Old Testament Origins of Baptism w/ FLAME & Chad Bird

Introduction

In this section, the speaker introduces himself and his guest. They discuss the importance of understanding the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.

Background of the Guest Speaker

• The guest speaker was raised as a Southern Baptist in New Mexico and Texas.

• He later became convinced by Lutheran teachings and pursued graduate studies in Hebrew and Old Testament.

• The guest speaker emphasizes that Jesus never read the New Testament, so it is important to study the Old Testament for a complete understanding of Christian theology.

Importance of Studying the Old Testament

In this section, the speakers discuss why studying the Old Testament is important for understanding Christian theology.

Significance of Old Testament for Early Christians

• In early Christianity, there were no written New Testament books yet. Therefore, early Christians relied on what we now call the Old Testament to study atonement, justification, Christology, etc.

• The guest speaker argues that without an understanding of the Old Testament, one cannot fully understand or appreciate what Jesus accomplished through his life and death.

Baptism in Light of Old Testament

In this section, the speakers discuss how baptism should be understood in light of the Old Testament.

Continuity Between Covenants

• The guest speaker emphasizes that there is continuity between God's covenants with Israel in the Old Testament and with believers in Christ in the New Testament.

• The act of baptism can be seen as a continuation of the Old Testament practice of circumcision, which was a sign of God's covenant with Israel.

Baptism as Sign and Seal

• The guest speaker argues that baptism is both a sign and seal of God's covenant with believers.

• As a sign, baptism represents the believer's union with Christ in his death and resurrection.

• As a seal, baptism confirms and strengthens the believer's faith in God's promises.

Conclusion

In this section, the speakers wrap up their discussion on baptism and the importance of studying the Old Testament for understanding Christian theology.

Importance of Continuity

• The guest speaker emphasizes that understanding continuity between covenants is crucial for understanding Christian theology.

• He encourages Christians to study both the Old and New Testaments to gain a fuller understanding of God's plan for salvation.

Understanding Typology in the Bible

In this section, the speaker explains how typology is used to interpret the Bible and how it is rooted in the Old Testament. He gives examples of typology from both the Old and New Testaments.

Typology in the New Testament

• The New Testament compares events and people to those in the Old Testament.

• Examples include Jesus comparing his lifting up to how the bronze serpent was lifted up in Numbers, and Paul comparing Adam to Christ.

• Jesus also uses Jonah's time in the belly of a fish as a type for his own death and resurrection.

Typology in Genesis

• The way that God deals with people throughout history follows a predictable pattern.

• This pattern can be seen by comparing Adam to Noah or David to later kings.

• There are also patterns of exile and return throughout scripture.

Interpreting Scripture

• Typology is not just a modern interpretation but has been used since Genesis.

• It is important to study scripture within scripture rather than just taking individual bullet points out of context.

• Understanding typology helps us understand baptism and other aspects of our faith.

Baptism in Light of Types and Shadows

In this section, the speaker discusses the significance of baptism in light of its connections to water throughout history. The discussion is framed around a predictable pattern throughout history where God likes to use certain things or likes to do certain things with his people.

Water Throughout History

• From Genesis 1 onward, God used water for various purposes such as saving, cleansing, and giving life.

• The flood story is like God rewinding Creation in Genesis 1 verse 2 again because there's water everywhere. Noah and his family are saved through water while the same waters destroy their enemies.

• When the priests were ordained, Moses washed them as part of their ordination. This washing is likely the background for what Hebrew says in chapter 10 where he talks about our bodies being washed with pure water so that we can enter into the holy of holies into God's presence.

• In Second Kings chapter five, Naaman has a skin disease which makes him richly unclean. He is healed by washing himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Baptism

• Once you see all these connections between water and God's work throughout history, it makes sense that baptism would be used to give blessings to us.

• Paul says that Israelites were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea at Red Sea. This connection between Israelites' body and their leader highlights another water story.

• Hebrew says our bodies have been washed with pure water so that we can enter into the holy of holies into God's presence. This suggests that baptism serves as a way for us to enter into God's presence.

The Significance of Water in the Old Testament

In this section, the speaker talks about how water is used in the Old Testament to rescue God's people, bring death to their enemies, cleanse them and prepare them for entry into his presence.

Water Stories in the Old Testament

• Naaman is cleansed by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan River.

• The Greek word for "baptize" was used to translate the Hebrew verb for "going into water" when Second Kings was translated from Hebrew to Greek.

• God uses water to rescue his people, bring death to their enemies, cleanse them and prepare them for entry into his presence.

Baptism as a Symbol of Cleansing and Healing

• Baptism symbolizes cleansing and healing through water.

• There is a connection between water and what God says that brings about some type of healing or salvific results.

• We struggle with accepting that God would use something like mere water to accomplish his ends because we want big things or ethereal floating things to feel blown away by something.

The Foolishness of God

• Paul talks about the wisdom of God and the foolishness of God. He talks about how God likes to hide his wisdom behind what we think is foolish.

• Name it is an example of how God hides behind that which is objectionable or simple which the world deems foolish.

Plucking Out Your Eyeballs to See God

In this section, the speaker talks about how relying on what we see can be misleading and that we should listen to what God says instead. He also explains how baptism is a way for us to receive all the gifts that Jesus won for us.

Seeing Through Our Ears

• The speaker shares a quote: "If you want to see God at work, pluck out your eyeballs and put them in your ears."

• We can't rely on what we see because it can be misleading.

Baptism as a Way to Receive Gifts

• To receive all the good stuff that Jesus won for us, such as forgiveness, life, salvation, righteousness, etc., we need a way to get it.

• God's way of giving us these gifts is through His word.

• Baptism is like the word clothed in water and gives us all the blessings that Christ has won for us.

• There's no dichotomy between the work of Christ and the cross and baptism; baptism just happens to be the word drenched in water that gives us all the blessings that God wants to give us.

Infant Baptism

In this section, the speaker talks about how infant baptism is consistent with God using physical things to communicate His gifts.

Circumcision and Baptism

• Paul binds circumcision and baptism together as baptism being the fuller expression or more inclusive expression of circumcision.

• Just like how circumcision brought infant boys into God's kingdom in the Old Testament, so does infant baptism bring boys and girls into His kingdom and gives them His gifts.

• Infant baptism is consistent with God using physical things to communicate His gifts, just like how He gave gifts to Israel through things like water cleansing and animal sacrifices.

Circumcision and Baptism

In this section, the speaker discusses the similarities between circumcision in the Old Testament and baptism in the New Testament. He explains that both are signs of God's covenant with his people and that they represent a permanent connection to God.

The Significance of Circumcision

• Circumcision was a mark in the flesh that represented a permanent connection to God.

• The phrase "circumcision made without hands" is used to describe something that comes from God.

• In Colossians, Paul connects circumcision to baptism, indicating that what was good in the old Covenant is better in the New Covenant.

The Significance of Baptism

• Just as circumcision brought boys into God's covenant, baptism brings boys and girls into it.

• Baptism is a circumcision without hands because it is a circumcision of Christ.

• Through baptism, we die to our sinful flesh and are grafted into Christ himself.

Personal Response vs. Infant Baptism

• Some people may struggle with infant baptism because they believe infants cannot cognitively wrestle with doctrine and theology.

• We all want to have some "skin in the game," but ultimately salvation comes from God's grace rather than our personal response.

Baptism as God's Action

In this section, the speaker emphasizes that baptism is entirely God's action. He explains that God brings us to life, takes away our sins, and cleanses us. The speaker also highlights that baptism is always perfect because it is performed by a perfect God.

Understanding Baptism as God's Work

• The speaker explains that baptism should not be seen as something we do or co-participate in but rather as something done for us by God.

• The speaker notes that all baptisms are infant baptisms since everyone receiving the action of baptism is receiving it from God.

• The speaker highlights that he loves the fact that he does not baptize himself but rather someone else does it for him, acting as a stand-in for God.

Comfort in Baptism Being Our Identity

• The speaker urges people to think of themselves as baptized instead of saying they were baptized since baptism establishes who they are every day.

• The speaker notes that his identity is wrapped up in Christ himself since he was baptized into Christ Jesus. This provides comfort in all kinds of circumstances.

Processing Baptism as Identity

In this section, the speakers discuss how they process baptism as their identity and what it means to them in real-time life situations.

Viewing Baptism Beyond a Point in Time

• One tendency people have is to view their baptism as something great that happened a long time ago without any meaningful impact on their daily lives.

• Instead, the speakers urge people to view themselves as baptized, which is an established reality of who they are as a child of God.

Finding Comfort in Baptism as Identity

• The speaker notes that baptism provides comfort in all kinds of circumstances, such as when doubting one's salvation. He can look at himself and say he is a baptized child of God since the water baptism never evaporates.

The Significance of Baptism

In this section, the speakers discuss the significance of baptism and how it establishes a pattern of daily repentance.

Daily Repentance

• Baptism establishes a pattern of daily repentance.

• Even in times of tragedy, knowing that a loved one was baptized can bring comfort as it means they were claimed by God.

• Through baptism, God claims us as his own and we are assured that we will be with Christ one day.

• It is important to approach the topic of baptism with care through prayer and studying the Bible.

Approaching the Topic of Baptism

In this section, the speakers discuss the emotional journey that comes with approaching the topic of baptism and how it can be challenging for some people.

Emotional Journey

• Approaching the topic of baptism can cause an emotional crisis for some people.

• There is pressure to conform to a version of Christianity that functions well within generic American Christianity.

• Some people may feel like they are losing their grip on the truth when confronted with different views on baptism.

Conclusion and Social Media Plug

In this section, the speakers conclude their discussion on baptism and plug their social media accounts.

Conclusion

• The speakers express their gratitude for each other's time and insights on baptism.

• They plan to continue discussing other topics such as communion in future conversations.

Social Media Plug

• The speaker plugs his social media accounts and encourages people to follow him for more content on the Old Testament.

Introduction to Old Testament Study

In this section, the speaker introduces a podcast that walks through the Old Testament chapter by chapter and verse by verse.

Podcast on Old Testament Study

• The speaker recommends checking out their podcast for an in-depth study of the Old Testament.

• The podcast covers each chapter and verse of the Old Testament.

• The speaker hopes that listeners will find the podcast to be a blessing.