Systematic Theology, by Louis Berkhof - New Leaven

1:33; (b) was connected with a radical change of life, Luke 1:1-17; John 1:20-30; (c) stood
in sacramental relation to the forgiveness of sins, Matt. 3:7,8; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3 (comp.
Acts 2:28) and (d) employed the same material element, namely, water. At the same time
there were several points of difference: (a) the baptism of John still belonged to the old
dispensation, and as such pointed forward to Christ; (b) in harmony with the
dispensation of the law in general, it stressed the necessity of repentance, though not
entirely to the exclusion of faith; (c) it was intended for the Jews only, and therefore
represented the Old Testament particularism rather than the New Testament
universalism; and (d) since the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out in pentecostal
fulness, it was not yet accompanied with as great a measure of spiritual gifts as the later
Christian baptism.
B. THE INSTITUTION OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.
1. IT WAS INSTITUTED WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY. Baptism was instituted by Christ after
He had finished the work of reconciliation and this had received the approval of the
Father in the resurrection. It is worthy of notice that He prefaced the great commission
with the words, “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.”
Clothed with the fulness of that mediatorial authority, He instituted Christian baptism
and thus made it binding for all following generations. The great commission is
couched in the following words: “Go ye therefore (that is, because all nations are made
subject to Me), and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe whatsoever I
have commanded you.” Matt. 28:19,20. The complementary form in Mark 16:15,16 reads
as follows: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He
that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be
condemned.” Thus the following elements are clearly indicated in this authoritative
command: (a) The disciples were to go out into the whole world and to preach the
gospel to all nations, in order to bring people to repentance and to the acknowledgment
of Jesus as the promised Saviour. (b) They who accepted Christ by faith were to be
baptized in the name of the triune God, as a sign and seal of the fact that they had
entered into a new relation to God and as such were obliged to live according to the
laws of the Kingdom of God. (c) They were to be brought under the ministry of the
Word, not merely as a proclamation of the good news, but as an exposition of the
mysteries, the privileges, and the duties, of the new covenant. For the encouragement of
the disciples Jesus adds the words, “And lo, I (who am clothed with the authority to
give this commandment) am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
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