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The Need To Be Immersed Into Christ (2)
John R. Gentry
What Is Baptism For?
Why is a person to be baptized? Some teach that it is to admit one into a certain denomination, or some local church; others teach that it is “an outward sign of an inward grace,” meaning that you simply show other people that you have had a salvation experience. Again, what saith the Scripture?
God’s answer to “What is baptism for?” is “so that your sins may be forgiven” (Acts 2.38), to be saved (Mark 16.16; 1 Pet. 3.21), and to be in Christ (Gal. 3.25-27).
What Happens When We Are Baptized?
This question is designed to help us better understand the details that bring about the forgiveness of our sins and our salvation. In addition to the previous passages, according to the scriptures, “What happens when we are baptized?”
The Bible tells us that when we are baptized, we are added to the church, the body of Christ of which he is the Savior (Acts 2.41, 47; cf. Col. 1.18), we come in contact with the death of Christ where he shed his blood that cleanses us from our sins (Rom. 5.10 w/ 6.3-7; cf. 1 Pet. 1.18-19), and God works (not the person being baptized) to remove our sins (Col. 2.11-13).
How Many Baptisms Are There?
God’s answer is only one (Eph. 4.5). We learn further that this one baptism is not the baptism of John (Acts 19.1-9) and it is not a baptism that puts the person being baptized into anything other than the body or church of Christ (1 Cor. 12.13).
Who Can Or Should Be Baptized?
God’s answer to this question is those who have heard the gospel, believe in the good news concerning Jesus, have repented of their sins, and have confessed their faith in Jesus as being the Son of God, are proper candidates for baptism (Matt. 28.19; Mark 16.16; Acts 2.38; 8.36-38).
Conclusion
If the religious world would turn to the Bible for the answers to the questions about baptism and would abandon their creeds and catechisms that contradict the clear teaching of God more people could be saved from their sins.
What about you? Have you been baptized in the way described in the New Testament? If not, rid your mind of any man-made teachings about baptism and be guided in your understanding about baptism by the simple teaching of God. Then without adding anything to what the Bible says about baptism and without taking anything away from what the Bible teaches about baptism, submit your will to the Lord and be baptized. “Now, why do you delay, arise and be baptized, washing away your sins!” (Acts 22.16).
originally published in the Banner-Gazette
2007.11.14