Spurgeon on Doctrine - Baptism
It is the firm belief of almost all Christian people that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, before he left the earth, instituted two ordinances, namely, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper — ordinances which were to be observed by his disciples throughout every age on to the end of the world.
Charles Spurgeon
Sermon: Christian Baptism
April 9, 1861
Charles Spurgeon preached plenty on the Christian doctrine of baptism. And this doctrine, today, continues to be a place of conversation, discussion, disagreement, and divide. It is unfortunate that such issues are found divisive within the church today. Of course, it is not the ordinance itself that creates the division, but the people who maintain their own perspective of it that do. Spurgeon taught several clear elements about baptism throughout his ministry. For Spurgeon, baptism is the command of Christ. A command that should not be trifled with or ignored. While he acknowledges that there are a few who disagree with it as a literal act, it can generally be held that baptism is an expected part of the Christian faith. He breaks the doctrine of baptism into several parts. Here is an outline of what he taught.
Baptism is immersion in water
Spurgeon preached at a time when the Baptists where somewhat young and, most definitely, in the minority. Baptists, in a general sense, received their name for their peculiar practice of baptizing only after expression of faith in Christ, immersing in water, and denying the practice of infant baptism.
… if you ask “Why do you immerse in baptism?” I say because baptism must, in the very nature of things, be a representation setting forth figuratively the burial and resurrection of Christ…
- Christian Baptism April 9, 1861 -
Immersion, or the physical going under of the whole body in the water, is the best and most accurate representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. There is a strict adherence to immersion as the mode. The passages in the Bible that depict baptism all imply a going down into the water and a coming up out of it.
Baptism is for true believers
While there might be a better way to say it, baptism is only for the person who has truly and fully committed his life to Jesus. Therefore, it would not be applicable to an infant who is incapable of expressing that sort of commitment. The point of baptism would be different for each person but would require a demonstrated confession of faith. Baptism is a sacrament of the church and must be administered. For an oath, such as this sacrament, to be properly administered it should involve the party knowing and being able to articulate what is being committed. This level of expectation does not preclude a child from being able to be baptized and does not assure an adult. It should also be recognized that the first several hundred years of the early church did not see paedo-baptism as a practice. Again, there is no Scriptural evidence in the various passages that any but professing believers were brought to the waters of baptism. It is those who have a good conscience before God because of personal faith in Christ who should be baptized.
Baptismal regeneration
This point is offered particularly because Spurgeon preaches against it, and, along with it, the Church of England. As stated above, Spurgeon believed that baptism should only be applied to a true believer in Christ and that believer should be able to express that belief. But, for Spurgeon, a baptized unbeliever is still damned as much as an unbaptized unbeliever. Baptism cannot exempt a person from the common damnation of the ungodly. There is no connection between the immersion and the regeneration of the soul. The connection of baptism with regeneration “regards outward rites as more important than inward grace.” (Baptismal Regeneration June 5, 1864) The regeneration of baptism is only because it is a regenerate soul being baptized.
Baptism is a testimony of faith
Baptism is a part of the first acts of obedience for the believer. “It is a type, a sign, a symbol, a mirror to the world…” (Baptismal Regeneration June 5, 1864) It is the believer’s outward testimony of avowed faith in the power of God through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to save. It seems awkward and weird to the world, but it is commanded by God and, therefore, must be obeyed. It is such first obedience that helps the new believer lay a foundation for future action. It should be avoided to see baptism elevated to a place of holiness it does not deserve, but nor should it be relegated to place of being ignored.
And hence baptism, being God’s way of our openly confessing our faith, he requires it to be added to faith, that the faith may be a confessing faith, not a cowardly faith ; that the faith may be an open faith, not a private faith; that so the faith may be a working faith, influencing our life, and the life of others, and not a mere secret attempt for self-salvation by a silent faith which dares not own Christ.
- Baptism Essential to Obedience October 13, 1889 -
Baptism is the believer’s testimony and Spurgeon even goes so far as to suggest the “believer” who is unwilling to be baptized might not be a believer at all.
Disclaimer: These articles are not meant to argue a point of doctrine as true or not. For many doctrinal beliefs there is breadth in how to interpret and understand it. There are certain ones that are non-negotiable and those will be accepted as understood by the reader. These writings are summaries of what Charles Spurgeon taught, preached, or communicated about various doctrines within the church. They are provided for informational purposes.