Bath - Baptism as union with Christ

who endorsed believers’ baptism?

Karl Barth

where did Barth lay out his teachings about baptism?

‘The teaching of the Church regarding Baptism’

what did barth write about baptism?

It does not bring about human salvation but bears testimony to salvation by its symbolic representation of renewal in Christ

what does baptism with water mark?

The first step of a life lived in Christ

what is baptism a response to?

Baptism in the Spirit - God's grace is converting individuals

what is baptism not? what is it instead?

not a sacrament but a human action that acknowledges the one true sacrament, which is the sacrament of the history of Jesus. It is an image of salvation history and the power resides in Christ

what does baptism seal?

The reality of God's grace but does not generate that reality

because it is a human experience to God's grace, what must it be?

A free act. Since it is the beginning of a life of obedience to God, there can be no suggestion of coercion, for coercion undermines obedience

why is infant baptism misguided?

because it is coercive. While I is true, valid an effectual in an objective sense, it is deficient in the subjective sense that the indivudal baptised is not necessarily ready or willing to take the first step that it marks

what did Forsyth argue?

Both infant and believers’ baptism should be equally recognised

what did Cullman argue?

Objected that baptism signifies both death to sin and resurrection to the life of the Spirit. It is a passive reception of God's work and does not depend on the recipient's faith

what did Runner insist?

That in Baptism Christ unites people in his body, regardless of whether they are infant or adult

how is believers’ baptism usually carried out?

by immersion, when the water covers the candidate's whole body

define the term immersion.

Baptising by immersing the candidate's whole body in water