Credo-Baptism Answers Baptism as our proclamation

[dsanch1120]

Growing up baptist, two phrases I often heard were “baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality” and “baptism is our way of proclaiming to the world that we’re following Christ.” Most of the credobaptists I’ve spoken to would agree with these statements, but most have been dispensational or new covenantal.
I’m curious to hear from people I know are reformed and covenantal, do you agree with these statements? If not, what do you believe instead?

 

[SeanPatrickCornell]

“baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality”

In an ideal case, yes, I agree with this. But not everyone who is baptized is actually inwardly cleansed (regenerated). False professors do get baptized.

"baptism is our way of proclaiming to the world that we’re following Christ.”

Again, ideally, yes. Baptism is "the" profession of faith for a Christian.

The 2nd London Baptist Confession speaks to the issue here:

https://www.grbc.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/The-1689-Baptist-Confession-of-Faith.pdf

Chapter 29: Of Baptism
1._____ Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a
sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins;
and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

2._____ Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ,
are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.

3._____The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

4._____Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.

 

[requested deletion member 13777]

I have no issue with either statement and hear them repeated amongst fellow Baptists of all stripes.

 

[Phil D.]

often heard were “baptism is an outward sign of an inward reality”

This is essentially what WCF 28.1 says when it speaks of baptism as "a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life."

and “baptism is our way of proclaiming to the world that we’re following Christ.”

WLC 165 effectively says as much, "...whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’s."

I've had these same questions asked of me in the sense that they are questionable "baptist" perceptions of baptism, but perhaps some have simply lost touch with what their own tradition historically confesses.

 

[dsanch1120]

I've had these same questions asked of me in the sense that they are questionable "baptist" perceptions of baptism, but perhaps some have simply lost touch with what their own tradition historically confesses.

Very helpful, thank you! I asked this question after interacting with some non-Reformed baptists over the question of who baptism was for. I think because many baptists leave it at that - baptism is just and merely an outward sign and only a proclamation of our following God it can be more associated with a baptist position, but this is good to remember when articulating my views of baptism. I agree it is this things, but I don’t believe that it is only these things.

 

[Phil D.]

I agree it is this things, but I don’t believe that it is only these things.

Nor necessarily do I, but how would you articulate these additional things?

 

[dsanch1120]

Nor necessarily do I, but how would you articulate these additional things?

I’d agree with the WCF XXVIII.1.
I would agree with the statements I posted above, but would emphasize that baptism is more about God has done and continues to do for us.

 

[Phil D.]

I’d agree with the WCF XXVIII.1.
I would agree with the statements I posted above, but would emphasize that baptism is more about God has done and continues to do for us.

There's not a lot of difference in the WCF and LBC descritptions concerning a focus on the spiritual benefits that are represented/signed to the recipient. The main difference would seem to revolve around the LBC's omission of baptism being a "seal." Personally, I don't have an issue with that designation, because I do believe that baptism is a sacrament, and as such inherently does have an actual spiritual dimension to it - much to the good when it is received and recalled in faith, as it both confirms and strengthens that faith. So I do not see baptism as a "mere" outward act. I've interacted with baptists that have more or less agreed or disagreed within this realm of understanding. Of course the other aspect of baptism being a "seal" is how it may or may not relate to, or directly replace the "seal" of physical circumcision - which direct equivalence I do not see taught in the New Testament. Rather, allowing for what similarities or parallels there are, each of those two ordinances/sacraments are treated as positive institutions in their own right, with each having its own designated application.