Doctrine Series
May 17, 2009
Why are we studying doctrine?
- Many raised in the church have a knowledge of the historic, orthodox doctrines of the Christian faith, but not the biblical knowledge of the origin of those doctrines nor how to defend them
- We are admonished to watch our doctrine closely
- It is around the Person and work of Jesus that the Church rallies and in which we find our unity. We should be unified in right doctrine about God
- Orthodoxy (right knowing) leads to orthopraxy (right living)
Our goals for each doctrine are to do the following things:
- Use the Scriptures to clearly show and explain the various historic doctrines of the Christian faith
- Discuss points upon which good Christians can and do disagree
- Discuss those beliefs that are outside the realm of Christian belief
- Discuss how each doctrine should impact our day-to-day lives (how does orthodoxy in this area lead to orthopraxy?)
When it comes to doctrinal issues, it can be helpful to look at them in this light:
Debatable Doctrine: Very important to have a right understanding of these things. Good Christians can and do disagree about matters in this arena.
Opinion: Not of great importance. Worth thinking about, but not dying for.
What is baptism/why are people baptized?
Let's look at the Scriptures:
Read Matthew 28:18-20: It's a command from Jesus that His disciples be baptized
Read Col. 2:11-14 & Romans 6:1-5: There is deep symbolic meaning in baptism
What's the meaning? There are several...1) we are washed clean of the stain of sins
2) More importantly, our death in Christ is symbolized here. We sinned, and in Christ, we died. The Father saw us in Christ as Jesus died and was buried. By faith, we are united to Christ's death, by baptism, we symbolize this.
Notice carefully the three events in that statement - in chronological order this time. First, there is the historical event of Christ's death at Calvary when God saw us in Christ, so that his death was our death. This was the accomplishment of our death with Christ. Second, we trusted in Christ and were thus united to him experientially, so our death with him became personal to us. This was the application to us through faith of what God accomplished for us at Calvary. Third, we were baptized in Christ's name. This was the signification of our death with Christ.
So there was the historical accomplishment of our death with Christ at Calvary, then the experiential application of our death with Christ by faith, then the symbolic signification of our death with Christ by baptism. Accomplishment in history, application by faith, signification through baptism.--John Piper
The act of baptism is an outward sign of an inward regeneration. In fact, the symbol of baptism is so closely linked to the act of regeneration that the language, at times, may seem to attribute the inner regeneration to the outward act. It is clear from the whole counsel of Scripture, however, that saving grace is apprehended by faith, not by outward workings.
Where else in the Bible do we see people going down into the water? Why were they doing that? Judgment...Noah, drowning of Egyptians, Jonah. Read I Peter 3:20-21. Baptism also symbolizes our passing through the waters of the judgment of God safely, because we died and were resurrected with Christ.
Read Acts 2:41, 8:35-38, 9:17-18, 10:44-48, 16:14-15, and 16:32-33: It's the Scriptural example
What do we learn about the act of baptism from these passages?
- Saving faith precedes the act (describe saving faith)
- Baptism took place as soon after saving faith as possible
- Baptism is a symbol of our salvation and reminds us of our salvation in Jesus' death and resurrection
Where do good Christians disagree?
- Mode of baptism (sprinkling vs. immersion)
- Paedo (infant) vs. credo (believer's) baptism
- Paedo sees a direct connection between the outward sign of the old covenant, given to infants prior to faith, and baptism which should, they argue, also be given to infants
- Baptism is the act that initiates unbelieving infants into the "covenant community" and makes them partakers of its blessings and promises
What is outside the realm of orthodox Christianity?
- The idea promulgated by the Roman Catholic (and other) church that baptism actually imparts saving grace to a person
What do you do with this?
- Turn to Christ and be united with Him in His death by faith
- If you're a believer and haven't been baptized, what are you waiting for? Get baptized!
- Look back at your baptism and spend some time thinking about the
amazing reality that is symbolized by your baptism. Be encouraged. Be reminded often of your newness of life and that you have passed through the waters of the judgment of God by virtue of Jesus Christ.
- Read Romans 6:6-14. Stop sinning and walk in newness of life. Live like a resurrected person. If time, talk more about how to stop sinning (Eph. 6)