Water Baptism

What is Baptism?

In the Bible, there are two ordinances which Christians are instructed to practice and observe: The Lord's Supper/Communion and Water Baptism.

The purpose of both is to signify by outward symbolism what Christ has accomplished in a believer's life through faith in Christ. As true believers, we are both instructed and commanded to submit to both as expressions of our faith in Christ. In what has become known as the "Great Commission", Jesus gave the following command: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - Matthew 28:19

Why do you need to be Baptized?

1. Act of Obedience: Throughout the New Testament, water baptism was practiced following conversion. This was done in direct response to Jesus' command that Christians everywhere are to "make disciples" and then "baptize" those who believe. Therefore, everyone who becomes a Christian needs to be baptized out of obedience to God.



2. Statement of Faith/Public Testimony: Water baptism is an outward statement of one's belief in Christ's atonement for our sins. Baptism is a means to make a public statement of your faith. In the New Testament, we see baptism practiced publicly. It was a very powerful and meaningful way to fulfill Jesus' promise, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). Those who are publicly baptized "confess before men" their life's commitment to Him as their Lord and Savior.



3. Symbolic connection with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection: Jesus' ultimate sacrifice has become our greatest victory, for those who believe. The forgiveness of sins was made possible through Christ's death (shed blood), burial, and resurrection. When we are baptized, we are symbolically identifying with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). The Apostle Paul also wrote that as a baptized believer you were "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Colossians 2:12).

What Baptism cannot do

1. Baptism Cannot Save: Salvation comes through faith alone, and not works (Ephesians 2:8). Therefore, the act of baptism cannot save us. Rather it gives evidence through public action that a person has already been saved.



2. Baptism Cannot Cleanse From Sin: The cleansing of sins takes place when we believe and accept Christ and ask Him to cleanse our sins (1 John 1:9). Baptism may witness to our cleansing, but the water itself is powerless to cleanse from sin.



3. Baptism Cannot Magically Free Us From Sinful Habits: Self-control, moral purity, holiness and much more are all benefits of receiving Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to influence and change us. Baptism should be statement on our part to live lives free from such controlling passions. Baptism alone will not magically or automatically free us from these things. Still, it does tell others that you have willingly submitted your life to the process of spiritual growth and change through the power of the Holy Spirit.