CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS BAPTISMA NOT BAPTISMOS (Third in a series)

Baptism is not the washing away of bodily pollution, but the appeal made to God by a good conscience; and it brings salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . (I Peter 3:21).

The image of baptism is one of being overwhelmed, whether it is by water, fire or Spirit.  Baptisma is the word used 22 times by the inspired writers of the New Testament to describe whole Christian baptism.  It is interesting that baptisma is  never found outside of the New Testament in ancient literature.  Baptismos is a word used both in the New Testament and in ancient literature to describe washings, ceremonial and otherwise, but it is not used to describe Christian baptism because it only focuses on the act.  The ma suffix of baptisma indicates the state of mind that accompanies the act of baptism. 

What baptisma describes is the surrender of our bodies to the engulfing, overwhelming water as a visual dramatization of our personal trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is also descriptive of our personal surrender of our spirit to the Holy Spirit that we might be led of the Spirit from that point on in newness of life.

Some call Christian baptism only an external rite that can easily be faked, but prayers to receive Christ, something never commanded in the New Testament, can be easily faked as well.  Pledges to defend and protect the Constitution are easily faked by elected officials.  Marriage vows are easily faked too.  The fruit of the Spirit is easily faked during low-stress situations. That something can be easily faked does not mean that it is less valid. The qualities essential to true Christian baptism are faith in Christ and a repentant heart.

When a believing and repentant person is baptized he/she is appealing to God (I Peter 3:21), calling on the name of the Lord, to be saved.  Baptism is calling on the name of the Lord, and thus Acts 22:16 makes sense: Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on his name (NIV).  The participle explains the action.  Baptism is the appeal to the character and promises of God in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom