"What's this about baptism and why do I need to do it?"
First of all, in Acts 2:38 Peter was asked "what must we do to be saved?" and he replied "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit".
Notice that you have the first one down... you have repented of your sins and asked Jesus into your heart. Now it's time to get baptized. This is a wonderful experience too! You are proclaiming to everyone that you have made the decision to follow Jesus.
Baptism is the re-enactment of going down into the grave with Jesus (when He died for you) and then rising again cleansed from sin and unrighteousness (just like when He rose from the dead). Romans 6: 1-11
When you read through the book of Acts, everywhere you see someone get saved, they get baptized right after. Acts 2:41, Acts 8:12, Acts 8: 35-36 and Acts 16: 29-33. Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 28:19 to preach the gospel to all nations and baptize them.
Here are some things for you to consider about the importance of being baptized.
It is commanded by Jesus
Jesus clearly taught us that believers should be baptized. Matthew 28:19
Water baptism was ordained by Jesus Christ, both by His own example and by His direct commandment. The Bible says in Matthew 3:13 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John." Just before He ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded "Therefore go 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)
Water baptism is a picture of what Christ has done in your heart. It is a symbolic act that shows in a visible way that Christ has washed away your sins and that you have buried your old sinful life and have been raised from death to a new life in Christ. Water baptism is a public confession that your sins are forgiven and that you have become a true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Practiced by the apostles
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter told the people "Repent, and be baptized every one of you". (Acts 2:38) This was the very first sermon of the Church. Following that sermon, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day".
Needed by all Christians
•· Water baptism shows that we have been crucified by Christ. Paul said "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin (Romans 6:6)
•· Water baptism shows that we have died with Christ. Paul said in Romans 6:3 "Or don't you know that all of us were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?"
•· Water baptism shows that we have been resurrected with Christ. Romans 6:8 says "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him".
•· Water baptism shows that we are walking in newness of life. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. Colossians 2:6
Mode of Baptism
I believe that the Bible teaches baptism by immersion. It teaches that a person receiving water baptism should be dipped entirely under the water as a symbol of burial. Mark 1:9-19 shows us that "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove."
Michael Carter Realtor Greenville, SC (864) 640-3035
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