Waters of Creation: A Biblical-Theological Study of Baptism

by Douglas Van Dorn

This is the one book on baptism that you must read. It was seven years in the making. The author believes that until a new approach is taken, separations over the meaning, mode, and recipients of baptism will never be bridged. This new approach has very ancient roots in the Church Fathers and even far earlier. It traces the origin of baptism deep into the OT Scriptures. When understood properly, we discover that baptism is always the sign that God has used to initiate his people into a new creation. Baptism in the NT is not “new.” Rather, it derives its origin from OT predecessors. When we understand that baptism comes from baptism, especially in its sacramental expression in the priestly covenant, reasons for the NT practice begin to make perfect sense. Now Baptists have an argument that infant Baptists can finally understand, because the argument begins in the same place. Yet, our conclusions as to the mode and recipients of baptism fall in line with historic Baptist practice, because the precedent for baptism is baptism, not circumcision.

Genres: Christian

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2019

Reviews

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good presentation on the Credo-Baptist understanding of the mode and meaning of Baptism. Mr Van Dorn goes into great detail drawing out through the analogy of faith a proper historic and biblical perspective on this often debated ordinance. I am not quite sold on the OT Levitcal/Aaronic covenant argument as a type of the New Covenant member and the priesthood of the believer, or Jesus' baptism being His stepping into His priestly duties, but have to admit that the authors presentation is very persuasive. This is another solid contribution to the Credo stance and will give our Pedo-Baptist brothers plenty to contend with. Excellent!

[Becky Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went through this one with the kids for school and all of them picked up something from it. It's not an easy book to read ALOUD and it's not an easy book to read to the littlest kids but the oldest ones understood it well enough and even the littles picked up something from it.

This book ties baptism to OT scenes and brings our understanding of the purpose and holy ordinance of Baptism forward into NT and modern times. There was a thorough explanation of why we are not pedobaptists and why we practice immersion baptism. It tied the baptisms to the covenant(s) with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the Levites. It spent a good deal of time on the Levitical covenant which broadened the ordinance's significance in the NT and beyond. I have read this once before, but reading it aloud to the kids I picked up more that I had not seen before.

[Jose Ruiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I learned a lot from this book.

I like how Van Dorn makes this click and make sense thing all the scripture together. This is a book I am going to re-read again and again.