Baptists on Believer's Baptism
The Schleitheim Confession of 1527
First: Baptism
Observe concerning baptism: Baptism shall
he given to all those who have learned repentance and amendment of life,
and who believe truly that their sins are taken away by Christ, and to
all those who walk in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and wish to buried
with Him in death, so that they may be resurrected with Him, and to all
those who with this significance request it baptism of us and demand it
for themselves. This excludes all infant baptism, the highest and chief
abomination of the pope. In this you have the foundation and testimony
of the apostles (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Acts 2, 8, 16, 19). This we wish to
hold simply, yet firmly and with assurance.
London Confession of 1644
39. That baptism is an ordinance of the New
Testament, given by Christ, to be dispensed only upon persons professing
faith, or that are disciples, or taught, who upon profession of faith,
ought to be baptized.
40. The way and manner of the dispensing
of this ordinance the Scripture holds out to be dipping or plunging the
whole body under water: it being a sign, must answer the thing signified,
which are these: first, the washing the whole soul in the blood of Christ.
Secondly, that interest the saints have in the death, burial, and resurrection.
Thirdly, together with a confirmation of our faith, that as certainly as
the body is buried under water, and riseth again, so certainly shall the
bodies of the saints be raised by the power of Christ, in the day of the
resurrection to reign with Christ. The word Baptizo,
signifying to dip under water, yet so as with convenient garments both
upon the administrator and subject, with all modesty.
41. The persons designed by Christ to dispense
this ordinance, the Scriptures hold forth to be a preaching disciple, it
being no where tied to a particular Church, officer, or person extraordinarily
sent, the commission enjoining the administration, being given to them
under no other consideration, but as considered disciples.
The Philadelphia Confession of Faith
of 1742
Chapter 30
Of Baptism
1. Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament,
ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the party baptized a sign of his fellowship
with Him in His death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into Him;
of remission of sins; and of His giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ,
to live and walk in newness of life.
2. Those who do actually profess repentance
towards God, faith in and obedience to our Lord Jesus, are the only proper
subjects of this ordinance.
3. The outward element to be used in this
ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
4. Immersion, or dipping of the person
in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance.
The New Hampshire Confession of 1833
12. Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper
That Christian baptism is the immersion of
a believer in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, to show
forth in a solemn and beautiftil eml)lem, our faith in a cruicified, buried,
and risen Savior, with ins purifying power; that it is prerequisite to
the privileges of a church relation; and to the Lord's Supper, in which
the members of the church, by the use of bread and wine, are to commemorate
together the dying love of Christ; preceded always by solemn self-examination.
Abstract of Principles
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
1858
XV. BAPTISM.
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus,
obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of
his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission
of sins, and of his giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness
of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation
in the Lord's Supper.
1963 Baptist Faith and Message Statement
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer
in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is
an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried,
and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life,
and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is
a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a
church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership
and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act
of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread
and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate
His second coming.
Matt. 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark
1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39;
16:30-33; Acts 20:7; Rom. 6:3-5; 1 Cor. 10:16, 21; 11:23-29; Col. 2:12
2000 Baptist Faith and Message Statement
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper.
The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Mt 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mk 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Lu 3:21-22; 22:19-20; Jn 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Ro 6:3-5; 1Co 10:16, 21; 11:23-29
Col 2:12
|
