Church Basics

Understanding Baptism

Series Editor Jonathan Leeman

Author Bobby Jamison

Nashville, Tennessee

Copyright © 2016 by Robert Bruce Jamieson and 9Marks

All rights reserved.

978-1-4336-8887-4

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 265.1

Subject Heading: BAPTISM \ CHURCH MEMBERSHIP \ SACRAMENTS

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (hcsb), copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Also used: English Standard Version, (esv) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv Text Edition: 2007. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Church Basics Series Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1. What Is Baptism?

Chapter 2. Who Should Be Baptized?

Chapter 3. What about Infant Baptism?

Chapter 4. Why Is Baptism Required for Church Membership?

Chapter 5. When Is “Baptism” Not Baptism?

Chapter 6. How Should Churches Practice Baptism?

Scripture Index

CHURCH BASICS SERIES PREFACE

The Christian life is the churched life. This basic biblical conviction informs every book in the Church Basics series.

That conviction in turn affects how each author treats his topic. For instance, the Lord’s Supper is not a private, mystical act between you and Jesus. It is a meal around the family table in which you commune with Christ and Christ’s people. The Great Commission is not a license to head into the nations as Jesus’ witness all by oneself. It is a charge given to the whole church to be fulfilled by the whole church. The authority of the church rests not only with the leaders, but with the entire assembly. Every member has a job to do, including you.

Every book is written for the average church member, and this is a crucial point. If the Christian life is a churched life, then you, a baptized believer and church member, have a responsibility to understand these basic topics. Just as Jesus charges you with promoting and protecting his gospel message, so he charges you with promoting and protecting his gospel people, the church. These books will explain how.

You are like a shareholder in Christ’s gospel ministry corporation. And what do good shareholders do? They study their company, study the market, and study the competition. They want the most out of their investment. You, Christian, have invested your whole life in the gospel. The purpose of the series, then, is to help you maximize the health and kingdom profitability of your local congregation for God’s glorious gospel ends.

Are you ready to get to work?

Jonathan Leeman

Series Editor

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to this brief book on baptism. I might even call it a “booklet.” You can call it whatever you like. Would you like to come in and take a seat? I can show you around before we get started.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about you, or at least, who I expect you to be. If we were doing this in person, I’d ask you about yourself instead ...