In the previous essay it was stated that baptism signaled entrance into a covenant and that the covenant entailed mutual promises and commitments. In this essay we discuss the covenant promises God makes in baptism. God’s grace is first, and in light of God’s mercy, we are called to respond. Therefore, we begin with God’s promises, and in the next essay we will discuss the believer’s promises.
In considering these promises, it is understood that all the promises given in baptism are worked out in time by the Holy Spirit as the baptized follow Christ on a daily basis.
In Baptism, God Promises the Life of his Son, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the Knowledge of God
The heading of this section follows from what was said before in the three essays, Baptism and the Lord Jesus, Baptism and God the Father, and Baptism and the Holy Spirit. In baptism, God gives himself, Father, Son, and Spirit, the one God. Further, to enable believers to know the living God, God makes additional promises in baptism. In what follows we shall consider four such blessings: the forgiveness of sins, becoming children of God, the conquest of evil powers, and the blessing of becoming a member of the church. When we consider the life of Christ, we can see that the first two were given in Christ’s baptism. The last two are directly connected with his baptism since immediately after his baptism Christ was led into the desert to be tempted, and once the devil had been conquered, he then began to form the people of God by calling the twelve disciples. These formed the new Israel of God.
In Baptism, God Promises the Forgiveness of Our Sins
Christian baptism includes John’s baptism, and both Christian and John’s baptism proclaimed the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Romans 6:1-12, Colossians 2:11-15. The forgiveness of sins is one of the covenant promises God makes in baptism.
When considering sin and forgiveness, it is important to remember that God is holy, righteous, just, and merciful, and he expects no less of us. This can be seen throughout Scripture, but Matthew 5-7 is particularly instructive. God expects his children to be the light of the world, to keep all the commandments, to avoid unjust anger, to refrain from lust and fornication, to never get divorced except for adultery, to give to those who ask, to return evil for good, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, to give to the needy, to pray in faith, and to trust God in all things. No one lives like this, and because of this, we cannot even approach the living, holy God. He is, as the writer of Hebrews proclaims, a “consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), and therefore, apart from forgiveness and purification, we cannot claim him as our Father, enter his presence, and receive his blessing. He has, however, provided a way in Christ Jesus, the one whose sacrifice washes away our sins through forgiveness as set forth in baptism.
Perhaps the best known text relating baptism to the forgiveness of sins is 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.’” This forgiveness entails at least three moments. First, the forgiveness was effected by Christ upon the cross. His sacrifice atoned for our sins, and further, his words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), proclaim that forgiveness to all who would receive it. Second, this saving forgiveness is promised in baptism as a present fact that accompanies the whole of the Christian life. Third, this objective gift, the gift of forgiveness, rests upon each Christian and the community as a redemptive fact, allowing them to grow ever deeper into the love of God as they put to death the deeds of the flesh by continued repentance and God’s forgiveness. This was discussed, in part, in the section on Romans 6 in the essay, Baptism and the Lord Jesus.
When Peter proclaimed the forgiveness of sin given in baptism, he was not proclaiming a one-time forgiveness although the foundation of this forgiveness was the once and for all sacrifice of Christ. He knew that Jesus had taught to forgive, not just seven times, but over and over again (Matthew 18:21-22), and that this forgiveness had its foundation in the ongoing forgiveness of God. He knew that he was forgiven after he had denied Christ three times. In Acts 2:38, he proclaimed the forgiveness of baptism as an ongoing blessing that rests upon the Christian life. This forgiveness enables believers to grow in grace, putting to death our sinful ways and adopting new ways of living. As set forth in baptism, the Christian life is a steady dying to sin and rising to walk in holiness of life. It is made possible by the forgiveness of sin, and baptism proclaims that ongoing forgiveness as Christ continually renews us with his resurrected life. More will be said on this vital subject in other contexts, but for now, a primary blessing of baptism is that God promises to always forgive the penitent. Sometimes terrible sins are committed, but God forgives, and we can hold on to this, not because we are always good, but because the promises of God given in baptism never fail. Therefore, if the devil tempts you to believe you are not forgiven, ask yourself this question: "Am I baptized, and did God promise to forgive me?" Yes, he promised to forgive you. Hold on to that. Let us praise the living God!
Just as the washing and cleansing by the blood allowed the priests to enter into the Holy Place to meet a holy, righteous God, to hear his words and see his face, baptism, by forgiveness, washes away sin and gives believers access to the throne of God. There they receive all the blessings, gifts, and promises of God, enabling them to carry out the ministry of Christ upon earth. In other words, forgiveness has tangible, experiential effects. They may not always be seen at the moment of repentance and forgiveness, but the consequences will become evident over time. The primary consequence is that believers are enabled to follow Christ and live his life.
By Baptism, Believers are Adopted as Children of God
The essay, Baptism and God the Father, described how Jesus was proclaimed the Son of God at his baptism and how Christians are adopted by God the Father at their baptism. It went on to describe how God the Father is the almighty God of love. John 3:16, perhaps the most quoted passage of Scripture, proclaims this great goodness, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
It is absolutely vital that we see ourselves as children of the Father, for unless we know the love of the transcendent almighty Father, we will always be subject to fear. With a God whose love is all-powerful and whose power is all-loving, there is ultimate safety and joy. Until then, we are orphans and there are many people who know this. These people feel lost and abandoned in the world, thinking they do not belong anywhere, that they do not matter, that their future will be as dismal as their past, and that they have nothing to offer. When the Kingdom of God comes, however, all their sorrows are turned to joy. The words of Jesus hold true,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3-10).
Children of the living God: inheritors of heaven, comforted in sorrow, satisfied with God's justice manifested on the cross, empowered to see God, entering into the Kingdom, all these are given to the sons and daughters of God and promised in baptism. By baptism we have a heavenly Father who delights in us, cares for us, and directs our steps even when we cannot see his guiding care. As the Psalmist says, “Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen” (Psalm 77:19). When the gospel is proclaimed, when the sacraments are administered, when the ministry of the church is alive and vibrant, God makes blessed children out of orphans and makes them members of his family. Nothing could be better!
In my experience, enabling orphans to become sons and daughters of God requires more that teaching, preaching, and receiving the sacraments, although these are absolutely necessary. For those who are broken, who feel as if they belong nowhere, it often takes deep ministry with listening and praying with the person to break the bonds of loneliness that constrict the human heart. Then they will come to know that God delights in them and that they are vital members of the people of God. More will be said on this in other lessons yet to be written, but something of what I have in mind can be found in the essay, A New Heart and Soul.
By Baptism, Believers are Given Authority over the Evil Powers
As we shall see in the next essay, the early baptismal liturgies, as well as the Anglican liturgies, include the renunciation of Satan.
According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus, at his baptism, was anointed by the Spirit, designated Son of God, and then he was immediately led into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Through his temptation he conquered the devil, and this victory was continued by his delivering the oppressed of their evil spirits. John’s gospel does not mention Christ’s many exorcisms, but in the fourth gospel, the crucifixion and resurrection are recognized as the decisive defeat of the reign of Satan. This is discussed in the essay, Eucharist as Deliverance from Evil. The authority to defeat Satan, however, began with his baptism and was consummated by cross and resurrection. The connection between baptism and victory over evil powers can also be seen in Colossians 2:11-15 and 1 Peter 3:20-22, which state that Jesus has authority over all powers, and this would include the devil and evil spirits. Therefore, baptism into Christ entails receiving his authority over the evil powers of whatever kind. As the gospels make clear, Christ gave authority to his disciples to heal the sick and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1, Mark 6:7, and Luke 9:1). From the beginning the church has exercised a ministry of exorcism and connected this authority with baptism. For example, in the baptismal liturgy of the Anglican 1662 Prayer Book, the person to be baptized is asked this question, "DOST thou renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow, nor be led by them?" The person to be baptized responds, “I renounce them all.” This is followed by an affirmation of the Apostles’ Creed by the one to be baptized. The priest then prays over those who are to be baptized, asking that the new man be raised up in them, that carnal desires be put death, that heavenly virtues prevail, and that “they may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph, against the devil, the world, and the flesh.”
Many sectors of the church, especially those of a Protestant background, neglect this baptismal promise. This is due, in part, to the Enlightenment, which denied any reality except that immediately available to the senses. As a result, many people do not believe evil spirits exist, or if they do exist, that they need to be cast out. They fail to recognize that evil spirits afflict all persons, and further, that they can hinder growth in Christ unless they are conquered. God in his mercy enables Christians to overcome their evil inclinations without formal deliverance, but his normal means of operation is to work through the ministry of the church. In reference to the evil powers, that ministry is deliverance. As we shall see in a subsequent section, this ministry played an important role in the baptismal formation of the early church.
By Baptism, Believers Become Members of the Church
When a person is baptized, God promises them that they will be made members of his community, the body of Christ. As believers follow the Lord Jesus, he forms them into a community of love, the children of God on earth. This can be seen in Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17, Luke 5:10, John 1:35-39, Acts 2:41-42, 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Galatians 3:27-29, Ephesians 2:10-22, Ephesians 4:5, and many other passages.
This affirmation follows from what we have said before, namely that baptism is a response to the gospel which initiates believers into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As that relationship unfolds, Christ forms those who follow him into a new society dedicated to God and to each other.
One of Christ’s first steps after his baptism and temptations was to call disciples. He addressed Simon and Andrew with these words, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:117-18). As Jesus formed a new society of followers he taught them by word and deed. He taught them how to treat each other, how to pray, how to minister, how to lead, and how to follow. He authorized the twelve disciples to be his witnesses and they became the leaders of the church after his resurrection and ascension. His call, his teaching, and his actions empowered the disciples to form a living body of believers. There is, as has always been taught in the church, no relationship to Jesus Christ without a relationship to his people. All of this is begun in baptism, and therefore, baptism is a commitment to the church, and a commitment by the church to the person being baptized. In other words, the covenant of baptism is between God, the person being baptized, and the body of Christ.
According to Acts 2:47, after the people had heard Peter’s sermon, repented, and had been baptized, “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” This verse states that God “added to their number,” that is, God saves and part of his salvation is to empower his people to become active members of his church. This is a blessing in at least two ways. First, when a person initially enters the church they are always an immature child of God. They are subject to weaknesses, sins, and lack of spiritual knowledge. The church fulfills her baptismal commitment by developing ministries that enable new believers to grow in the faith. One of the weaknesses of the church is that there are often so few ministries that enable Christian growth, and further, even where they exist, the people do not take advantage of them. Or, there are those who are constantly seeking ministry with the hope of becoming successful and happy. The goal of the Christian life, and the reason it is vital that all persons seek ministry, is not happiness in and of itself, but learning to love God and others which issues in joy for all. As believers learn to love, the Kingdom is established, in the church, in the family, and in the world beyond the church. Here is Paul,
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph 4:11-16).
It is unrealistic to expect a church to be a perfect place for spiritual growth and resultant ministry. Many churches are quite weak, and some can even be destructive. Even so, baptism is both a commitment to follow Christ and a commitment to his people. Sometimes one is called to remain faithful to a church where the people do not really wish to follow Christ, or where the leadership does little to build up the Kingdom. Under these conditions, one learns to love, forgiving over and over again. This requires prayer, persistence, and discernment. Under certain circumstances, especially when the leadership denies the Lordship of Jesus, a believer may be called to abandon a church and join another body of believers. This can be done only after much prayer and counsel, and never for frivolous reasons. More will have to be said on this in another context, but for now, it must be said that baptism is a commitment to a specific group of people, a dedication to building up the Kingdom of God with those people in their concrete circumstances. This is very important, and for that reason, one of the promises God makes with us in baptism is that he will empower the baptized to become living members of a local body of Christ, and further, empower the local church to enable the baptized to grow up into the full stature of Christ.
The great promises of knowing the triune God, the forgiveness of sins, adoption into the family, conquest of the evil powers, and the grace to become a member of the body of Christ are some of the primary promises of God associated with the covenant of baptism. There are, of course, many other promises given in baptism, all rooted in the life of Christ. Here is a summary of some of those promises. The list was obtained by looking up the passages which speak of baptism in the New Testament. Keeping in mind that believers begin to experience the new life of Christ in this life, and fully in the life to come, these blessings can only be described as wonderful.
1. A child of God by adoption, chosen and loved by God, and given the gift of the Spirit. Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21-22.
2. A new birth from above, John 3:5. In John’s gospel, this enables a person to know God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ, to receive eternal life, and to live in a community of love.
3. Enabled to turn to God, entering into Christ, having one’s sins forgiven, receiving the Holy Spirit, and being empowered to live the new life of Christ in community. Acts 2:38-42.
4. Blessed by the blessings of Isaiah 53 as was the Ethiopian eunuch. Acts 8:29-40.
5. Given the gift of the Holy Spirit, including the gift of speaking in tongues. Acts 10:44-48.
6. Salvation. Mark 16:15-16 and Acts 16:31-34.
7. The gift of the Spirit, enabling not only tongues, but prophetic utterances. Acts 19:1-8.
8. Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:1-14.
9. Baptized into Jesus Christ and thereby enabled to live in harmony with other Christians, overcoming divisions and conflicts in the Christian community. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.
10. Being washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 6:11.
11. Forming one body, the body of Christ, given to drink of one Spirit who gives many gifts for ministry. I Corinthians 12:12-31.
12. Children of God, in union with Christ, and clothed in Christ, that is, knowing, Christ, justified and heirs of the promises.
Galatians 3:26-7.
13. Receiving the life of Christ, having all sins forgiven, the legal debt of sin cancelled, and given authority over evil spiritual powers. Colossians 2:11-15.
14. Salvation by being washed for rebirth and the Spirit, justified and heirs of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7.
15. Saved from the destructive forces of this world, given a clear conscience, saved by the resurrection of Jesus and given a place with Christ at the right hand of God where he rules over all spiritual powers. 1 Peter 3:20-22.
None of these promises are forced upon us. To receive them requires openness to God and a willingness to follow the Lord Jesus in faith.
The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
