What Is Baptism? (Volume 11) (Crucial Questions) Paperback – August 8, 2011

This is the second booklet in the Crucial Questions Series that I am reviewing. The topic of this work is on Christian baptism. I appreciated that Sproul wrote this and also made it available for free on Kindle and cheap in paperback format. In addition I appreciated the fact that Sproul wrote this booklet in an easy to understand format for the general audience.The book itself is divided into six chapters. The first chapter covered the relationship between baptism and salvation with Sproul making the nuanced point that baptism is important but that does not mean baptism is contrary to the Bible’s teaching that justification is by faith alone. Chapter two looks at John the Baptist’s ministry and baptism. Here I appreciated Sproul’s point that baptism was shocking in the period of second temple Judaism since it would have been a scandal that John the Baptism implied even the Jews also needed purification and not just Gentiles who converted. Chapter three looks at signs of Abraham’s covenant which Sproul ending the chapter with the question of what is the New Covenant sign which of course is Baptism. Chapter four then goes over the meaning of baptism which I felt was the meat of the book. Both chapters five and six are a bit more controversial among Christians and here we see Sproul’s Presbyterianism comes out. Concerning the discussion of modes of baptism in chapter five Sproul tries to argue for sprinkling as oppose to baptism by immersion. I didn’t think he presented necessarily the strongest case and I remained unconvinced. The most controversial chapter to me as a Christian with Baptist leaning is chapter six in which Sproul tried to argue his case for infant baptism. I know Sproul said that “it’s a very dangerous thing to try to discern what is the good and proper way to please God simply by counting noses…” but he goes ahead to make this type of argumentation in the paragraph right before the quote in which Sproul argued that contemporary Evangelicals who reject infant baptism are in the minority and outnumbered compared to the number of denominations that hold to infant baptisms (to be fair he did mention these denominations tend to be smaller in actual size). Moreover even after he made the statement that it is dangerous to argue by appealing to the majority he later goes on to make the same kind of appeal. I found Sproul to be at his weakest in the book here; for instance he acknowledges that “the New Testament nowhere explicitly commands Christian to baptize their infant children” but in the same paragraph he says “But by the same token, there is no explicit prohibition in the New Testament against the baptism of infants.” Not only am I not convinced because this is an argument from silent, but I also wonder how the Regulative Principle of Worship that Presbyterian subscribes to applies here as a undercutting defeater to infant baptism within conservative Presbyterian’s own theological method. There’s more I can say about this chapter but in terms of some positive input I think this is worth reading to at least get the argument for infant baptism from Presbyterians themselves.Overall a worthwhile work. I used this as a book one of our church’s small group was going through.

Definitely the best of Sproul's tracts in this series so far. An almost complete study of baptism, with its only flaw being that he fails to do for the reader what he said he did for his seminary students. He recounts how when would cover the topic with his students, some of which belonged to denominations holding to infant baptism and others to believers' baptism, he'd assign them a ten page paper on the contrary view. Generally, his students enjoyed the assignment, yet were strengthened in their original opinions. Despite that, he only goes into depth on the point of infant baptism. That lack cost him a star in my rating as he failed to give his readers the same trust as his students.

The booklet is a good introduction to baptism and what it means. Of course, since it is a booklet, it only scratches the surface of the topic. Considering the space limitations, Sproul does a good job of clarifying the meaning of baptism and what happens at baptism. He also makes a good case for infant baptism, but in a relatively short chapter, he doesn't have much room to go into the arguments for or against it in much depth. The reader will want to use this booklet as a launching point for a more in-depth study.

Dr. Sproul does a good job of reminding the church that a difference of opinion does not need to lead to division. Even though he argues for the practice of infant baptism, Dr. Sproul understands that the heart of the discussion is the community of faith. Baptism is a sign of connection to the church. Our theology will inform when this sacrament is administered, but it does not change it's meaning or significance. It's importance in and to the life of the church demands that we have healthy and edifying conversation on the subject.If you are looking for concise introduction on the subject of baptism, this is a valuable resource.

Sproul takes a big subject and is very succinct and clear on the views about baptism as a vital ceremony and seal for the covenant child. Jesus told us to baptize and it is hard to find anywhere that the age and mode is mentioned in the Bible. Some people read into the texts of the Bible about modes and re-baptizing and Sproul does a great job of examining these views and always comes back tot he Covenant of Grace. A good booklet

This short book is part of a series, describing the different aspects of baptism. In an unbiased, easy to understand way, Dr. Sproul explains the difference between believer's baptism and infant baptism. He goes over the views of baptism of the Catholic's, Reformers, and other fundamentalist Christians. He also touches on the association of baptism with salvation as well as the difference between John the Baptist's and Christian's baptism. I personally love R.C. Sproul's teaching on theology. This book was very informative, enjoyable and easy to understand. I would recommend it to anyone who has questions pertaining to baptism. It would be perfect for a Bible study and Sunday School groups or any individual interested in the subject.

R.C. Sproul writes in his usual helpful and understandable style. For an introduction, Sproul covers many of the important aspects of the Sacrament of Baptism from a Reformed (Presbyterian) perspective and gives a clear explanation of Baptism as a sign and seal. He also includes a chapter on infant baptism which I believe is helpful for people in Presbyterian churches that practice infant baptism, but also for those whose conviction is believers baptism. Not because it will convince someone to change their conviction, but rather to provide those with a conviction of believers baptism an understanding and perspective of infant baptism.

I really didn't know what to expect from this because I assumed I knew what I needed to, so wrong, this is great for answering those questions that people really want to know about what Catholics believe and the reforms that led to the separation of church, Infant baptism and the like. I am so grateful for this man's work and clarity.

Love it. RC Sproul is a great theologian who brings a clear, understandable and relevant theology from a reformed view point. Great introductory book. Great reading.

This booklet on baptism tackles what it means to be baptised and what relationship it puts the believer into with Christ and discusses the forms of baptism. Recommended

An excellent short book on a sacrament for which I have special respect. Though from a different denomination this writer gives an interpretation of baptism that all can generally agree with.

An excellent read from the pen of R C Sproul. Baptists may not agree with everything here but this is a very good overview of baptism.