.
baptizedbaptizeddeathburiedbaptismdeathraiseddeadlifedeathresurrectioncrucifieddeadfreed
The Gospel is a historical fact. In it we behold the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in 33 AD. Nevertheless, the Gospel transcends history. The saving work of Jesus Christ on the Cross must become personal to you! It is personal to every true believer as they are spiritually “baptized” in the manner described in Romans 6:1-7. Now, let us analyze the saving work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in every stage: Crucifixion, Death, Burial, & Resurrection.
(1)the Crosscrucified with Christthe world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world
(2)the Deathbaptized into His deathplanted together in the likeness of His deathslaveryfreedomdead with ChristFor he that is dead is freed from sin
(3)the Burialburied with Him by baptism into deathspiritual baptism
(4)the Resurrectionplanted together…in the likeness of His resurrectionlive with Himnewness of lifefreed from sin
This fourfold work of spiritual baptism is symbolically and figuratively portrayed through water baptism. Therefore, water baptism in the O.T. and N.T. serves an exceptional metaphor that is being used by God to teach the world about salvation. Proclaim it upon the rooftops! The saving work of spiritual baptism is a personal crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection.
