This series of Today’s Nugget comes from team member Dr. Milton Jones, senior pastor to the Heritage Baptist Church, Manhattan, IL.
Acts 2:37-41 – “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”
Scriptural Meaning
As previously noted, baptism does not and cannot save. Nonetheless, it has definite purposes.
First Act of Obedience Matt. 28:19 – ” Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
If we had no other reason other than the fact that God command baptism, that would be enough. Those who will not obey in this most basic step will not obey with full heart in other biblical commands.
Statement of Doctrine Baptism is a graphic demonstration of essential doctrine. It is an outward display of the inward transaction of faith. It is clearly defined as a picture or figure. 1 Peter 3:21 – “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” Notice carefully that Peter makes a distinction between the figure which cannot change the inside or put away “the filth of the flesh,” and the doctrine of “the resurrection of Jesus Christ” of which baptism is a figure. We know from Romans that the resurrection was essential to our salvation. Rom. 4:25 – “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Further baptism with the biblical formula is clarion statement of the doctrine of the Trinity - “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”
Identification with Christ There is three points of the redemptive work of Christ, His death, burial and resurrection. When a new believer follows the Lord in baptism he is identifying with these three elements. Col. 2:10-12 “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”
Public Testimony Baptism is a visible testimony of the work that God has done in the heart. It is a testimony of the death of the old man, burial with Christ and resurrection to walk in a new life. Rom. 6:3-6 – Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Gal. 3:25-27 – “But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”