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Improving Baptism in Light of Scripture and Vows

The role of baptism and its associated vows is a topic with significant theological disagreement among Christian traditions. While most traditions agree that baptism is an important ordinance, the meaning, efficacy, and proper recipients of baptism are debated [1].

One prominent view, often associated with Baptist and some Reformed traditions, emphasizes believer's baptism. This perspective holds that baptism is a public profession of faith and discipleship, to be administered only to those who have consciously repented and believed [8, 4]. John Gill, commenting on 1 Corinthians 12:13, distinguishes water baptism from baptism by the Spirit, noting that not all who are baptized in water are baptized by the Spirit, and water baptism does not incorporate individuals into the invisible church [9]. This view often points to passages where individuals are depicted as professing faith before baptism, such as Peter's instruction to "Repent and be baptised" (Acts 2:38) [8]. The outward ceremony of washing with water is seen as a symbol, not inherently saving, but rather a "faithful answer or restipulation of a resolved good conscience" [10].

In contrast, other Reformed traditions, such as Presbyterianism, and Catholicism, often practice infant baptism, viewing it as a sign and seal of God's covenant promises [7]. John Calvin argued that children of believers should be baptized so they are not "dissevered from his body" [8]. Charles Hodge describes baptism as a "seal and pledge" of God's promise to save through Christ's blood and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, similar to how circumcision was a seal of the covenant with Abraham [7]. Augustine, a significant patristic figure, also discussed the baptism of infants, placing them among the faithful [12]. The Eastern Orthodox tradition also confesses "one baptism for the remission of sins and for life eternal," administered "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" [13].

Methodist and Wesleyan traditions, while often practicing infant baptism, emphasize the inward spiritual grace signified by the outward sign. Adam Clarke, commenting on John 3:5, explains that water baptism was an emblem of the Holy Spirit, signifying the cleansing and refreshing influence of the Spirit on a soul defiled by sin [11]. The inward spiritual grace of regeneration is seen as distinct from the outward sign of water [1].

Despite these differences, there is shared ground regarding the significance of baptism. It is generally understood as an ordinance appointed by Christ, to be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit [1]. Baptism is also associated with the remission of sins and the unity of the Church [1]. The Holy Spirit is consistently linked to baptism, whether as the agent of true spiritual cleansing or as the inward reality symbolized by water [2, 3, 6]. The Scriptures themselves are considered inspired by God and foundational for understanding these doctrines [5].

The divergence in practice and interpretation often stems from differing hermeneutical approaches to biblical texts concerning covenant, the nature of the church, and the relationship between outward signs and inward grace.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Baptism — As administered by John -- Mt 3:5-12; Joh 3:23; Ac 13:24; 19:4. Sanctioned by Christ's submission to it -- Mt 3:13-15; Lu 3:21. Adopted by Christ -- Joh 3:22; 4:1,2. Appointed an ordinance of the Christian church -- Mt 28:19,20; Mr 16:15,16. To be administered in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- Mt 28:19. Water, the outward and visible sign in -- Ac 8:36; 10:47. Regeneration, the inward and spiritual grace of -- Joh 3:3,5,6; Ro 6:3,4,11. Remission of sins, signified by -- Ac 2:38; 22:16. Unity of the Church effected by -- 1Co 12:13; Ga 3:27,2”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Baptism With the Holy Spirit — Foretold -- Eze 36:25. Is through Christ -- Tit 3:6. Christ administered -- Mt 3:11; Joh 1:33. Promised to saints -- Ac 1:5; 2:38,39; 11:16. All saints partake of -- 1Co 12:13. Necessity for -- Joh 3:5; Ac 19:2-6. Renews and cleanses the soul -- Tit 3:5; 1Pe 3:20,21. The Word of God instrumental to -- Ac 10:44; Eph 5:26. Typified -- Ac 2:1-4.”
  3. Matthew “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. -- Matthew 3:11”
  4. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Baptism — It is well known that ablution or bathing was common in most ancient nations as a preparation for prayers and sacrifice or as expiatory of sin. In warm countries this connection is probably even closer than in colder climates; and hence the frequency of ablution in the religious rites throughout the East. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the rite or ordinance by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship. Baptism signifies-- + A confession of faith in Christ; + A cleansi”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Emblems of the Holy Spirit, The — Water -- Joh 3:5; 7:38,39. Cleansing. -- Eze 16:9; 36:25; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22. Fertilising. -- Ps 1:3; Isa 27:3,6; 44:3,4; 58:11. Refreshing. -- Ps 46:4; Isa 41:17,18. Abundant. -- Joh 7:37,38. Freely given. -- Isa 55:1; Joh 4:14; Re 22:17. Fire Purifying. -- Isa 4:4; Mal 3:2,3. Illuminating. -- Ex 13:21; Ps 78:14. Searching. -- Zep 1:12; 1Co 2:10. Wind Independent. -- Joh 3:8; 1Co 12:11. Powerful. -- 1Ki 19:11; Ac 2:2. Sensible in its effects. -- Joh 3:8. Reviving. -- Eze 37:9,10,14. Oil -- Ps 45:7. Healing. -- Lu 10:34; Re 3:18. Co”
  7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 65: a pledge of the promise which He had made. When he promised to Abraham to be a God to him and to his seed after him, He appointed circumcision as the seal and pledge of that promise. So when He promised to save men 589 by the blood of Christ and by the renewing of the Holy Ghost, he appointed baptism to be, not only the sign, but also the seal and pledge of those exceeding great and precious promises. No believer in the Bible can look on the rainbow without having his faith strengthened in the promise that a deluge shall never again destr”
  8. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 98: he enumerates among his members, are to be baptised, in order that they may not be dissevered from his body. See the violent onset which they make with all their engines on the bulwarks of our faith. 23. They now come down to the custom and practice of the apostolic age, alleging that there is no instance of any one having been admitted to baptism without a previous profession of faith and repentance. For when Peter is asked by his hearers, who were pricked in their heart, “What shall we do?” his advise is, “Repent and be baptised,”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized,.... This is to be understood not of water baptism; for the apostle says not in one, and the same water, but "by", or "in" one Spirit, are we all baptized; the baptism of water, and of the Spirit, are two different things; see Mat 3:11. Besides, all that are baptized in water, are not baptized in or by the Spirit, as the case of Simon Magus, and that of others, show; nor does water baptism incorporate persons into the church of Christ; neither into the invisible church, which is the body of Christ, and here meant; nor into”
  10. 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 3:21: Noah's salvation in the ark upon the water prefigured the salvation of all good Christians in the church by baptism; that temporal salvation by the ark was a type, the antitype whereunto is the eternal salvation of believers by baptism, to prevent mistakes about which the apostle, I. Declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh, but it is that baptism wherein there is a faithful answer or restipulation of a resolved good conscience, engaging to believe”
  11. John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 3:5: Of water and of the Spirit - To the baptism of water a man was admitted when he became a proselyte to the Jewish religion; and, in this baptism, he promised in the most solemn manner to renounce idolatry, to take the God of Israel for his God, and to have his life conformed to the precepts of the Divine law. But the water which was used on the occasion was only an emblem of the Holy Spirit. The soul was considered as in a state of defilement, because of past sin: now, as by that water the body was washed, cleansed, and refreshed, so, by the influences of the Holy Spiri”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 28.--BAPTIZED INFANTS, OF THE FAITHFUL; UNBAPTIZED, OF THE LOST.: Hence also that other statement: "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; while he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (6) Now in which of these classes must we place infants--amongst those who believe on the Son, or amongst those who believe not the Son? In neither, say some, because, as they are not yet able to believe, so must they not be deemed unbelie”
  13. CCEL (Eastern Orthodox) “John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, section 85: Chapter IX .— Concerning Faith and Baptism. We confess one baptism for the remission of sins and for life eternal. For baptism declares the Lord’s death. We are indeed “buried with the Lord through baptism 2288 2288 Col. ii. 12 . ,” as saith the divine Apostle. So then, as our Lord died once for all, we also must be baptized once for all, and baptized according to the Word of the Lord, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit 2289 2289 St. Matt. xxviii. 19 . , being taught the confession in Father”
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