The
Greek word for “baptism” is “βαπτιζω". The English letters look like this:
"baptidzo." The Greek word "baptidzo" literally means to
“dip” or to “immerse”. Water baptism is a Christian tradition that dates
all the way back to the time of Christ and the early Christian church. Baptism is an outward act that symbolizes the
inward phenomenon of coming to and accepting Jesus Christ as God incarnate, and
as the sacrificial means by which those who believe in Him can be forever
reconciled to God. The purpose of baptism is to give visual testimony of your
commitment to Christ.
·
Because
Christ Commands It This is perhaps the greatest reason
of all: Jesus commands that every Christian be baptized. Matthew 28:18-20
(ERV) reads, “ So he came to them and said, “All authority
in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in
the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you
to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you
until the end of time.”
These are the three things the church is commanded to
do: Notice the order, make disciples — help people come to know Christ,
baptize them, and assist them to grow. Many people think, “I will be
baptized after I have grown up. After I know about the Christian life,
then I will be baptized.” Baptism should occur right after you make the
decision to follow Christ. Baptism is the very first command Jesus gives
you after repentance. If you cannot obey this simple instruction, how can you
obey more challenging ones?
·
Because Christ
Did It A few years back the popular trend
on Christian bracelets and billboards was WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?). It is an
excellent way to look at life because we are constantly reminded to measure our
life decisions against those of Jesus.
If we are
committed to living our life as Christ did, then baptism is a clear decision to
make. Mark 1:9 (ERV) states, “About
that time Jesus came from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the place where
John was. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River.” Baptism was good enough for Jesus, which should make it good
enough for all of his followers.
·
To Celebrate the Forgiveness of Sin We are forgiven for
our sins through repentance, and this cleansing is best illustrated through the
symbolism of baptism. The picture in baptism is that our sins and our old life
are left in the water, and we come out new, cleansed, and completely renewed in
the identification with Christ in His glorious resurrection. What a refreshing
step of obedient faith for us, and what a witness to others. Jesus asks us to
come to Him so He can take away our burdens.
Repentance
is our acceptance of this offer, and baptism is our celebration. Forgiveness of
sins is the blessed joy and privilege of every believer. According to God's
Word, Baptism is not a requirement of salvation. We
start a relationship with God by trusting Jesus, and no good work on
our part can add to the completed work of Jesus through his cross and
resurrection. We are saved entirely by grace (Ephesians
2:8-9).
·
To Grow with
Christ in His Death and Resurrection Romans
6:3-5 (MSG) states, “That
is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old
country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the
new country of grace—a new life in a new land. That’s
what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water,
it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is
like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world
by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign
country.”
Baptism is our opportunity to die symbolically to self and
be resurrected as a loving and compassionate follower of Jesus. Just as a
graduation, marriage, or the New Year allows us to reset and start afresh,
baptism gives us the opportunity to throw off the old self and put on the new.
·
To Publicly
Confess Your Commitment to Christ We
have Christian brothers and sisters all around the world who are persecuted and
killed daily
because of their unwillingness to deny Christ. According to Foxe’s Book
of Martyrs, more people are being killed for their faith today than at any
other time in history. They stand before governments, terrorists, and family
members stating - clearly and definitively - that they believe in the saving
power of Jesus Christ.
While we should continue to find ways to support and
encourage these fellow believers, one of the most obvious is through baptism.
When we are baptized, we declare to the world that we have decided to follow
Jesus. Our declaration can encourage others and assure them that they are not
alone. If we are unwilling to get baptized in one of the freest countries in
the world, how likely will we be to declare our commitment to Christ if and
when we face persecution?
“In baptism, new
Christians become part of a body of fellow believers who are called to
spiritually encourage one another and hold one another responsible for
consistent Christian living.” (Tony Campolo) [i]
[i] Sources used:
· “5 Facts About Water
Baptism”by PursueGod.org
·
“Baptism:
What is It? Meaning and Definition” by Crosswalk Editorial
Staff
·
“Five Reasons to be Baptized” by
South Bay Bible Church
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