Theology & History of Baptism

Have you thought deeply about baptism? 

You have likely spent some time thinking about baptism; it is a regular practice in our church. When someone surrenders their life to Jesus, baptism is the next step. 

But when did the practice of baptism originate? In Matthew 3, we read about Jesus' baptism. John the Baptist is preaching to the crowds, urging people to repent and be baptized. When Jesus instructs John to baptize him, John refuses. He knows who Jesus is; he knows Jesus does not need to repent from any sin. But Jesus says, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." 

This statement from Jesus is puzzling, though, because there is no mention of baptism in the Old Testament, at least in how John the Baptist was practicing it. So, before John the Baptist, was there any evidence of baptism? What did Jesus mean when He said that getting baptized would be obedience to God? 

And on top of that, Jesus completely transformed baptism. The baptism we practice today is the baptism of Jesus, not the baptism of John. In Acts 19, Paul finds a group of people who had only been baptized with "the baptism of John." They had no understanding of the Holy Spirit. So, Paul lays his hands on this group of Jesus followers and prays they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

So, Jesus' baptism is radically different from John's baptism. John himself differentiated between his and Jesus' baptism. He said that Jesus' baptism would be different; it would be a baptism of fire and the Holy Spirit. What do you think this means? What does it mean to be baptized with fire and the Holy Spirit?

Baptism is a vital, necessary practice for the church of Jesus Christ. In baptism, we encounter Jesus, His Spirit, and His fire. I'm excited to take a deep dive into baptism together this weekend. 

Take some time and read Matthew 3, Luke 3, Romans 6 and Ezekiel 36:22-27

Pastor Nathan