Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertation Projects DMin Graduate Research 1987 The Theology and Practice of Baptism John M. Fowler Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin Recommended Citation Fowler, John M., "The Theology and Practice of Baptism" (1987). Dissertation Projects DMin. 171. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dmin/171 This Project Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertation Projects DMin by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. Please honor the copyright of this document by not duplicating or distributing additional copies in any form without the author’s express written permission. 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ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT THE THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF BAPTISM by John W. Fowler Chairman: Clarence Gruesbeck Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Project Report Andrews U niversity Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary T itle : THE THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF BAPTISM Name of researcher: John W. Fowler Name and degree of faculty adviser: Clarence Gruesbeck Date completed: May 1987 The subject of baptism has a high level of consciousness in the corporate mind of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). There are only two sacraments recognized by the church. Baptism is one of them. Baptism is the focus of the mission o f the church. Numbers of baptisms is the evident object of that mission. It is the rite of entrance into church membership. It is the criteria for evaluating the pastor, the local church, and the work of the corporate church. Even though baptism holds such a central place in the life of the church, it is s till a point of controversy, misunderstanding, and discord. This conflict involves both the theology and the practice of baptism. These issues provide a rationale for this project, which can help resolve the conflict surrounding baptism by affecting the way we perceive baptism and the way we practice baptism. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 This study views baptism as a sacrament, a means of receiving the grace of God. It does this by focusing our faith on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. If baptism is conducted in the proper way, then faith unites both the candidate and the participating membership with Christ thus the grace of God is imparted. Thus i t becomes a sacrament. Second, baptism is viewed as ordina tion. This concept is predicated on the reception of the Holy S pirit in baptism. When the Holy S pirit comes to us it annoints or ordains us for ministry and at the same time equips us for that ministry. Baptism as ordin­ ation functions to keep before the church is mission which, in the context o f baptism as ordina tion, gives meaning and purpose to our discussion of the role of the laity in the work of the church. This project also sees baptism as initiation. While we have in the past viewed baptism as the rite of entrance into the church we have not conducted baptism as a service of in itia tio n , nor have we conducted this service in such a way as to achieve initiation. The em pirical data uncovered the s ta rtlin g and yet encouraging fact that a strong majority of our members hold theological views of baptism consistent with the theology developed in the project. However, the findings reveal a different picture of the practice of baptism. Our practice of baptism does not always correspond to our theology. With more attention given to this vita lly important sacrament within the life of the church, the spiritual life as well as the work o f the church can be g re a tly enhanced. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Andrews U niversity Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary THE THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF BAPTISM A Research Project Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements fo r the Degree Doctor of Ministry By John W. Fowler June 1987 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3096452 UMI" UMI Microform 3096452 Copyright 2003 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, Uniteid States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 80x1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. THE THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF BAPTISM A project report presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Ministry by John W. Fowler APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Clarence Gruesbeck, Chairman SDA TheologicaT Seminary C. Raympf^d Holmes %L G-ll-37 Kenneth Strand Date approved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................... vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 1 Statement of the Project ................................................................... 1 Justification of the Project ........................................... I The Task of the P ro je c t ................................................................... 1 Limitations of the Project ............................................................... 2 Expectations from the Project ....................................................... 2 Definition of Terms ........................................................................... 3 PART I: A THEOLOGY OF BAPTISM Chapter INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 5 I. BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST .................................................. 8 Baptism and Man's Relationship with C hrist .... 9 Baptized into Death with C h r is t ..................... 9 Baptized into Burial with C h ris t .......................... 10 Baptized into Resurrection with Christ ................ 12 Baptism and the Kingdom o f Heaven .............................. 13 Baptism and Conversion .............................................. 14 I I . BAPTIZED INTO THE BODY OF C H R IST................................... 18 Models o f Church Structure .......................................... 18 One True M o d e l ...................................................................... 19. The Church as the Body o f C h r i s t ............................... 20 Baptism in to the Body o f C h r is t ............................... 20 Community o f Worship in the Body of C hrist . 21 Baptism as Union with the C h u rc h ........................... 22 Blessings from Union with the C h u rc h .................... 23 Channel o f Light and L i f e ....................................... 24 Fellowship and Nurture ........................................... 25 Development o f S p iritu a l G i f t ............................... 25 System of d o c t r in e .................................................. 27 I I I . BAPTISM AS ORDINATION.......................................................... 29 Baptism Theologies .......................................................... 29 Clergy and Laity .............................................................. 31 i i i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Chapter III. (Continued) Ordination to M inistry at Baptism ........................... 32 The Baptism of Jesus ................ ........................... 33 Baptism