Baptism relates to regeneration symbolically, not causally.
The Bible so closely links regeneration to its symbol, baptism, that people often confuse their relationship. In the first century of the church, baptism took place moments after coming to faith in Jesus (Acts 2; 8; 10; 16; 18) and was when new believers actually repented and called on the name of the Lord. Peter says that they made an “appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”—at baptism (1 Peter 3:21). Nowadays, baptism often takes place weeks, months or years after a person repents and believes the gospel. Many churches have lost the urgency and original use of baptism as the time for repenting and turning to Christ for salvation. Thankfully, some have returned to a biblical pattern of spontaneous baptism, forsaking the card-signing and hand-raising of late, and teaching people to publicly repent and be baptized when they come to faith in Christ.
Baptism for the remission of sins?
A few verses of the Bible seem to say that forgiveness of sins depends on water baptism. How must we understand Peter’s command in Acts 2:38, “…repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”? As we have already seen in the first installment of this series, Jesus forgives our sins when we turn to God in faith, apart from works—this is the clear teaching of Scripture. So then, the phrase, “for the remission of sins,” cannot mean “in order to obtain remission of sins,” but “because your sins have been remitted.” For example, you may take an aspirin for a headache. You do not take an aspirin because you want to obtain a headache, but because you already have one. Likewise, you do not get baptized in order to receive forgiveness of sins, but because you already received forgiveness of sins when you turned to Jesus in faith. John the baptist also preached a baptism “for the remission of sins” but we do not hold that his baptism actually procured forgiveness of sins for his followers. Instead, we understand that anyone who turns to God receives forgiveness. Remission of sins through faith in Jesus leads us to submit to water baptism.
A few verses of the Bible seem to say that forgiveness of sins depends on water baptism. How must we understand Peter’s command in Acts 2:38, “…repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”? As we have already seen in the first installment of this series, Jesus forgives our sins when we turn to God in faith, apart from works—this is the clear teaching of Scripture. So then, the phrase, “for the remission of sins,” cannot mean “in order to obtain remission of sins,” but “because your sins have been remitted.” For example, you may take an aspirin for a headache. You do not take an aspirin because you want to obtain a headache, but because you already have one. Likewise, you do not get baptized in order to receive forgiveness of sins, but because you already received forgiveness of sins when you turned to Jesus in faith. John the baptist also preached a baptism “for the remission of sins” but we do not hold that his baptism actually procured forgiveness of sins for his followers. Instead, we understand that anyone who turns to God receives forgiveness. Remission of sins through faith in Jesus leads us to submit to water baptism.
Washing away your sins by baptism or by calling on His name?
Another verse that strongly connects baptism with forgiveness of sins says, “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” The construction of this verse unequivocally relates baptism with conversion. Baptism shows off our conversion, but it does not effect our conversion. The water of baptism has no more power to cleanse the soul of sin than the scalpel of circumcision has to make a man’s heart new. The power to regenerate and cleanse the sin-stained soul belongs to God’s Spirit (John 1:12-13). We must conclude that, “Wash away your sins,” relates symbolically to “be baptized” and finds its actual cause in the last phrase in the verse, “calling on His name.” (Romans 10:13)
Tell me about your interactions with others on baptism. Do these suggestions for understanding baptism's relationship to forgiveness help you?
Tell me about your interactions with others on baptism. Do these suggestions for understanding baptism's relationship to forgiveness help you?
