Now that you are a born

Obedience

Now that you are a born-again Christian, you need to be Baptized. Being Baptized is an act of obedience to the Lord. Baptism will not save you. It is a public symbolic statement identifying you with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is very important that Baptism be scriptural. To conform to the standards taught in the Bible, one needs to be completely immersed into the water. Sprinkling does not constitute Baptism. The Greek word behind the English word Baptism means immersion.

Salvation First, Then Baptism

Also very important to understand is that Baptism will not save you. Everywhere in the New Testament, it is clear that Salvation comes first, then Baptism. Notice Acts 19:4-5 which says,

“⁴Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

It is only through faith in Jesus Christ that you can be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 says,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

It is also clear from the following verse that salvation comes first, then Baptism. Mark 16:16 says,

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Also, if Baptism were saving people, Paul would not have wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:17,

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”

Before getting Baptized, you should talk with your Pastor about it and what it means. Baptism is an important step in your growth as a Christian and should be properly understood.

Public Symbolic Profession

What is wrong with sprinkling? The problem with sprinkling is that it completely misses the beautiful public story told when someone is immersed into the water. As the pastor is lowering you into the water, this represents your death and burial with Jesus. As you are raised from the water, this represents your resurrection with Him. The Baptismal process is a public profession of your death, burial and resurrection with Jesus Christ. A symbol that you will dwell with Him for eternity.

When studying the concept of Baptism in the Bible, you find it to be an excellent symbol to what Christ did for us. Consider the following verse: Romans 6:3-4:

“³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Consider also, Colossians 2:12:

“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

When you are Baptized, you are to be Baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-19 says,

“¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

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