The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Is Baptism equivalent to making a vow?

I'm doing a little study on baptism. I'm not interested in the issue of how or who, but what it represents. My conclusion is that baptism is more than many make it out to be, and today, the full impact of its use is misunderstood. I know that many say it is for the purpose of being added to the covenant people of God, where I can see some merit behind that opinion, but isn't it much more?

I believe that our baptism is in effect, making a vow before almighty God to follow, obey and serve Him for the remainder of our lives. We know Christ's baptism described in Matt. 3:13-15 wasn't for the purpose of repentence, but signified something else. Was it to be added to the covenant people of God or to be identified with them? Wasn't He already so by His lineage? I believe the purpose of His baptism was to publically consecrate Himself into the service of God the Father, making a vow as God in the flesh to do all the Father required of Him. Why else was He taken out into the desert to be tempted right after His baptism other than for Satan to attempt to get Him to break that vow of obedience? Why was the Father pleased with Him if He was just being identified with the covenant people of God? Wasn't Christ making a vow to endure all even death on the cross in His baptism?

My other reason for this opinion is that I believe that the sacrament of baptism is our part in consecrating ourselves to God, where the baptism of the Spirit is God's consecrating us by the Holy Spirit into His service.

In conclusion, my view is that our being baptized is in effect making a vow. Maybe people wouldn't be baptized as quickly if they didn't just think it was a "secret handshake" to gain admittance into the club but a serious undertaking. Something that God also takes very seriously, as vows are not to be taken lightly. I even can see a relation to the Nazarite vow somewhat, but I won't push that. Look at the early church, baptism was in many cases their own death warrant. Just some thoughts I had.