Baptism

Baptism in scripture points to it being required to partake in the new covenant:

As a part of his conversion experience Paul was told the scales came from his eyes “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). Amazing… after 3 days of no food or drink the first thing Paul did when his vision returned was be baptized (Acts 9:18).
Peter in referencing the flood waters which floated the Ark told us that the water “…symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:21).
After Peter’s sermon to them on the day of Pentecost, the Jews who were convicted of their sin and believed asked Peter “what shall we do?” Peter told them to “…Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38).
Jesus made the link of baptism to becoming a believer when he told the disciples “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19).

Since scripture tells us baptism is a part of our being saved, what is its spiritual purpose? Maybe it is that once one repents as a pledge to God being baptized is an act of consecration to this new way of life? I believe so. This is because baptism as consecration is a part of so much scripture. Not just called for in our New Testament scriptures but is also a key act in so many situations of when Jews make spiritual commitments in the Old Testament. Consider:

John the Baptist taught the Jews who repented to consecrate their commitment with baptism. Jesus told us that those who didn’t obey rejected God’s justice and purpose (Luke 7:29,30)
Gentiles converting to Judaism were and are still required to be baptized as a start to their new commitment. See good discussion Here and also via Wikipedia Here.
The Levitical Priesthood. To be a priest the following actions needed to be completed by the new Priest:
Exodus 29:4 – The priest was washed (baptism in mikveh began in 2nd temple period)
Exodus 29:5- The priest was given a new garment.
Exodus 29:7- The priest was anointed with oil (Holy Spirit)
More reasons can be found for consecration: The “Compelling Truth” website has a good presentation of Old Testament scripture describing how versions of baptism were performed as an act of consecration and removal of sin. Here’s a few more:

Immersing in water is what symbolized the removal of filth and the maintenance of ritual purity (Leviticus 15:21–22, Leviticus 14:7–9, Numbers 19:11–13).
Naaman was told to dip into the Jordan to be cleaned of his disease (and he became faithful!) (2 Kings 5:13-14).

What does baptism as an act of consecration do? It is a ritual cleansing that sets us on a fresh start for the commitment that’s been made… just as Peter called it “the pledge of a good conscience toward God” and Paul heard it as “wash your sins away “. We consecrate ourselves to tasks by cleaning-up and starting fresh. To quote from the “Compelling Truth” webpage which summarizes these things so well… “Throughout the Old Testament, washing and cleansing were used as a metaphor for rescue from sin. Zechariah 13:1 says, "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness." David prayed in his well-known prayer of repentance, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! … Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:2, 7). Washing and cleansing were related to repentance and forgiveness, which is why John the Baptist "appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4). The physical act of washing in water symbolized a greater spiritual reality.” In John 3:25-26 baptism was clearly associated with purification (katharismos) (Yes, it was Jesus whom John’s disciples were complaining about in this scripture).

The value may extend from the priests of the Jewish Temple to us as priests of the Heavenly Temple. Think about this, Peter tells us we’re to be Holy Royal Priests under Jesus. Consider how Peter wrote that our commitment to Jesus makes us His royal priests. Jesus is the High Priest in heaven, and we give Him priestly service. This includes:

Offering up sacrifices of praise to God (Heb 13:15)
We are given confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus (Heb 10:19).
We present our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship (Rom 12:1).
We are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).
Yes, “We are royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

The author of Hebrews tells us to draw near and enter the Holy place as we have had “our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water [baptism]”. Might it be that an integral benefit for consecration with baptism is we must also be consecrated to be priests in the same way as the Temple priests under the Mosaic priesthood? The mosaic priesthood can be included as a “shadow” of our new priesthood under Jesus our High Priest. (Heb 8:4-5, Exodus 25:40). In these verses a “shadow” means inferior representation of the real thing. Here’s a comparison of how Mosaic/temple Priests were sanctified for service versus what Christians experience at conversion in the New Testament:

Exodus 29:4 - washed (became baptism during 2nd temple period) -> which for us became Baptism (Heb 10:22)
Exodus 29:5- given a new garment -> which we’re told we get a new white robe (Rev 7:9, Rev 3:4)
Exodus 29:7- anointed with oil (Holy Spirit) -> which we are now anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)

There is much to persuade us to see the spiritual purpose of baptism to be the act of consecrating oneself to the commitment we’ve made under the new covenant. As shown above baptism is associated in scripture for many different spiritual commitments beyond becoming a Christian… the way to ritually cleanse and commit oneself to a new task or direction.

Before we go further, please note these suggestions of how to understand the scripture being referenced below:

Regarding the word “baptism” in the Gospel scriptures listed below one needs to understand the use of the word in context. The Gospel writers used the word “baptize” as a Synecdoche (short-hand name) for “became a believer” which includes several elements which are found in Acts 2:38. All New Testament references to becoming a Christian include these elements listed in the verse; belief/faith, repentance, and baptism. Again, the Gospel writers simply tell us people were “baptized” a word used as a “Synecdoche” to represent all the elements required for one to commit to the new covenant. See the comments below for Acts 8:12-16 to see an example of Baptism as a summary for belief, repentance, and baptism.
In the New Testament we’ll see that belief/faith, repentance, and baptism is sometimes referenced by the writers in their scripture as various euphemisms and analogies… We’re “buried with Him”; “washed with pure water”; and undergo “the washing of regeneration”, and we “wash away our sins”.

Acts 9:18- So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."¹⁸ And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized...

Acts 22:16- Ananias prompted Paul to get up and be baptized…. “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

Colossians 2:8-16- See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…

--- it would be worth your time to read all of Ch1. ---

…Colossians 3:1 continues …If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

The context of this scripture is that Paul is explaining to the Colossians how no one can challenge their salvation and is describing what happened to them as they were saved. Note that a key point he makes as he describes how they were saved is “…having been buried with him in baptism, which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God”. He then then uses the euphemism “If then you have been raised with Christ” again in chapter 3 to say roughly “so if you are now a Christian” then… “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth…”

This reference to being buried and raised with Christ is also used in Romans 6:4-5 where Paul also aligns this expression with baptism.

This story of Simon clearly shows that "being baptized" in Luke is a Synecdoche (as described above in literary notes comment. Luke used the term “baptized” to say a person became a Christian. This scripture reference shows that they had "simply" been physically "baptized". Isn't it amazing that Luke could say "they were baptized" here as he does over-and-over in Acts and people know that it means "became a Christian"? And the key learning/point in this scripture is that it clearly describes that the baptism mentioned isn't a spiritual baptism, but a physical baptism.

In his Large Catechism, Luther wrote:

[I] affirm that Baptism is no human trifle, but that it was established by God Himself. Moreover, He earnestly and solemnly commanded that we must be baptized or we shall not be saved. No one is to think that it is an optional matter like putting on a red coat. It is of greatest importance that we hold Baptism in high esteem as something splendid and glorious. The reason why we are striving and battling so strenuously for this view of Baptism is that the world nowadays is full of sects that loudly proclaim that Baptism is merely an external form and that external forms are useless…. Although Baptism is indeed performed by human hands, yet it is truly God’s own action (1978, pp. 98-99).

What, then, would Martin Luther say to those today who teach that “faith alone” excludes baptism? Listen to his words pertaining to this teaching:

But our know-it-alls, the new spirit people, claim that faith alone saves and that human works and outward forms contribute nothing to this. We answer: It is of course true that nothing in us does it except faith, as we shall hear later. But these blind leaders of the blind refuse to see that faith must have something in which it believes, that is, something it clings to, something on which to plant its feet and into which to sink its roots. Thus faith clings to the water and believes Baptism to be something in which there is pure salvation and life, not through the water, as I have emphasized often enough, but because God’s name is joined to it…. If follows from this that whoever rejects Baptism rejects God’s word, faith, and the Christ who directs us to Baptism and binds us to it (1978, pp. 101-102).

Martin Luther - the man who gave protestants and, more radically, non-denominational churches, the "5 solas".. Including Sola Fide and Sola Gratia... Also tells us what to many is a contrary doctrine of baptism for remission of sins. Was he a huge hypocrite or did he understand that baptism isn't a work; but the act of cleansing/consecration, initiation, and membership to God's family?

See info source here (True Discipleship, MARTIN LUTHER SPEAKS ON “FAITH ONLY” AND BAPTISM, by Richard Hollerman

Paul is addressing Christians here, not unbelievers... and is discussing "...the righteousness based on faith". This isn't intended to explain how to become a Christian; it discusses how we need to continue to be righteous. Paul begins by telling those believers that "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, in your mouth and in your heart " -that is, the word of faith which we are preaching"... then elaborates.

Some questions for those who believe this is about becoming a believer:

If you must confess with your mouth... Isn't that a “work"?
Is no repentance needed? If it's just belief required, doesn't James 2:19 tell us that even Demons believe in Jesus... are Demons then saved because of belief?

Here are some miscellaneous considerations related to baptism

The Sinners Prayer - There is no example of the sinner’s prayer in the New Testament. This construct is seen at the earliest in the late 17th century. There's scholarly work that indicates the use of the sinner's prayer as a substitute for baptism began as late as the 20th century and as early as the 17th. See Wikipedia entry here.
Infant Baptism – Every example of baptism in the NT includes the convert believing (confession of faith). Some say that since the whole household of the Jailer was baptized it must have also included the children who could not decide on their own. I see this as an exercise in logic where one makes assumptions to their benefit. An act of consecration makes no sense when done for you by others. The process of “confirmation” supported by some churches has no scriptural foundation and reminds me that Jesus chastised Jewish leaders for changing His laws. The belief in infant baptism is based on a salvic affect of water for redemption from sin when redemption comes from our choice and baptism is the consecration of that decision.
Baptism as an outward display of faith - The act of being baptized is not for others. It’s for you and God. Neither the Eunuch who was baptized on his way home nor the jailer who was baptized in the middle of the night were concerned about being watched. There is no scripture that tells us to be baptized with people watching.

The above treatment shows baptism

Was performed on all new believers as described in the New Testament.
Is an act of consecration/spiritual cleansing that was performed by all who were making a new start in a spiritual endeavor… becoming a priest, a fresh start from repentance, and new believers in Jesus the Messiah with a commitment to His new covenant.
Is required by Jesus for the completion of our covenant commitment with Him.
Please remember… we are saved by Obedient Faith. There are many in this world who may be saved by seeking and obeying a God whose name they haven’t heard. See the treatment on this site titled “Salvation only if you have a Bible?” However, once you know of Jesus’ expectations for worshiping Him in spirit and truth with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, you are accountable to obey. This is what Paul had had the men he met who “only had the baptism of John” in Acts 19:4-10.

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Baptism

What is Its Purpose in Our Becoming Christians?

This treatment of baptism is in 6 sections

OVERVIEW

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