Johnson, Terry L.
Washed by God: The Story of Baptism (Deenick)
Baptism is a subject which has caused confusion amongst Christians for many years. Jesus included it in his final charge to the disciples. It is clearly important, so why do we spend so much time arguing about it? Baptism is a God–given sign, not to obscure the gospel, but to make it clearer. Karl Deenick explains not only what baptism is, what it isn’t, and who should be baptised, but he follows the threads of symbolic cleansing through both the Old and New Testaments. He explains and exalts the gospel and shows how the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus and how he fulfils the Old Testament.
Author
Karl is the coordinator of community and student care and a lecturer in theology at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. Until recently he was serving as a pastor in Launceston, Tasmania. He is the author of Righteous by Promise: A Biblical Theology of Circumcision and Gathered Together: The Beauty of Living as God’s Church.
Endorsements
… opens up fresh angles on baptism, no matter which side of the issue you stand on. But what makes this book particularly valuable is that it not only stimulates rigorous thought about baptism in a very accessible way; it does so opening up wonderfully rich perspectives on the gospel itself – the glorious gospel that baptism points to. -Murray A. Capill, Principal, Reformed Theological College, Victoria, Australia
… with a mixture of theological acumen and pastoral sensitivity, he explains how baptism is, ultimately, a sign of the gospel for the entire family of faith. Easily one of the best books about baptism you will ever read! -Michael F. Bird, Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia
Whatever you believe about Baptism, this valuable book will give you many generous doses of Biblical Theology, Biblical evidence, theological cohesion, and pastoral clarity. It is theologically deep, and highly practical. Heartily recommended. -Peter Adam, Vicar Emeritus, St Jude's Church, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Deenick weaves together a host of Biblical texts on circumcision, sacrifice, covenant, and the Spirit in order to demonstrate that, more than anything else, baptism is a sign of the gospel and of the community gathered around God’s Messiah, Jesus. If you’re tired of hearing the same arguments on baptism reheated and served as leftovers, this book is for you. -Joe Barnard, Pastor, Holyrood Evangelical Church, Edinburgh Author of The Way Forward, and Surviving the Trenches
I encourage all to read and interact with this work, and I hope we can all agree with Deenick that we look to Jesus alone for salvation. -Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky