Baptism

This is another entry I wrote on my computer while I was still in Gto, which I never posted:

About a month ago, a couple, Linda and Graham, arrived from Manchester, Great Britain. Graham teaches Chemistry in the University of Guanajuato and will be living, with his wife, part time in Mexico, and part time in England (and the various other travels he makes for his job.) Because they haven’t mastered much Spanish yet, I have been translating, along with Rachel Hall, Cesar’s sermons. This has been a joy for everyone, for now in the church we have three languages—signs (for the deaf), Spanish, and English, with international representation (Mexico, US, Costa Rica, and Great Britain.) They are a lovely couple who obviously love the Lord. My last week here, they graciously invited me to dine with them twice!

The lovely couple took me out to eat at a beautiful restaurant, which was rather pricey, but excellent. The service made me feel like royalty and the food was succulent. I had some asparagus with a vinaigrette sauce as an appetizer and some sort of deliciously marinated chicken and vegetables as an entree, a glass of wine, and some coffee to finish it all off. Hmm. We had a wonderful time!

The last few months, I have been pondering (with Scripture and input from Ryan, my pastor Cesar, of Iglesia Central, the significance of baptism, the difference between that of infant and adult baptism, and whereas I have only been baptized as an infant, whether it is something I should do. Cesar, in answering my questions, strongly encouraged me to go forth with it, as it is a commandment from God (Matthew 28: 30-something), and there is a precedent set many times in the Bible. Very set in my PCA reformed theology ways, I was resistant, but kept pursuing the issue because I didn’t feel assured at all in my state. If the Lord really desires a “believer’s baptism” for His people, then I definitely want it! My question is, does my infant baptism count, because God is not restrained by time and it is a beautiful picture of God’s control of the matter, and not ours (seeing that as infants, we didn’t choose it.)

Cesar and I met several times to discuss that matter. At times it was difficult getting of the cultural and denominational barriers (though the Holy Spirit and our brotherhood we shared in common). I have often wondered here in Mexico how I’m really coming across—am I sounding rude when I don’t know it? Am I communicating in the “mood” and manner I think I am? Anyway, some of the things Cesar shared with me, I did not agree with, but I couldn’t get over the fact that Jesus commanded it, and I saw the example in the Bible(Matthew 28:19, all over Acts) . And being a reflection of how Jesus’s blood washed us clean by His work on the cross and our trusting in Him as our Savior and Lord of our life, I thought regardless of necessity, it’s a beautiful thing! My baptism, witnessed by a couple members of the congregation, Grahm and Linda, Pepe, Pastor Cesar's family, and others, was recorded and can be watched from http://iglesiacentral.blogspot.com/ by clicking on "videos" and selecting the image on the right, which should come up with this title: IGLESIA CENTRAL GUANAJUATO, BAUTISMO SARA (Perhaps it will acts as a link too? Maybe not...)

Since then I have pondered about this whole act often and have been captivated and awed by such relevant verses, "Romans 6:3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."

Also, in Sunday school, Andy pointed out that baptism is often identified with suffering (even similarly back to Noah and the flood). Back, praise Jesus, those saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) don't have to go through the suffering to experience salvation into eternal life with God in Heaven!!! Coming from a background of infant baptism, and appreciating the symbolic claiming of the promise of God "to you and your children" (Acts 2:39), examples of familial baptism in Acts (16: 15; 16: 33; 18: 8; I Corinthians 1: 16), and the fact that God saved all the Israelites and their children in the Old Testament, because of God's promise to his people, regardless of the children's full understanding of the fact, I wasn't sure about "adult baptism" at first, but I felt convicted about following through with it, and was overjoyed in the act of physically realizing and proclaiming what Christ has done for me.

As Dr. Dan Orme puts it,

sacramentally the ordinances do what they symbolize doing if they are used properly, that is' if they are used as external accompaniments to a believing acceptance of God's Word and promises. When one believes in the salvation of the Lord through faith in the work of the Savior and receives baptism, he is able to experience physically what God has done for him. A receipt is a commercial device for giving verification that a sum of money or its equivalent has been received. The baptism is, to use an anology, God's receipt which is given to the individual. It is a formal and external record of the actual transaction between the individual and God. In the earthly analogy, the thing that makes the receipt meaningful is not the receipt itself but the word and reputation of the person who gave it and its non-fraudulent use on the part of the person who received it.

I encourage anyone interested in the subject to visit his website, and click on "Book on the Sacraments" and then, I recommend Ch. 2, 4 and 5 (mainly because these are the ones I scanned http://theuniversitychurch.org/) Ch. 2 discusses adult, Ch. 4 infant baptism, and Ch. 5 among various points, speak against re-baptism. I agree with him that to nullify a former, perhaps infant, baptism might "support the idea that the working of God is nullified by human frailty," but I don't deny my infant baptisms' legitimacy. I would not call it a symbol of deepening or greater awareness, either. It was a wonderful experience for me, that I would admit, not necessary, but a joyful celebration nonetheless. I am still, and expect to be always recognizing my limited understanding of all of this, but I follow on towards Christ and knowing him through his Word, Holy Spirit, and wise people he puts in my path.
Cesar's son wanted to get wet too, so he just jumped in after us! Ha!