Believer Baptism Study Guide

Believer baptism in the Reformed Baptist tradition is the New Testament ordinance by which professing believers are immersed in water as a sign of union with Christ in his death and resurrection, remission of sins, and entrance into the visible church, in continuity with the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession and a rich line of historical and contemporary theologians.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:23][cite:1]

1. Starting Point: 1689 Confession

The doctrinal baseline is Chapters 28 ("Of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper") and 29 ("Of Baptism") of the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith.[cite:11][cite:12][cite:13][cite:19] These chapters define baptism as a Christ-ordained New Testament ordinance for those who profess repentance and faith, using water in the triune Name, administered by immersion.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:16][cite:19][cite:23]

Use these four headline propositions as the confessional grid:

• Baptism is a positive, sovereignly instituted ordinance of the New Testament, appointed by Christ and binding until the end of the age.[cite:11][cite:19][cite:25]
• It is a sign of fellowship or union with Christ in his death and resurrection, engrafting into him, remission of sins, and commitment to walk in newness of life.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:16][cite:23]
• Only those who actually profess repentance toward God, faith in, and obedience to Christ are proper subjects.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:16][cite:23]
• The outward element is water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and immersion is necessary to the due administration of the ordinance.[cite:13][cite:14][cite:19][cite:21]

For detailed confessional exposition, useful modern resources include modern-English editions and pastoral expositions on Chapters 28–29.[cite:15][cite:23][cite:25]

1. Core Exegetical Themes

In a 1689 framework, believer baptism should be anchored in a cluster of key biblical texts.[cite:13][cite:14][cite:23][cite:24]

Focus passages:

• Matthew 28:18–20, for the command to disciple, baptize, and teach.[cite:11][cite:19][cite:25]
• Romans 6:3–4 and Colossians 2:11–12, for union with Christ in death and resurrection.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:16][cite:23]
• Acts 2:38–41, Acts 8, Acts 9, Acts 10–11, and Acts 16, for the apostolic pattern of profession preceding baptism.[cite:11][cite:16][cite:23][cite:24]
• Jeremiah 31, Hebrews 8–10, and Galatians 3, for new-covenant membership and the relation of faith to the people of God.[cite:22][cite:23][cite:24]

Exegetical questions to trace:

• How union with Christ functions as the primary theological category for baptism, especially in Romans 6 and Colossians 2.[cite:11][cite:13][cite:14][cite:23]
• How the regenerate nature of the new covenant community distinguishes Reformed Baptist credobaptism from paedobaptist covenantalism.[cite:22][cite:23][cite:24]