Recovering The Evangelical Sacrament [Hardcover]

Description: The subject of baptism continues to be of considerable interest--though it frequently appears within broader studies of sacraments, liturgy, worship, and ecumenical studies, and within confessional bounds: credobaptist or paedobaptist--yet it is rarely discussed by Evangelicals. This book, however, is neither an apologetic for credobaptism nor paedobaptism; rather Cross believes that, as practiced today, both forms are a departure from New Testament baptism, which, he maintains, was an integral part of becoming a Christian and part of the proclaimed gospel. He argues that the one baptism of Ephesians 4:5 is conversion-baptism and that the baptism referred to in the various New Testament strata refers to this one baptism (of Spirit and water). The study sets out the case for this interpretation and contends that in key passages baptism is an example of synecdoche. The case is then made for a sacramental interpretation of baptism from a thoroughgoing Evangelical perspective. Cross concludes with reflections on the necessity of baptismal reform and the relevance of a return to conversion-baptism for the contemporary church in a post-Christian, post-Christendom, mission setting. Endorsements: The challenge of this thesis . . . is essentially simple: we are called and challenged to accord the significance to baptism that it is accorded in the New Testament. --John E. Cowell, Senior Research Fellow, Spurgeon's College This is a remarkably detailed, biblically focused, and ecumenically sensitive book on the sacrament of baptism. Like Beasley-Murray in his classic study on baptism, Anthony R. Cross brings new insight to the indispensable role of Christian initiation both in personal faith and the life of the church. Highly recommended! --Timothy George, Founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School This richly theological work on such a significant subject is a gift to the whole church. It is full of good scholarship, wise in judgment, and pracl4