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Baptism
Brian Mashburn
July 6, 2014
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Baptisms
As we continue laying the foundation of the six elementary teachings about Christ from Hebrews 6:1-2, we now come upon two Christian practices: baptism and the laying on of hands.
It sounds to me as if the ancient author was addressing an audience to whom both of these practices, and their meanings, were very familiar. So familiar, in fact, that he is exhorting them to move on from focusing on them and into the deeper waters (no pun intended) of our faith.
In our church heritage, it is my opinion that we have made the equal and opposite errors of putting too much attention on the first practice listed (baptism) and too little attention on the second (laying on of hands). We will treat the former this week, the latter next.
Baptism is about Jesus Christ. To elevate baptism to the level of (or above) Christ for salvation is to distort and steal its power. But to say "it doesn't matter" does too.
We baptize because Jesus was baptized, Jesus used baptism in his ministry, and Jesus commissioned us to baptize in ours. We baptize because baptism does and stands for something. What does it stand for?
Forgiveness. Change. Power. Identity.
Do not forget those words. There were many "baptisms" being practiced when Christ came into the picture, but with his baptism, these words were packed into ours.
And you will need every one of these words for entry into maturity.