Baptism
Why immerse a believer in Jesus Christ in water?
It is enough that the Lord Jesus said to do so! But why is this ceremony so significant?
The Apostle Peter insisted on it among the Jewish
converts, as the public sign that the people had accepted Jesus as the Messiah,
Lord and Saviour. He had no space for
fake believers – all talk with no evidence.
The Apostle Paul taught believers baptism, but often
arranged for other to do the baptising
lest any think he was seeking to create a following after himself. He
insisted that baptism was in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus Himself taught the fullness of the act
(Matthew 28): – by submission to Christian baptism (people old enough to
actually believe), that person was openly declaring acceptance of the LORD God
as Father, Jesus Christ as His Son, and the Holy Spirit as the power to live a
new, clean, God centred life. And so when people of all nations identified with
this triune God, the Holy Spirit could guide, empower and use people for God’s
glory. So it has been happening for 2000years.
For anyone to neglect or refuse to be baptised, it is
rather an insult to the worthiness of Jesus Christ as Lord.
This unusual immersing of a person in water is much more
than a ceremonial cleansing. It does show that a believer has a good conscience
, having accepted forgiveness of sins obtained by the sacrificial death of
Jesus Christ. But more it is a declaration that the old life has finished (like
a person is dead), and the future is a new life in Christ ( like Jesus rising to
life again). In Gospel terms, it is words in action.
1
Mt sins deserve eternal death but Jesus died for
me, I ashamed of my old self centred life, I have died with Christ.
2
I will live by the faith of the Son of God , now
alive to God, no longer I but Christ living in me.
This indeed is an action of progress in the new
spiritual life. But it is not something of credit to the one baptised – indeed the
opposite – the person effectively renounces all honour to self and gives the
honour to Jesus Christ. The strength to live a godly life is not in self, but
by the Holy Spirit given to all believers.
Hence the celebration, the clapping, certificates of
attainment seem most inappropriate. For most Christians (i.e . China, Iran,
India etc) the act of baptism brings persecution, loss of privilege, family hatred,
and even death for Christ. Why is it that unbelievers react so violently to
baptism? They know that talk can be cheap, but the action is confirming the
conversion to Jesus Christ as Lord, the Son of God.
Connected to other Bible baptisms passages:
John’s baptism in the river – repentance to forgiveness
Baptised to Moses – identification with the leader
Cutting off the old man – renunciation of the old
natural life
Washing away sins – disconnection from sinful actions of
the former life
Questions:
Is baptism essential for salvation – no
Is baptism in water important – yes
Is infant sprinkling valid – no
Does baptism make a person a member of the church – no
Are we baptised like Jesus was – no
I have not cluttered the page with Bible references ,
but such will happily be provided on request. If you wish to disagree, please
use messenger or email
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