Baptism

A POSITION STATEMENT

A SKETCH ON BAPTISM FROM ACTS 2:38

Virgil Warren, PhD

ABSTRACT OF DISTINCTIONS ABOUT THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM

Virgil Warren, PhD

BAPTISM AS IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST

Virgil Warren, PhD

            Seeing baptism as identification with Christ provides a framework for working through several abnormal situations that arise and helps make sense even of normal situations that may be overlooked in the theory and practice of the ordinance.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Virgil Warren, PhD

Doctrinal Questions

REBAPTISM

Virgil Warren, PhD

            The wise policy is to let candidates make their own decision about rebaptism; after all, baptism is their obedience to God, not ours. Nevertheless, people usually take their cue from those they have come to trust on religious matters. For these reasons we will not always be able to leave the issue in the hands of candidates.

RETHINKING THE DESCRIPTION OF BAPTISM

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH IN ACTS 2:38

THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM: A SYNOPSIS*

Virgil Warren, PhD

                               CHRISTIANITY AS AN INTERPERSONAL “SYSTEM”        

TWO BASIC POINTS ABOUT BAPTISM

Virgil Warren, PhD

            Two points should be highlighted in presentations about baptism. First, baptism should not be too closely identified with outer response. That lends itself to distinguishing inner and outer, identifying faith with inner and baptism with outer, and then affirming that it is the inner dimension that justifies rather than the outer expressive act as well, thus trying to avoid baptism as a work and bringing it into conformity with the Pauline formula “salvation by faith” vs. works. But “faith” in Romans/Galatians does not mean inner action; that is the usage in James. Paul means action in the context of personal relationship (faith) vs. action in the context of legal process (works). We do well to unite inner and outer response in salvation and to consider baptism itself as comprised of both dimensions inseparably. That unity of aspects applies to all acts of obedience.  

TYPES OF SYSTEMS

Virgil Warren, PhD

UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIAN ORDINANCES

WHAT THE VERY EXISTENCE OF BAPTISM SHOWS

Virgil Warren, PhD