Imagining Two Baptisms

What do I mean by two baptisms? “It is to say that all our talking and listening is out of baptism and into baptism” according to Walter Brueggemann. I suspect that many will say that according to apostle Paul there is one baptism (Eph. 4:5). Nevertheless, my imagination was captured by Brueggemann’s topic, Baptismal Imagination and Obedience. He explains, “Baptism is the premise of all evangelical speaking and hearing in the church. Baptism that renounces the old ways of death and embraces a new life is an act whereby we are invited and incorporated into an alternative dream of how the world will finally be.”

When I went back to Paul’s teaching on baptism in Romans 6ff. and Col 2ff. I saw those two baptisms. Believers in Jesus crucified and raised know this, “The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:10-11). Baptism is more than a dip into the water; something happened by God’s promise and power. Baptism is essential. But it is followed by a very essential therefore that “you having been set free from sin have become slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:18ff) – baptism #2.

Paul is more explicit in Colossians 2 & 3. By faith in the working of God who raised Jesus from the dead those who are dead in sin are raised to new life (Col. 2:12ff.) – baptism #1. Since you have died, be putting to death whatever is earthly in you (Col. 2:20; 3:5). Since you have been raised cloth yourselves in a new life (Col. 3:1, 10) – baptism #2. Indeed, we have been baptized into baptism.

—Tom Yoakum