Baptism: A Name You Cannot Unname

Sinclair Ferguson says Baptism is a naming ceremony (in the father, Son, Holy Spirit.). Spiritual baptism has clear benefits in its sealing you to the Holy Spirit and your salvation but what of the physical baptism you had? What is its significance? Surely it is an important sign that God gives to his people just as the rainbow was to Noah so we have a promise in the macro sense that Jesus died for the sins of his people.

But why do we call the physical baptism also a seal? Sinclair says it’s because it’s a naming ceremony. Just as my parents give me a name at birth, a name that I must deal with. I either accept my name or I have to actively deny it and pick a new name.

If you are baptized you must recognize that you were. It happened. You were dedicated to God, you can’t pretend you never knew God. Baptism seals you to his family and if you decide to leave his family that is a choice you have to make. The unbaptized unbeliever has no family to leave, he has to join the family.

We need to rejoice in our physical baptism every day, just as I may be happy to belong to the name Visser, so much more I must be happy to belong to the name Christ.