Baptism: Vertical and Horizontal tagged: , , , , ,

Baptism: Vertical and Horizontal

Posted by in Baptist Life, Bible & Theology, Church & Missions

Just this past Friday morning I stood at the place Caesarea Philippi where some 2000 years ago, in the midst of the pagan worship of His day, Jesus was instructing his disciples concerning His headship of the church. As I listened to the rushing headwaters of the Jordan river, Christ’s words reminded me of the appreciation I have for those Baptist’s that have made a decisive effort to come along side Holy Scripture to accurately and boldly teach the meaning and purpose of biblical baptism.

Matthew 16:13-18 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” (15) He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” (16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (17) And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

For the most part Baptist’s have preserved the essential meaning of baptism by correctly maintaining its meaning in relationship to the “vertical”. A clear vertical doctrine of baptism is much needed in theology today. This vertical relationship is maintained through the one confession whereby the Father has revealed Jesus as Lord to each of His adopted children. Yet there are teachers in the church intent on diluting or compounding (a process of liberal theology) the doctrine of baptism by constructing a tradition exclusive to their administration of a local body in the “horizontal”,… therefore, out of ignorance, some have adapted and redefined biblical baptism as a right to participate, or as a means of privilege where the horizontal relationship becomes the primary definition for unity. Yet it is clear that no matter how well meaning or how good the intentions of men are to justify their horizontal reasoning, it is consequential that any slight deviated move to the horizontal diminishes the relationship of Christ and the Holy Spirit’s work in the church and ever so slightly moves the glory of baptism from God to man.

A horizontal deviation from the clear teaching of Christ on baptism and His church has remained a constant blight throughout the history of the church. This aberrant view continues to sweep across the landscape of poor theology. The blight began in the earliest of first century churches (seen in the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians), moving forward into the administration of the church as outlined by Constantine,….growing into the insistent institution of the Catholic Church to include infants as indelibly marked members through baptism, and even now not too far removed from Catholicism we observe several prominent denominations performing acts of infant baptism as elements to create membership in their churches through these virtual baptisms. Baptism as the means to causing membership remains a lively but aberrant view of the theology of baptism, spilling over into reformed and protestant denominations being described in their confessions, not only for infants but for adults as well.

By biblical definition, baptism has always rested in the knowledgeable act of obedience by a believer, governed by God’s grace as commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words,“what prevents me from being baptized?”….well actually nothing at all, since baptism is something received as a consequence of confession, not something used as a means to participation. Jesus has acknowledged this similar question by way of Luke in this way..

Luke 20:1-8 On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, (2) and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” (3) Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me: (4) “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (5) They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ (6) “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” (7) So they answered that they did not know where it came from. (8) And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

The act of baptism is administrated and maintained by the authority of Christ alone and is biblically more than a symbol, as some allege, because of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. The act of baptism is a grace afforded to all believers in their participation with Christ and is received without exception. If it were merely a symbol,  then Satan himself….if he could put on flesh, would be “able” to merely act out baptism. There are many people today that rub shoulders with the church on Sunday who maintain this false testimony of baptism for the sake of membership and privilege. Yet the act of baptism is much more than a mere symbol, because it is received based upon the confession that only believers are able to give in accordance with the gospel of God (Romans 1: 16-17, 6:3-11). Paul brought forward the same argument in his first letter to the Corinthians…..

1 Corinthians 12:3-4 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

The act of baptism is measured by the cleansing work of our Savior, where Christ has made living stones built on His true and only foundation as the head of the church. Therefore, all that confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are baptized immediately, anywhere and anytime in the world, because the administrator is Christ alone for His church. Luke gives us a clear definition to the receiving of baptism that is consistent throughout the entire New Testament, without exception.

Acts 8:12-13 But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike. (13) Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip.

Acts 8:36-38 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (37) [And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."] (38) And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Acts 18:7-8 Then he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God, whose house was next to the synagogue. (8) Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his household, and many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized.

There is little doubt that we observe horizontal aspects of baptism based upon the command of Christ. We certainly experience those aspects as we baptize and as the person responds obediently to be baptized as he or she identifies with Christ alone. This action of being baptized is played out and observed in the horizontal relationship, yet it is not maintained by horizontal definition. The clear and distinct meaning and essence of baptism is always and ever will be known in the vertical with respect to its identification with Christ through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. So, it is biblical truth that delivers clear meaning to the act of baptism. In fact, baptism is received by the individual that is captured by Christ, made slave and friend of the King, born again by the righteousness of Christ where Christ’s righteousness is applied by the person of Holy Spirit… this gives baptism its distinct definition and meaning. This is the reality and essence of baptism and is the doctrine of “being baptized” made distinct and clear by Christ and the Apostles.

In summary, anything “more” or anything “less” than baptism into Christ alone, into the likeness of His death and the certainty of being raised by His resurrection, can only regress from the truth of biblical baptism and can easily become an iconic demonstration of baptism that is destined to ultimately resolve into the likeness and obedience to man, or an organization, or a system,…rather than into Christ. But thanks be to God, biblical baptistic theology is clear….We are made fishers of men, Spiritually gifted to make disciples, led to repentance by the Holy Spirit, and baptizing all those that confess Christ, by way of and in recognition with the Holy Spirit, …confessing Christ as Lord and King!…and all the Glory of God!

Galatians 3:27-28 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

Blessings,
Chris