Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church): Sacraments / Ordinances (Baptism)
Baptism is one of the central practices of the Christian church. Alongside the Lord’s Supper, it is recognized by most Protestant traditions as one of the two primary ordinances, or sacraments, commanded by Jesus. Baptism serves as both a visible sign and a symbolic act: it marks the believer’s entrance into the community of faith and declares the reality of God’s saving work in Christ.
The doctrine of baptism has generated considerable discussion throughout church history. Some emphasize its sacramental character, pointing to baptism as a means of grace. Others highlight its nature as an ordinance, stressing that baptism is primarily symbolic and does not convey grace in itself. Yet all orthodox traditions affirm that baptism is an act of obedience to Christ and an essential part of the church’s life.
1. Baptism as a Sacrament and an Ordinance
The language of sacrament and ordinance reflects different theological emphases. In some traditions, baptism is called a sacrament because it is an outward sign of an inward grace. It is not grace itself, but a sign that points to the reality of God’s saving work. In other contexts, baptism is referred to as an ordinance, stressing that it is a symbolic act commanded by Christ, not a ritual that conveys grace automatically.
The biblical basis for baptism includes both its physical element (water) and its spiritual meaning. Baptism represents cleansing from sin, new life in Christ, and union with His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3–4). It is also a public act of identification with the people of God. Whether one prefers the term sacrament or ordinance, the essential truth remains: baptism is instituted by Christ, commanded for all believers, and practiced universally across the church.
2. The Biblical Foundations of Baptism
Baptism is rooted in the ministry of Jesus and the teaching of the apostles. Jesus Himself was baptized by John in the Jordan River, not because He needed cleansing from sin but to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matt. 3:15). In His Great Commission, He commanded His disciples to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
In Acts, baptism follows the preaching of the gospel. Those who believed were baptized as an outward sign of their faith and repentance (Acts 2:38, 41). Baptism was not optional but an integral part of conversion, marking entry into the covenant community. Paul connects baptism with being clothed in Christ (Gal. 3:27) and with participation in His death and resurrection (Col. 2:12).
The consistent biblical witness is that baptism is commanded by Christ, practiced by the early church, and deeply symbolic of the gospel. It is both a sign of God’s grace and a declaration of the believer’s response in faith.
3. The Symbolism of Baptism
Baptism carries rich symbolic meaning. It portrays death to sin and resurrection to new life. Paul explains in Romans 6:4 that “we were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” This imagery highlights that baptism is more than a ritual; it is a testimony to the believer’s participation in Christ’s saving work.
Baptism also signifies cleansing from sin. Just as water washes the body, so the Spirit cleanses the heart. Peter declares that baptism is “not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). This points to the reality that baptism itself does not save; rather, it points to Christ, whose death and resurrection secure salvation.
Finally, baptism represents incorporation into the church. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul states that “in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Baptism is not merely individual; it is communal. It identifies believers with the people of God, forming them into one body under Christ the head.
4. Historical Views of Baptism
Church history demonstrates the central place of baptism, though practices and interpretations have varied. The early church universally practiced baptism, often immediately following conversion. By the fourth century, debates emerged over infant baptism, which many accepted as a sign of covenant inclusion, while others emphasized believer’s baptism as the proper expression of personal faith.
The Roman Catholic Church eventually identified baptism as one of seven sacraments, formally decreed at the Council of Florence in 1439. By contrast, the Protestant Reformers, while differing on details, agreed that Scripture clearly teaches only two ordinances—baptism and the Lord’s Supper. For them, baptism was essential but not salvific; it was a sign of God’s grace and a mark of obedience.
Today, Christians continue to differ over baptismal mode (immersion, pouring, sprinkling) and subjects (infants or believers only). Yet all orthodox traditions affirm baptism as commanded by Christ and essential for church life.
5. Baptism and the Gospel of the Kingdom
Baptism is inseparably linked to the gospel. It symbolizes union with Christ in His death and resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, and incorporation into the church. Baptism is not merely a ritual of the past; it points forward to the hope of God’s kingdom. Just as baptism declares new life now, it also anticipates the resurrection of the body and the new creation when Christ returns.
In this way, baptism is eschatological. It proclaims that believers already share in the life of the age to come, even while they live in the present world. Baptism calls Christians to live as those who belong to Christ, setting their hope not in earthly powers but in the kingdom that cannot be shaken.
The gospel-shaped vision of baptism reminds the church that this ordinance is more than a personal act; it is a proclamation of the good news that Christ saves sinners, forms a people for Himself, and will bring them into His everlasting kingdom.
Conclusion
Ecclesiology cannot be separated from baptism. As one of the two central ordinances or sacraments, baptism embodies the gospel and unites the church across time and place. While debates about form and theology continue, baptism’s meaning remains consistent: it is an outward sign of God’s grace, a declaration of faith, and a symbol of the believer’s union with Christ.
For the church, baptism is both a gift and a calling. It is a reminder of God’s saving work, an entry into the community of faith, and a proclamation of hope. In baptism, the church confesses that salvation belongs to Christ alone and that His kingdom is already breaking into the world.
Bible Verses on Baptism
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:38 – “And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Acts 2:41 – “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Romans 6:4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Colossians 2:12 – “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 – “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:21 – “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
John 3:5 – “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”
