Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Baptism is not what produces salvation. It “saves” us in that it first involves or reflects a heart decision: a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior.
In effect, baptism in New Testament theology is a loyalty oath, a public avowal of who is on the Lord’s side in the cosmic war between good and evil. But in addition to that, it is also a visceral reminder to the defeated fallen angels.
Every baptism is a reiteration of their doom in the wake of the gospel and the kingdom of God. Early Christians understood the typology of this passage and its link back to the fallen angels of Genesis 6. Early baptismal formulas included a renunciation of Satan and his angels for this very reason.
Baptism was — and still is — spiritual warfare.
Read a great resource that dives deeper into this topic: drmsh.com/baptism-spiritual-warfare
#bible #oldtestament #heiser #spiritualwarfare
Baptism is not what produces salvation. It “saves” us in that it first involves or reflects a heart decision: a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior.
In effect, baptism in New Testament theology is a loyalty oath, a public avowal of who is on the Lord’s side in the cosmic war between good and evil. But in addition to that, it is also a visceral reminder to the defeated fallen angels.
Every baptism is a reiteration of their doom in the wake of the gospel and the kingdom of God. Early Christians understood the typology of this passage and its link back to the fallen angels of Genesis 6. Early baptismal formulas included a renunciation of Satan and his angels for this very reason.
Baptism was — and still is — spiritual warfare.
Read a great resource that dives deeper into this topic: drmsh.com/baptism-spiritual-warfare
#bible #oldtestament #heiser #spiritualwarfare
