Essence of Healthy Faith
Baptism is not necessary for salvation. Otherwise, the thief on the cross, to whom Jesus says, “Today, you’ll be with me in paradise,” would not be saved. We distinguish in theological terms between what is of the essence of faith and what is perhaps of the essence of a healthy faith. So, baptism is of the essence of a healthy Christian life.
Repeatedly, Peter calls on his hearers to repent and be baptized. Baptism is a sign and a seal of God’s grace to us, that he is marking us out as belonging to him. And so baptism is something that we should be eager for—for us and, I would argue, for our children as well. Just as under the old covenant believers and their children were circumcised, so too under the new covenant it’s that sign and seal.
In this practical, winsome guide, Iain Duguid explores the continuing work of Jesus after the ascension in Acts 1–8, encouraging believers today toward gospel-driven, Spirit-filled mission.
It’s about what God does. It’s about God’s promises to us and to our children, which is also where Acts 2 goes. They give us assurance that the promises of God are not just generally true, but also are for us. When we get signed and sealed with the water of baptism, that’s pointing to the cleansing that only the Holy Spirit can give us, and that God promises he will give to those who repent and turn to Christ. There’s no of course about God’s mercy. It’s not natural for sinners like us to be welcomed in.
And so we should rightly fear the question, What if my sins are too great? What if God doesn’t welcome me in? Baptism reminds us that God has marked you out as belonging to him. He stamped his seal upon you as belonging to him, and he is therefore calling us to believe in the promises and to trust that what God has told his people from the beginning of his purpose with Abraham. Those things are true for us personally.
That’s why we apply the sign of baptism not just generically to the church building, for example. We apply it specifically to people because God deals with people—believers and their families. And so it’s God’s assurance to us. Now, it doesn’t mean that without that sign and seal the reality isn’t present. It’s possible for people to be Christians and not have the mark placed upon them. There can be a variety of reasons for that, some better than others. What matters, obviously, is what that sign points to. It’s not the sign itself, but the sign itself points you to a reality, and so it encourages us as believers, and our children, that this promise is for you.
Iain Duguid is the author of Turning the World Upside Down: Lessons for the Church from Acts 1–8.
