Is baptism sacrament or memorial? Obviously, it is a memorial. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” But is it more than this? To answer correctly, we need to define a “sacrament.” If we mean something regenerating a soul and/or creating faith, then we deny it. But if we mean something strengthening faith as a means of sanctifying grace, then we affirm it. If we say simply that baptism is a sign and seal of the righteousness that we have by faith, then we believe that baptism is a sacrament.
As a sign, baptism points back at Christ’s death, which he called his “second baptism” and “the sign of Jonah.” Thus, even the memorial view should understand baptism to be a sign. But baptism is also a seal, I believe, according to Scripture. John the Baptist affirmed that “He who has received His witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:33-34). What is this “seal?”
Some understand it to be a person’s confession of belief in the truthfulness of Christ’s witness. This is interesting in light of the broader context. Seven times in the passage the word “witness” or “testimony” has been used. This verse says that a man who receives the witness or testimony “sets his seal” to this. While this confession-seal could just be only verbal assent, we need to recognize that people in this passage are being baptized (John 3:23). In Scripture, the confession of the Faith is always closely tied to baptism. Thus, it is legitimate to see this passage as affirming that baptism is both sign and seal of all the benefits gained by Christ’s death. Thus, baptism is a sacrament, sealing upon our hearts the benefits of Christ which came to us by faith alone.
