Recently heard a sermon on the virtues of the Ordinances. NO! Virtues is not the right word; this word means "goodness", as in something that is good. Baptism, one of the two ordinances presented, is a good practice. However, the way baptism is often presented is like this: "If you do not get baptised, how can you call yourself a Christian? After all, it is Christ's first command for all who profess faith in Him." I firmly believe that most proponents of baptism would not say that it is a condition of salvation, however the emphasis and subtle (sometimes not so subtle!) nuances that pervade some evangelical messages is clear: Jesus commands us to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Water. John baptized with water (Acts 1:5, 11:15-18) as a foreshadowing of the baptism of the Holy Spirit brought by Jesus. Jesus commands baptism not IN water but IN the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). So why is water baptism emphasized so heavily?
