What Is Baptism?
Baptism is a public profession of faith that symbolically pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and your commitment to Him. It is a new beginning for the believer, symbolising the death of the old sinning self, and the resurrection to a new and righteous spiritual life in Christ (Rom. 6:3-8, Col. 2:12)
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The Origin?
The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo which means to immerse or dip. To baptise something, then, means to completely submerge it in a liquid.
What does Water Baptism Signify?
When God baptises you into Christ, you become a new creation in your spirit, not in your body (flesh). Your body remains corruptible until the Resurrection (see John 6:39-40), but something inside changes. Your heart is washed clean by the blood of Jesus, and your spirit is quickened (made alive) by the Holy Spirit. You now have the ability to communicate with God, hear His voice, love and obey Him, overcome sin, and walk out your salvation by faith.
Therefore, water baptism symbolically identifies us as new creations in Christ. By going down in the water, we illustrate that our old man is dead to sin and buried by faith in Christ. As a result, we are free from our old master Satan. By being raised up out of the water, we show that our new man is raised by the Spirit and made alive by faith in Christ Jesus. Since our new Master is the Lord Jesus, we commit to walk in righteousness (not by our old ways and fleshly habits but by our new life in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling our spirit). Romans 8:11
Is salvation essential?
Check out what these scriptures say about it.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Acts 16:30-33
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Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5
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Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
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Faith alone is not enough to walking a life of salvation, obedience to the will of God is vital. Even in the Lords prayer we pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" Matthew 6:9-13.
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Read and study more! Why not get Now That Youare Baptised Let's Talk, written by Pastor Angela Briscoe.
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Now That You are Baptised, Let’s Talk was inspired by countless questions from various people, seeking to be ‘Born Again’ Christians, as well as many newly baptised believers, who have expressed difficulty in obtaining answers about some practical faith and church related issues.
The example of the ‘new birth’ as a step to accessing the Kingdom of Heaven featured by Jesus in St John Chapter 3 is very clear. However, there is often a degree of procrastination in making the decision to be baptised. A 'Pre-Baptism Notes' section aims to inform and encourage people who are contemplating baptism;
Presented in a question and answer style, Now That You are Baptised, Let’s Talk, contains practical concerns and issues about certain Christian living standards. There is a touch of humour; opportunity for further study; as well as encouraging ‘you’ll be fine’ notes at the end of some explanations. Testimonies are added to demonstrate that the challenges and temptations faced by Christians are not uncommon, and with positive affirmation believers can overcome victoriously.
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