OBJECTION #6: "BAPTISM IS LIKE A BADGE ON A UNIFORM
THAT MERELY GIVES EVIDENCE THAT THE PERSON IS ALREADY SAVED."
The New Testament nowhere
expounds the idea that baptism is merely a “badge” or “outward sign of an
inward grace.” Baptism can be biblically referred to as a reenactment; but what does it portray? Previous forgiveness? No! Romans 6 indicates that baptism
symbolizes the previous death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Thus the
benefits of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (remember, Jesus’ blood,
which blots out sin, was shed in the context of His death, burial, and
resurrection) are realized and received by the individual when he obediently
(in penitent faith) submits to a similar ordeal, i.e., the death of his own
“old man” or “body of sin” (Romans 6:6), burial (immersion into a watery tomb),
and resurrection (rising from the watery tomb).
Denominational doctrine
maintains that forgiveness of sin is received prior to baptism. If so, the “new
life” of the saved individual would also begin prior to baptism. Yet Paul said
the “new life” occurs after baptism. He reiterated this to the Colossians who were already baptized Christians. The
“putting off of the body of the flesh by Christ’s circumcision” (Colossians
2:11) is accomplished in the context of water immersion and being “risen with
Him” (Colossians 2:12). Chapter 3 then draws the important observation: “If
then you were raised with Christ [an undeniable reference to baptism], seek
those things which are above” [an undeniable reference to the new life which
follows—not precedes—baptism].
