The November night Brother Barnett baptized me, I never asked, “Is baptism important?” I was already aware of its biblical importance.
I was baptized while serving in the United States Navy in 1979. Stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Station near Chicago, Illinois, I had just rededicated my life to the Lord.
This happened in a little Pentecostal church in Kenosha, Wisconsin. That night, they filled their baptism tank with water straight from a garden hose, baptizing me in icy water.
Since that time, I have learned a lot more about the meaning of baptism and how important it is. I have also learned of baptism’s amazing benefit for our Christian walk.
What Is Baptism?
Baptism is the Christian ordinance of identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Depending on the individual church’s or denomination’s belief, baptism is done by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion in water.
I will explain later in this article why I believe immersion is the proper way to be baptized.
Let me set the tone for the rest of the article right now. Baptism gets its importance from the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Set aside the idea of it being a church tradition or ritual.
The all-encompassing work of salvation Jesus did by dying for our sins and rising again for our justification gives baptism its importance. As you read this article, never lose sight of that truth.
Is Baptism Important?
Baptism seems like such a simple thing. Just you, water, and often other people witnessing the event. Is baptism really that important?
It is. Here are three reasons baptism is important.
- Baptism is an ordinance given by our Lord, Jesus Christ. “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19 CSB)
- Baptism is an outward sign of the inward commitment we made for Jesus Christ to be our Lord. “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope, at your calling—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 CSB)
- Baptism is evidence of our faith in the salvation Jesus provided for us. “Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3-4 CSB)
As you can see, baptism is important. Later in the article I will show you how baptism helps you walk a holy life.
Why Should You Be Baptized?
Why should we be baptized? Does baptism get me to heaven?
Baptism will not get you to heaven. The only thing that will get you to heaven is believing in Jesus as Lord.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 CSB)
Believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth Jesus is Lord is what gets us to heaven. I understand there are those who teach you must be baptized to get to heaven.
This teaching comes from verses such as:
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38 CSB)
I don’t believe Peter is saying baptism is required for salvation. Part of why Peter says this comes from Jewish tradition. Go back and read of John the Baptist and why he was baptizing.
The other reason Peter included baptism here is because he knew it is an ordinance given by Jesus to the church. Baptism is an act of obedience and Peter knows disobedience is sin.
Therefore, every believer is to be baptized.
Who Is Baptized?
Depending on the individual church’s or denominations belief, baptism can be performed on babies to adults. It is also performed by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. What is right?
First, let me explain that the only authority I recognize for this is the Word of God. I am not concerned with what any church or denomination says, I am only concerned with what God says in His Word.
According to Romans 6:3-4, baptism is an outward sign of our accepting Jesus work for our salvation. Many scriptures speak of baptizing those that believe. This means baptism is only for those that believe.
To believe, you must understand salvation. I find no scriptural foundation for the baptism of babies. They are unable to make the personal decision to follow Jesus.
So, who needs to be baptized? Everyone that has made the personal decision to follow Jesus as their Lord needs to be baptized. That is the only scriptural foundation for baptism.
How Should We Be Baptized?
Is there a scriptural way to be baptized? Yes, and the very word baptize tells us how.
The word “baptize” was never translated into English. It was transliterated, which means a word is brought over into another language using the closest corresponding letters.
What does the word baptize mean? Baptize is a Greek word that simply means “to dunk”. A Greek police officer “baptizes” his donut in his coffee.
Therefore, the scriptural way to baptize is by immersion. John the Baptist did his baptisms by immersion.
John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. (John 3:23 CSB)
John didn’t need a place with plenty of water if he was merely sprinkling or pouring the water during baptism. This verse also tells us Jesus was baptized by immersion because John was the one who performed the baptism.
What is the Purpose of Baptism?
To know the purpose of baptism, let’s go to Romans 6:3-4.
“Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.” (CSB)
The purpose of baptism is to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is another verification that immersion is the biblical method of salvation.
When we confess Jesus as Lord, we become a new creation, according to 2 Corinthians 5:17.
We die to the old man, and are buried. This is the immersion under the water. We then rise again or are raised up out of the water to a new life.
Baptism is also a sign of “the washing of the water by the Word.” (see: Ephesians 5:26) The Word of God does the cleansing and baptism is the symbol of this cleansing.
The Apostle Peter put it this way:
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:21 CSB)
Baptism is a symbol of the washing away of our sins by the blood of Jesus. Peter even tells us baptism saves us by giving us a clean conscience toward God.
This leads us into the amazing benefit of baptism.
The Amazing Benefit of Baptism
The Apostle Peter tells us the amazing benefit of baptism: A good conscience toward God. I have watched many baptisms by many ministers, and I don’t believe even one of them spoke of this amazing benefit.
Baptism, when taught correctly, saves you by giving you a clear conscience toward God. This is huge. It is their past which hampers many Christians.
Their previous lifestyle or previous sins hold them back mentally from receiving all that God offers. They never believe they are worthy of God’s blessings.
Then, of course, satan is quick to remind them of all the things they have done. He punishes them mentally with the memories of everything they had done in their old life.
This is why Jesus mandated baptism as an ordinance of the Church. He knew how important a clear conscience is for a Christian to be completely effective in the Kingdom of God.
How to Experience the Freedom of a Good Conscience
- Realize you are identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
- Know that the moment you made Jesus Lord of your life, the old man and your past died.
- Believe in the resurrection symbolized by your coming up out of the water. You are a new creation.
- Walk in the newness of life through the power of the Holy Spirit. You are no longer a slave to sin.
Study Romans 6 to build your confidence in the work of salvation provided by Jesus. You are a new creation. The old you died and everything you are is of God. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-18)
When satan tries to beat you over the head with your past, read Romans chapter six and Second Corinthians chapter five to him. Let him know who you are today.
Even more important, let the devil know you are fully convinced of who you are today.
Would you like to learn more about how to be successful in your Christian walk? Here are some more articles that will help:
Three Necessary Tools For Improving You As A Bold Christian
The First Bold Step to Your Success | Read Scripture Daily
Meditate Scripture | The Next Essential Step to Your Successful Life
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