Water Baptism
Being water baptized is the next step that we take in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and with Jesus Christ his son.
The scripture teaches that when a person has repented after believing the good news of the kingdom of God and in the name of Jesus Christ they are to be baptized.
Acts 2:37-38 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in (upon) the name of Jesus Christ for (into) the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. WEB
- The words repent and be baptized are in the form of a command. When we keep God’s commandments we prove our love for him. (Jn 15:9,10)
Being baptized is not meant to be a meaningless act that we do out of some obligation we think we have but is to be done out of a heart that understands what water baptism is about and desires to enter into the meaningful covenant relationship it depicts.
Our willingness to be baptized is an act that reveals our faith in what God has promised to us that leads to our salvation.
Mark 16:15-16 He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned.” WEB
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. WEB
Being baptized is an act that identifies us with something or someone. In the baptism of John, the people were identified with repentance. (Mk 1:4) Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. (1 Cor 10:1, 2) When we are baptized into Christ we are being clothed with Christ. We put Christ on as our covering.
Gal 3:26-27 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. WEB
Gal 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. NASU
- Even as Adam and Eve needed to be clothed with animal skins (Gen 3:27) we need to be clothed with Christ
Baptism is an outward act that identifies us with what Jesus did for us and how we are to relate to him.
1 Peter 3:18-21 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, WEB
Water baptism is a picture of his death and resurrection from the dead, a picture of us being buried with and being raised from dead with him.
Col 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from (out of) the dead. WEB
Even as Christ died and was raised from the dead we are to die to our sinful nature and rise to walk in the new life that we have in Christ in righteousness and godliness.
Rom 6:3-5 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from (out of) the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; WEB
- When we are baptized, we are saying that we are willing to be united with Christ. That we desire to walk the path that he walks.
All that believe the good news of God are to be baptized, both men and women.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. WEB (Ac 2:38)
The term “baptism” means to immerse referring to the action of washing by plunging into or surrounding with water.
Acts 8:35-38 Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. 36 As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” 37 * 38 He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing. WEB
Verse 37 * TR adds “Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ He answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.'”
- Philip immersing the eunuch in water is a picture of us being buried (dead to sin) with Christ and the eunuch coming up out of the water typifies us being raised to walk in newness of life.
- There are those that sprinkle water on individuals that have given their life to God and say that they have been baptized when they have not. It breaks the type of us being buried with Christ in baptism and distorts the message of baptism.
- “Baptizo” is the Greek word that means to immerse where “rhantizo” means to sprinkle. When we start changing the meaning of words, we place ourselves on shaky ground no matter what our motives may be.
- John baptized where there was much water. You do not need much water if sprinkling was acceptable.
John 3:23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized. WEB
- We honor God when we honor his word.
Water Baptism is the means by which our sins are washed away in Christ Jesus.
Acts 22:16 Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ WEB
- It is not water that actually washes away our sins but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21)
We are kept in the name of Jesus Christ through the power of God. Water Baptism is a reminder to us of the life we have in God in the name of Jesus Christ and in that name, we identify and are to be baptized into.
Acts 8:14-16 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16 for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in (into) the name of Christ Jesus. WEB
Acts 10:47-48 “Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?” 48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. WEB
Acts 19:4-5 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in (into) the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in (into) the name of the Lord Jesus. WEB
Col 3:17 Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father, through him. WEB
Being baptized into Jesus Christ is not a thing to be entered into lightly. As in a marriage relationship it is only as good as the commitment you keep to the agreement you have entered into. Being baptized into Jesus Christ can be as meaningful and fulfilling as you allow it to be.
In summary Baptism is:
- part of our salvation experience. Mk 16:16; Ac 2:38, 18:8, 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21
- a response to a command. Ac 2:38, 10:48, 22:16.
- showing our willingness to enter into a new way of life in Jesus Christ by relating and responding to him. Gal 3:26, 27; Col 2:12; Ro 6:3-5; 1 Pet 3:18-21
- an answer to a good conscience toward God. 1 Pet 3:21
- an act that is to be done by all that believe. Ac 2:38, 8:12
- the act of being immersed in water. Ac 8:35-38, 10:47
- to be done upon, into and in the name of Jesus. Ac 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:4,5