It does something part 2

But what is meant when baptism is called a sign? G.I. Williamson claims that baptism is a sign in the sense that it “pictures” something. In popular Reformed sacramental theology, this model is used to evacuate the sacraments of their efficacy. Nothing actually happens when someone is baptized because, after all, it is “just a picture.” Presumably, God does his real work of grace apart from the sacrament of baptism. Thus, whenever the Scriptures read, “baptism does x”, we conveniently read it as, “Baptism pictures/symbolizes x” but this notion of “sign” = “picture” needs to be challenged, along with the denigration of baptismal efficacy that it entails. Baptism does not merely picture something, it accomplishes something. If God intended for baptism to be a picture, he seemed to make a poor choice of rituals. The outward rite simply does not picture what baptism is said to do. Consider some test cases, drawn from the NT’s declarations about baptism that we have already made reference to above:

In Gal. 3.27, Paul claims, “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is an investiture ceremony. This imagery for baptism is probably drawn from the OT priestly ordination ceremony, which involved a washing with water and a clothing rite (Lev. 8) Paul sees this Old Covenant ritual transformed into New Covenant baptism. But it is hard to see how putting water on someone’s head “pictures” clothing with the priestly garment of Christ.

In Titus 3.5, Paul calls baptism “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Baptism is the sacrament of the new birth. But it will not do to say that baptism “pictures” this new birth. I have had the joy of watching my wife give birth three times now, but never in the delivery room did I witness anything that looked remotely like a baptism. In no obvious way does baptism picture regeneration.

In Romans 6.1ff, Paul says we were united to Christ when we were baptized. Baptism is a kind of wedding ceremony, joining the one baptized to Christ in a covenantal relationship. But, again, the rite itself looks nothing like the covenant-making ceremony that it is said to be.

In 1 Cor. 12.13, Paul says, “by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, “namely, the body of Christ. But once again the rite itself fails to picture incorporation into Christ’s body. Indeed, it is hard to imagine how any ritual could picture such incorporation.

In 1 Peter 3, Peter declares that god saves us through baptism. Baptism is “not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God.” In other words baptism is precisely not what it looks like! It may look like the outward washing of the body, but Peter says in reality, it is the washing of the conscience before God (cf. Acts 2.38, 22.16). In fact, if God intended baptism to simply picture this cleansing of conscience, it seems drinking water, rather than having it poured on the body, might have been a better choice of rites, since it is internal cleansing that is effected.

-Rich Lusk