Hi Everyone,
I wanted to answer one possible objection. If someone were to critique my last post (#49), they would probably make the argument that Rom 6:3-4 doesn’t mention “Water”. It mentions Baptism but not water. The argument would be that, well, Baptism doesn’t necessarily mean Baptism with “Water” because Rom 6:3-4 says we are “Baptized in His death”.
The Short Answer
Matt 3:16 And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.
Matt 3:16 tells the whole story. At The Baptism of Jesus three things were present: The Water, The Word (Jesus Christ) and the Spirit. Also, the “Heavens were opened”. All three of these define Baptism. You cannot go by the “definition” or the “greek term” Baptism alone because all it means is a “physical washing”. The “term” Baptism defines the OT Types (1 Cor 10:2,11). You must now go by the NT fulfillment of the definition of Baptism which includes the Water (the physical washing), but also the Word and the Spirit (Matt 3:16, Matt 28:19). Baptism became a sacrament (bestowed Grace) when Christ was Baptized in the Jordan (Matt 3:13,16).
The Long Answer
We need both 3:16’s:
John 3:16 and Matt 3:16
(Believe and Baptism)
Baptism of Jesus = Matt 3:16
Matt 3:16 And Jesus being baptized, forthwith came out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened to him: and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him.
The Greek word for “Baptism” in Matt 3:16 = the Greek word for “Baptism” in Rom 6:3-4. (Strong’s #907)
The Greek word for “Water” in Matt 3:16 = the Greek word for “Water” in Eph 5:26 (Laver of Water)(Strong’s #5204)
The Greek word for “Water” in Matt 3:16 = the Greek word for “Water” in John 19:34 (Strong’s #5204)
Eph 5:26 Laver (washing) of Water
Titus 3:5 Laver (washing) of Regeneration
(These verses show that Baptism with Water produces Regeneration)
The same Greek word (Strong’s #907) for baptism used in Matt 3:16 is used in Gal 3:27, Mark 10:38, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 22:16, Rom 6:3, Gal 3:27 (Gal 3:27 is not far from Gal 2:20). This ties Water Baptism (Matt 3:16) to Rom 6:3-4. Also, “Water” used in Matt 3:16 is the same “Water” used in Eph 5:26 (Laver of Water)(Strong’s #5204) and it is also the same “Water” that flowed from Christ’s side (John 19:34). It was REAL water and this Water had “Power” because it is the same Water that flowed from Christ’s side while on the cross.
Baptism always includes Water
Baptism always includes water. It’s true that Rom 6:3-4 doesn’t mention “Water” but it doesn’t have to because, by definition, Baptism includes Water. Baptism means to “Wash” (Strong’s #907). If You say Baptism doesn’t always include water it is probably because you are not thinking about all the “Causes” of Baptism (see below). Christ made Baptism a Sacrament when He plunged into the Jordan (Matt 3:16) according to Aquinas (STh., III q.39 a.1). At that point, Baptism became more than just a term (a physical washing). Baptism became a Sacrament which means it became an instrument of grace . All the “Causes” of Baptism were present when Christ was baptized: The Water, the Word and the Spirit (1 John 5:7-8) and the “Heavens were opened” (Matt 3:16) which is an “Effect” of Baptism. What this means is that by the instrument of “Water” (Baptism), these things happened. This means these things didn’t happen separate from the “Water”. ALL of these elements combined, define the Sacrament of Baptism. Rom 6:3-4 describes the “Meritorious Cause” of Baptism (Trent) which is Jesus Christ who, by His death (Rom 6:3-4, John 19:34) and Resurrection (Rom 6:4, Matt 27:53), opened the gates of heaven (Mark 16:19, Acts 1:2). The “Instrumental Cause” of Baptism is the “Water and the Word” (Eph 5:26).
I don’t think you would call the Baptism of Jesus just an ordinance when you consider the “heavens were opened” and the “spirit came down” (Matt 3:16). The separation of Water from the Spirit is THE MISTAKE. You could say we are immersed in the Spirit or immersed in Christ but these are “Causes” and “Effects” of the instrument of Water Baptism. You cannot separate immersion of the Spirit or the immersion of Christ from the Water (1 John 5:8, Eph 4:5) because Christ showed us that Water Baptism is the way (Matt 3:16).
Many denominations Baptize two of more times even though scripture teaches against it (Eph 4:5). They say they have been “Baptized into Christ” or “Immersed in the Spirit” or whatever, but THEN Baptize with Water as an Ordinance. That’s because they separate the Water from the Spirit in error. We don’t say there is a Baptism of Water (Purification), a Baptism into Christ’s death, a Baptism into Christ’s resurrection, a Baptism in the Spirit, a Baptism of incorporation into the Church. No, these are all effects of ONE Baptism (see below). All of these happen simultaneously. Just as you have ONE Lord and ONE Faith, there is only ONE Baptism (Eph 4:5) and that ONE BAPTISM includes Water (“Water” signifies both God the Father and physical Water), the Spirit and the Blood (“blood” signifies Jesus Christ) and the three are ONE (1 John 5:8).
CAUSES
Council of Trent (Denz 799, DS 1528)
Causes of The Sacrament of Baptism:
Effecient Cause - Mercy of God who washes and sanctifies (1 Cor 6:11)
Meritorious Cause - Jesus Christ
*Instrumental Cause - Baptism (with water)
Formal Cause - Justice of God (sanctifying grace)
Final Cause - Eternal Life (Glory of God)
* Notice: The Instrumental Cause doesn’t take away from or eliminate the other causes. They are ALL simultaneously present at Water Baptism.
Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Dr. Ludwig Ott
Causes of the Sacrament of Baptism:
Effecient Cause - Mercy of God
Meritorious Cause - Jesus Christ
Instrumental Cause - Baptism = Water and Word (Eph 5:26) (Word = Invoking the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost)(Matt 28:19)
Formal Cause - Sanctifying Grace (Taking away of sin and the infusion of Sanctifying Grace)
Final Cause - Eternal Life and the Glory of God
EFFECTS
Aquinas (STh., III q.69, STh., III q.63 a.1)
Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism:
Baptized into His death (Rom 6:3-4)
Dead to sin but alive to God (Rom 6:11)
Receiving grace and virtues (John 1:16)
Man is incorporated into Christ (Gal 2:20, Gal 3:27)
Gates of Heaven are opened (Luke 3:21)
Seal or indelible mark (2 Cor 1:21-22)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism:
Purification (Acts 2:38)(CCC 1262,1263)
New Birth (John 3:5)(CCC 1262,1265)
Incorporation into the church (1 Cor 12:13, 1 Pet 2:5) (CCC 1267,1268)
Sealed with an indelible mark (Eph 4:30, Eph 1:13-14, 2 Cor 1:21-22)(CCC 1274)
Summary (CCC 1279, 1280)