Help me understand symbolic Baptism

[Elzee]

Can someone help me understand where in the Bible it teaches that Baptism is only symbolic and is something we do to show others our commitment to Christ (and because Christ told us to do it).

I’d like to understand where this belief originates from biblically. I’ve been studying baptism and I haven’t been able to find the bible verses or context that support this particular belief among many Evangelicals, and I’d like to understand why they hold this belief. Thanks!

 

[Vincent1560]

Elzee:

Can someone help me understand where in the Bible it teaches that Baptism is only symbolic and is something we do to show others our commitment to Christ (and because Christ told us to do it).

I’d like to understand where this belief originates from biblically. I’ve been studying baptism and I haven’t been able to find the bible verses or context that support this particular belief among many Evangelicals, and I’d like to understand why they hold this belief. Thanks!

As an evangelical I do not believe that water baptism is strictly symbolic, but I also do not view it as a prerequisite to salvation. I think where the strictly symbolc view originates is when John the Baptist tells the crowd (John 1:33) that he baptises with water, but Christ with the Holy Spirit. (people holding the strictly symbolic view may have other justifications as well)

 

[Elzee]

Vincent1560:

As an evangelical I do not believe that water baptism is strictly symbolic, but I also do not view it as a prerequisite to salvation. I think where the strictly symbolc view originates is when John the Baptist tells the crowd (John 1:33) that he baptises with water, but Christ with the Holy Spirit. (people holding the strictly symbolic view may have other justifications as well)

Thanks Vincent. You’re the first Evangelical I’ve heard say this (that it’s not strictly symbolic). What do you believe about it? (btw, I feel uncomfortable using the term ‘Evangelical’ sometimes because I feel like I’m lumping a lot of different people together for the ease of using one word.…off topic…sorry)

 

[mercygate]

Elzee, I believe the rationale lies with the belief that salvation happens at the moment we “accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior.” Since that is the definitive moment of truth, baptism then becomes simply an act of obedience: “repent and be baptized.”

Many Evangelicals accept infant baptism with the concomitant belief that it actually imparts grace to the soul.

 

[Vincent1560]

mercygate:

Elzee, I believe the rationale lies with the belief that salvation happens at the moment we “accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior.” Since that is the definitive moment of truth, baptism then becomes simply an act of obedience: “repent and be baptized.”

Many Evangelicals accept infant baptism with the concomitant belief that it actually imparts grace to the soul.

I agree with the aforementioned definition of salvation. As for the non-symbolic element of batism, I guess I look upon it as similar (not necessarily identical) to the old testament practice of receiving blessings and the grace bestowed on individuals who received them. I also believe that there is mystey in it, and that baptism may have a spiritually nourishing aspect to it.

 

[Elzee]

Thank you for helping me so far Vincent and mercygate, but I’m still a little confused. Maybe what I’ve heard and read about some common beliefs about baptism is wrong…

Is there anyone out there who believes that baptism is only symbolic?
I thought a fairly common belief among Evangelicals/Baptists, etc. was that the bible commands us to be baptized so we should be, but that it was only symbolic - not a venue of God’s grace - is this not what many - or even some - people believe?

 

[arieh0310]

I at one time thought baptism was purely symbolic, but after actually reading what the bible says about baptism I can no longer hold that theory:

*Galatians 3:27
for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Colossians 2:12
having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Acts 2:38
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

John 3:5
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.*

Then, after finding out that the unanimous consent of the Early Church Fathers was that baptism was nessesary for salvation I knew that baptism wasn’t simply a symbol. Reason would also dictate that Christ wouldn’t give us a command to do something that wasn’t nessesary and had no effect on our salvation.

 

[Elzee]

When you believed it was symbolic, what biblical verses/context led you to believe that? What was used to validate that for you? Thank you!

 

[arieh0310]

Elzee:

When you believed it was symbolic, what biblical verses/context led you to believe that? What was used to validate that for you? Thank you!

John 3:16

All of the verses that called baptism regenerative or salvic were explained away or ignored to keep my copy/paste theology.