10 things we need to know about baptism
Is being baptized important? Most churches practice some form of baptism, and maybe you have been baptized. When we talk about baptism, we are usually referring to the process of being immersed into water; consider how Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3:3, "Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him... ...vs 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water".
Here is a list of things you should know that the Bible says about believers being baptized:
1. Being baptized culminates the process of salvation. Our sins are washed away because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; without our sins we can stand before God with our conscience clean.
I Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...
2. Being baptized is when your sins are washed away. That is what is called sanctification (being made holy) and justification (being made righteous). It is the same thing as calling on the name of the Lord.
Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Titus 3:5 ...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regerneration (Literally "born again") and renewing of the Holy Spirit... ...7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
3. Jesus said baptism is the only way to see the Kingdom of Heaven.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."... ...5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
4. The Old Testament fore-shadowed baptism in at least three places: First, when Noah was saved through water - death was covered up in the water and Noah was preserved.
I Peter 3:20 ...when once the Devine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is eight souls, were saved throught water. 21 There is also an antitype (foreshadow) which now saves us - baptism...
Second, when Israel was saved through water; they passed through the Red Sea, to the promised land, and death (in the form of Pharoah's army) was covered up in the water (Exodus 14)
When Naaman was baptized for the removal of the Leprosy of his flesh (II Kings 5); remember, the sickness of the flesh (uncleanliness) is a metaphor for sin (Matthew 9:5-9)
5. Baptism is the process of putting on Christ; becoming part of the body of Christ.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
I Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
6. Jesus Himself commands that all men be baptized FOR Salvation
Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
Matthew 28:19 "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."
7. No one in the book of Acts (the New Testament church) was saved without baptism, or before being baptized.
• In Acts 2:38, The multitudes at Pentecost were baptized and THEN saved.
• In Acts 8:15, The people of Samaria believed and were baptized and were THEN saved. (Mark 16:16)
• In Acts 8:38,The Ethiopian eunuch confessed Jesus as Lord, THEN was baptized and THEN was saved.
• In Acts 9:18 & 22:16, Paul was visited by Jesus, then prayed, THEN was baptized and THEN was saved.
• In Acts 11:14 & 10:48, Conelius was not saved UNTIL he was baptized as Peter commanded.
• In Acts 16:33, A Philippian jailer was saved when he was baptized.
• In Acts 18:8, The Corinthians heard, believed (Romans 10:10) and were baptized.
• In Acts 19:3-5, The Ephesians were baptized again into the correct baptism for salvation.
8. Being baptized takes us to the Cross of Jesus; it makes His death our death to sin, and it makes His resurrection our resurrection (being Born Again).
Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 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. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Colossians 2:12 ...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. 13 And you, being dead in your traspasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses...
9. There is only one baptism that saves. When we are baptized in water we are at the same time receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ (Spirit, Water and Blood).
Ephesians 4:5 ...one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
10. Baptism is about the heart's response to God.
Hebrews 10:22 ...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
I Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)...
Summation:
The Bible says about believers who are baptized: You are saved; You are put in the body of Christ; You have put on Christ; Your sins are washed away; You received the gift of the Holy Spirit; You are born again; You are justified; You are buried with Christ, You have called upon the name of the Lord.
So, by logical deduction, those believers who have not been baptized: You are not saved; You are not in the body of Christ; You have not put on Christ; You have not had your sins washed away; You have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit; You have not been born again; You have not been justified; You have not been buried with Christ, You have not called upon the name of the Lord.
... so why do you wait, arise and be baptized, calling on the name of the Lord.
