Have you identified with Christ by being baptized?

Being baptized is an essential part of following Christ.  Take some time right now to find out what the Bible says baptism is all about. 

 

What is baptism?

The word, baptize, means ‘to immerse’ or ‘to put into.’  As baptism is used in the New Testament it refers to the act of submerging (‘dunking’) someone in water. This immersion into water is a picture of what has already happened to the person spiritually. 

Romans 6:3-5 say, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” 

 

Why is baptism important?

First of all, understand that it does not save you. Clearly, the Bible says that a person cannot be saved by doing any kind of good works (including baptism).

Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” 

 

Although baptism does not save you, it is still important.  Why?  It is important for at least 2 reasons: 

 

Reason #1: It is part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus Christ gave the church the mission of making disciples, which includes baptizing them.  We know from this passage that being baptized is part of being a disciple.  In fact, if a person has not been baptized (which is part of being a disciple of Christ) how can he faithfully obey Jesus’ command to disciple others?  How could he encourage someone else to be baptized if he has not been baptized himself?

 

Reason #2:  It is declaration of a man to have a clean conscience before God.  First Peter 3:21 says baptism is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God.”  Peter says that baptism is a pledge to God for a good conscience.  When you make a pledge, you are making a vow, or a promise of some kind.  When a person is baptized, he is declaring his commitment to serve God with a clean conscience (pure intentions). 

 

When should a person be baptized?

It is to be done after a person is saved.  This is the pattern in the New Testament. When a person was saved, they were immediately baptized in order to identify with Christ.  It was a public testimony that a person belonged to Christ.

Acts 2 describes the first converts in the first church. 

Acts 2:41 says, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

The account of Philip and the eunuch also shows this same pattern. 

Acts 8:35-38 says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

(For other examples read about the Apostle Paul Acts 9:18, Cornelius in Acts 10:48, and new converts in the city of Corinth in Acts 18:8.)

 

Have you identified yourself with your Leader?

 

Just as you are called by James to question the validity of your faith if you have no works to back it up (James 2:14-26), so you have reason to question the validity of your being a true disciple if you resist getting baptized.

 

However, when you do get baptized, you have a wonderful opportunity to identify yourself with Christ.  You are telling others in a powerful way that…

·         You have committed your life to Christ.

·         You are determined to turn from you’re your old ways of serving yourself to a new life of serving Jesus Christ.

·         You are trusting in Christ’s death on the cross as the substitute for your sin.

·         You have determined in your heart to do whatever Christ wants you to do.

·         Jesus Christ, as your Leader, is worth following.

·         Jesus Christ is worthy of all of the worship that we have to offer Him.

 

Craig N. Johnson

[Scripture quotations from King James Bible]