Review on the Sacrament of Baptism (Baptism as Sacramentum – A Dual Pledge)

Preliminary: Isa marahil sa pinaka divisive na isyu sa kristiyanidad ay ang usapin ng sacraments. Mula sa mga reformers hangang sa modern evangelicalism ito ay isang tema na pinagmumulan ng pagkakaiba-iba ng pananaw.

• division of Luther and Calvin over the meaning of the LT…

(both agreed on all reformation issues except on this one)

• division between RB & PB over Baptism
• division of Evangelicals on “virtual/online LT”

Pansinin: Ngunit ang lahat ng mga palagay na ito ay maaring makategoryang nahuhulog lamang sa alin sa dalawang ito:

Overemphasized:

• Hal. – Sacramentalism… may bisa ang sakramento sa akto lang nang paganap dito kahit walang pananampalataya na nakaangkla sa salita ng Diyos.
• Ang taong pari ang siyang nagbibigay bisa dito sa diwa ng kaniyang pagiging tagapamagitang nagaalay muli kay Kristo.
• Kadalasang nauuwi sa superstition (e.g. “hokus pokus”… from “hoc est corpus meum” or “this is my body”)

Minimized:

• Hal. – Memorialism (mere remembrance)… itinatanggi ang “real presence” ni Christ sa sacraments dahil pagalala lamang ito sa natapos na gawa ni Kristo. Dito ay walang literal na ugnayang nagaganap sa mananampalataya at kay Kristo.
• Anti-rituals… nakaugat sa sobrang pagdiin sa spirituality ng NT Church. Dagdag pa dito ay ang pagiwas daw sa dibisyong dulot nito sa mga iglesya.

Historical & Theological Definition of Sacraments

a. Historical Usage:

• • Judicial… the money deposited by contending parties which is later forfeited after trial was called a sacramentum
  • Military… the solemn oath of loyalty by soldiers to their kings

• Popularized: by Jerome in his Latin Vulgate. The greek word ‘musterion’ was translated into vulgate as “sacramentum”
• Logic: Inilapat ito ni Jerome sa salitang Griyego na: gk. “μυστήριον” (musterion… secret or mystery – Eph. 1:9, Col. 1:26, Rom. 16:25) Dahil ang mga simbulong ito na tinatag ni Kristo ay may kakayanang ipakilala ang misteryo, substansiya, o kahulugan ng gospel at nagbibigay partisipasyon dito (e.g. - Baptism at Lord’s Table). Dahil dito kinuha ni Jerome ang kalayaang isalin ang greek word na ‘musterion’ sa salitang latin na ‘sacramentum’.
• Point: Sacraments came to be understood as… ‘a thing set apart as sacred because it symbolizes-represents a sacred thing’ and affirms visibly a person’s participation (invisble) on the thing signified.’

b. Theological Formulation:

• [St. Augustine] - “a visible sign of a sacred thing (gospel) or a `visible form of an invisible grace.”
• [John Calvin] - “An outward sign by which the Lord seals on our consciences the promises of his good will toward us in order to sustain the weakness of our faith; and we in turn attest our piety toward him in the presence of the Lord and of his angels and before men”
• [Louis Berkhof] - “A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ, in which by sensible signs of the grace of God in Christ, and the benefits of the covenant of grace, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers, and these, in turn, give expression to their faith and allegiance to God.

Two Sacraments of Christ to the Church:

1. Water Baptism
2. Lord’s Table

• RCC persecuted Paedobaptists and Baptists (baptismregenerates)

• Presbyterians persecuted RCC and Baptists (baptism applied to infants due to faith of parents or belonging to the covenant due to the faith of parents)

[Donald Bridge & David Phypers; The Water that Divides] - “perhaps no other command of Christ has occasioned so much controversy, division, bitterness and mutual mistrust than baptism. Christians have attacked each other, nverbally and physically, with a ferocity strangely at variance with him who constantly exhorted his disciples to 'love one another (Jn. 15:12,17)"

• Ang mga division at persecution na ito ay dapat magdala sa bawat Kristiyano ng pighati sa puso at hindi na dapat ulitin at balikan.
• Gayun pa man, hindi dapat ituring na minor na usapin lamang ito kaya’t maaring iisang-tabi dahil mandato ito ni Kristo at parte ng angkop na pagsamba. (regulative principle or worship)
• Dapat pa din itong ituring bilang mahalagang usapin ng doktrina at repormasyon na sukatan ng katapatan ng isang iglesya.

Punto: May pangangaylangan sa bawat local na iglesya na lumalim sa kaalaman patungkol sa doktrina ng bawtismo tungo sa tapat na pagsunod at angkop na pagsamba kay Kristo bilang tanging lawgiver ng kaniyang simbahan.

Outline: “On Baptism”

I. Biblical Definition

II. Biblical Function

I. DEFINITION:

1st – A Sign/Term of Mode

Etymology:

• βάπτω (bapto - verb)… means to dip or to dip into a dye
• βαπτίζω (baptizo - verb)… and intensive form of bapto that pictures a drowning man or a sinking ship. It is also a culinary term used to making pickled food, hence to immerse or to submerge.
• βάπτισμα (baptisma - noun)… refers to the act and its result, hence, the institution of baptism itself. This term is only found in the NT.
• • used 4 times to refer to John’s ‘baptism of ‘repentance’
  • used 4 times to refer to baptism in the Epistles

Point: Ang pagamit ng salitang ‘baptism’ o ‘immersion’ sa loob lamang Bagong Tipan ay nagpapakita na orihinal ito sa mga NT believers.

• Sa kanila ito nagsimula at nagkaron ng kahulugan.
• Ang bawtismo ng Paglubog ni John the Baptist tungo sa Pagsisisi ay hindi iba sa bawtismong kristiyano.
• Bilang forerunner ni Kristo, pinakikita na ni John the Baptist sa kaniyang bawtismo ang pagiging Kordero ni Kristo na magaalis ng sala ng salibutan. (Rom. 6:3-4)

Basic Usage:

Sa hermeneutics ang ‘usage’ o gamit ng salita ang pinaka mahalaga upang madetermina ang tunay na kahulugan ng Salita sa konteksto nito, hindi etymology o origin nito. (i.e. Cross)

• Sa NT ang gamit o usage ng salitang baptizo ay tumutukoy lagi sa paglubog o immersion sa mga object nito. (see Gal. 3:27, Rom. 6:3)
• Hangang ngayon, maski ang mga modernong Greeks ay inuunawa ang salitang ito bilang immersion (eg. – Greek Orthodox Church baptizes infants by immersion three times)
• Kahit nga ang ‘figurative’ na gamit nito (i.e. to ‘overwhelm’ or to ‘saturate’) malinaw pa din ang kahulugan.

Punto: Nanatili na paglubog ang kahulugan ng bawtismo. Hindi nagbago ang gamit nito sa bibliya maski ang paraan kung paano ito nangyayari.

Passive Voice Usage:

[Fred Malone , Baptism of Disciples: 229] - "The NT use of baptizo as immersion by dipping is even clearer. Very simply, in the passive forms of baptize, the subject of the verb is baptized; that is, people are baptized (dipped or immersed) into water, not water (poured or sprinkled). There is no instance in the NT descriptions of baptisms in which water is the subject of the passive form of baptize, which would be necessary if it means pouring or sprinkling."

Pansinin: Ang Bawtismo na ginamit sa ‘passive voice’ ay nangangahulugan na yung tao ang paksa/subject (active doer) ng kilos, habang ang tubig naman ang siyang tagatangap ng kilos (passive).

• Sa bawtismo ang subject o paksa ay yung tao hindi ang tubig.
• • Baptism = the person enters the water (active) and the water receives the person (passive)
  • Pouring & Sprinkling = the water is poured (active) and the person receives (passive)

Point: Baptizo therefore is a term of mode, and not just of result

• eg. – cleanse (gk. καθαρίζω) vs. immerse-submerge (gk. βαπτίζω)
• other terms such as ‘ekcheo’ or ‘rhantizo’ were never used.

[Ptr. NAE; Dogmatics #8] - “This disproves claim of interchangeability of modes. Baptism therefore is a term of mode and not only of results and not to follow the mode is not to baptize.”

• Dito papasok ang pagtindig at commitment sa Regulative Principle of worship at kay Kristo bilang tanging lawgiver ng iglesya.
• Hindi gagawin ito ng mga Paedobaptists sa LT… (Hal. Pagamoy at Paghawak lamang sa Tinapay at Kopa… kaylangan itong kainin)
• Reason: As a sign and seal of the Gospel, Christ intended that Water Baptism will be a sacrament (sign & seal) that visibly pictures for us our Union w/ Christ’s Death & Resurrection. (see Rom. 6:3-5)

2nd – A Symbol of Response

Isyu: Ang bawtismo ba ay nagsisimbulo hindi lamang ng pagpapala ng ebanghelyo at pangako ng Diyos kundi ng nakaliligtas ding tugon dito ng makasalan (i.e. – repentance & faith)?

[Sam Waldron] - “Williamson, representing other paedobaptists, say, ‘No!’ The reason for this response is, of course, that infant baptism cannot symbolize the saving response of the infant to the gospel. Yet it is the teaching of Scripture that baptism symbolizes a saving response to the gospel (1 Peter 3:21; Mark 1:4, Acts 2:38; Matt. 3:6-8 & 11).”

Patunay:

• 1Pet. 3:21… “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
• Mark 1:4… “John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
• Matthew 3:6-8 & 11
• 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.”

Punto: Malinaw na sinisimbulo ng bawtismo ang hinihinging nakaliligtas na tugon sa ebanghelyo (i.e. pagsisisi at pananampalataya). Ito ay pangako ng katapatan o ‘pledge of loyalty’ and ‘obedience’ ng isang mananampalataya kay Kristo (our sacramentum towards God) – na hindi natin literal na nakikita ngunit ating naipapakita visibly sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa tubig ng Bawtismo.

Punto: Sa Reformed Baptist view ito ang mahalagang balanse sa patingin natin sa operasyon o ginaganap ng Bawtismo sa mananampalataya. Dito maiiwasan ang sobra o kapos na pangunawa sa operasyon ng bawtismo.

• Faith of Man
• • Baptism requires Faith & Repentance… kung paanong patay ang katawan kung wala ang kaluluwa, ang bawtismo din (panlabas na tanda) ay patay kung walang pananampalataya (panloob na reyalidad).
  • Kaya’t sa bawat operasyon ng bawtismo hindi ito maaring ihiwalay sa pananampalataya o sa nirerepresenta nito. (visible sign)

• Working & Word of God
• • Gospel-Faith relies on and requires God’s power… dahil ang Diyos din ang nagkaloob ng totoong pananamapalataya o ‘genuine faith’, siya din na soberanong nagtakda ng materyal na marka upang tiyakin at lubusin ang kaligtasan sa mananampalataya.
  • Kaya’t sa bawat operasyon ng bawtismo na may ‘Tunay na Pananampalataya’ sa ‘Salita ng Ebanghelyo’ hindi maaring ihiwalay ang makapangyarihang pagkilos ng Diyos sa mananampalataya at sa iglesya.

… “I will be with you” – Matt. 28:20

… “they were baptized, the Holy Spirit came on them” – Ac. 19:1-6

Dalawang Mahalagang Pinapaalala at Pinagpagtibay ng Bawtismo:

1. God’s sign and seal of the Gospel for the Elect
2. Man’s pledge of loyalty to God

1. Sign & Seal of the Gospel (Cross, Cleansing, Spirit, & Union)

CROSS

• Lk. 12:50 “I have a baptism to be baptized w/ and how great is my distress until it is accomplished”
• Mk. 10:38 “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized”
• Bilang tanda, ang bawtismo ay sumisimbulo sa atin ng Krus ni Kristo. Paalala ito na siya ang tumangap ng ating kondemnasyon at nagdala sa atin sa mapayapang relasyon sa Diyos sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya (Rom. 6:3-5).

CLEANSING

• Ang sakramento ay tinitignan ayon din sa ordinaryo nitong gamit. (hal. Bread & Wine for nourishment – Rainbow for seeing)
• Ac. 22:16 “and now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
• Ac. 2:38 “repent and be baptized… for the forgiveness of sins”
• 1Pet. 3:21 “Baptism which corresponds to this now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience…”
• [Wayne Grudem, ST] - "We could paraphrase Peter's statement by saying, 'Baptism now saves you - not the outward physical ceremony of baptism but the inward spiritual reality which baptism represents.”
• [ESV Study Bible] “baptism represents inward faith and repentance as evidenced by one’s appeal to God for the forgiveness and washing of one’s sins.”

Punto: Ito ay angkop na angkop sa bawtismo bilang simbulo ng tugon ng makasalanan – “baptism of repentance” – dahil kung walang pagsisisi, walang ding paglilinis, patay din ang bawtismo dahil wala ang panloob na nirerepresenta nito. (refer again to Ac. 19:1-6)

Rekomendasyon: Gawin ang bawtismo ng may tunay na pananampalataya dahil kung wala ito, hindi ito ang bawtismo ng Bagong Tipan kay Kristo.

BAPTISM of the SPIRIT

Important Texts:

Matt. 3:11 = “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worth to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

• Dito si Kristo mismo ang magbabawtismo ng Banal na Espiritu sa mga magsisisi at mananampalataya
• Ang bawtismo ng Espiritu ay kasama sa redemptive work ng Messias… (incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension… baptism of the Holy Spirit.)

Ac. 2:4… Jews / Ac. 8:14-17… Samaritans / Ac. 10:44-46… God-Fearers / Ac. 19:1-6… Gentiles

[RC Sproul; Foundations, An Overview of ST] - “What then is the significance of this? The significance is that the apostles have to baptize these groups of people for God has ingrafted them into the NT Church… God has granted them the same thing he gave the Jewish believers, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.”

1Cor. 12:13 “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews of Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

• Ang konteksto ay pagdidiin ni Pablo sa pagkakaisa ng iglesya... wala nang Judyo, Hentil, alipin, malaya atbp…
• Ang pundasyon nito ay mismo ang Bawtismo ng Espiritu sa lahat ng mananampalataya tungo sa iisang katawan (“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” – signified by Water Baptism)
• Ang pagpapatuloy nito ay ang pakikihati ng lahat ng nasa katawan sa Banal na Espiritu na nilarawan ng pag-inom sa hapag ni Kristo. (“made to drink of one Spirit” – signified by the Lord’s Table)

PUNTO: Ang ibig sabihin lahat ng tunay na mananampalataya ay inisa na ng Banal na Espiritu sa “universal church” sa pamamagitan ng Spirit Baptism na naganap sa Acts. Ito ang sinisimbulo, tinitiyak, at pinapangako ng Diyos sa atin sa pamamagitan ng bawtismo, tulad ng pagtitiyak niya sa atin ng Krus at Paglilinis sa pamamagitan ng bawtismo. (God’s pledge-covenant to us)

UNION w/ CHRIST

• Rom. 6:1-5

• Tandaan: Sa pamamagitan ng pananampalataya nakipag-isa tayo kay Kristo at sa lahat ng kaniyang ginawa – sa kaniyang buhay, kamatayan at pagkabuhay muli.

• Ibig sabihin, kung ano ang totoo kay Kristo ay siya din namang naging totoo sa atin ayon sa bawtismo. Pinagtitibay ng bawtismo na si Kristo na ang siyang Federal Head natin. (no longer under Adam but is now under Christ through faith)

• [Tabithi Anyabwile] - “When Jesus died, we died with him. When he was buried, we were buried. When he rose, we rose, too! Because we are united to Christ by faith, we receive the benefits of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Through faith we vicariously participate in all that Jesus did. Baptism pictures the reality of this union.”

Pansinin: Dahil napaka-makapangyarihan ng sakramento ng bawtismo sa paglalarawan ng reyalidad ng ating pakikipag-isa kay Kristo ito ay inihalintulad ng madami sa isang aktuwal na kasal o pagititpan.

[Martin Luther on Justification and Vicarious Atonement] “Song of Songs 2:16 “My beloved is mine and I am his”

[Marion Clark; On Baptism] “God is our bridegroom, who has chosen us, paid the dowry, and given us his ring so that all may know that we belong to him. Even more, he has done so to make clear to us that we are his. The ceremony of baptism asserts that his love for us is not a dream but a reality.”

Point: This means God has covenantally promised through the sacrament of baptism that he will sustain our faith and improve all that baptism signified to us through his power and covenant faithfulness! (i.e. - cross, cleansing, spirit baptism, & union w/ Christ)

2. Pledge of Loyalty (Marks us for Discipleship – Our Sacramentum)

Tandaan: Ang Water Baptism ay hindi lamang dapat tignan bilang… paalala (sign) at katiyakan (seal) ng ating kaligtasan at pormal na pagpasok bilang miyembro ng isang local church (initiating mark)… ito din ay dapat makita bilang pangako ng katapatan at pagsunod kay Kristo at sa Lokal na iglesyang kinabibilangan (covenanting mark)

• Eph. 4:4-5… “There is one Spirit, one Lord, one God & Father… one faith, one body, one baptism”
• Ang kaisahan o ‘oneness’ dito na inulit-ulit ni Pablo ay nagpapakita ng katapatan o commitment sa mga katotohanang hinahawakan ng iglesya (v. 11-14 ‘Doctrine’) at pangakong pagtulad kay Kristo (v. 15-16 ‘Discipleship’).
• [John Calvin] - “An outward sign by which the Lord seals on our consciences the promises of his good will toward us in order to sustain the weakness of our faith; and we in turn attest our piety toward him in the presence of the Lord and of his angels and before men”
• • Gal. 3:27… “for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
  • Col. 2:12, 3:1-5 “if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above”
  • Rom. 6:12-13 “let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies… but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life (baptism)”

a. Bawtismo bilang Katapatan at Tipang-Pananagutan

Tandaan: Ang katapatan sa bibliya ay pagiging tapat sa tipan

• Eksklusibong pagkilala sa Trinidad na Diyos (1st-4th Commandment)
• Pagsunod sa Kanyang utos (Jn. 14:15, Jn. 13:34)
• Pagpapatuloy sa Lingguhang pagtitipon (Heb. 10:24-25)

b. Bawtismo Bilang Pampublikong Pagpapahayag

• Ang bautismo ay pampublikong panata at marka ng katapatan (Lk. 3:21-22)
• Pagpapasakop sa katawan ni Cristo – ang Iglesya (Ac. 2:41)
• Pagtatalaga sa pagsunod at disiplina (Heb. 12:5-6)