Water Baptism

Over the past several weeks I have spent time reflecting and studying what the Bible has to say about the subject of baptism. I have had multiple personal and private reasons for this. One being that my wife and I were baptized together this past weekend. It was wonderful because I was right there by her side in the pool and we had some very close friend to cheer us on. The more the Lord uses me the more that He calls me to submission and obedience to His will. If the Bible says that I should be baptized then lead me to the water! But why? Why do we need to be baptized? Does baptism save us or is it just a public proclamation of an inward decision that we have made. I will very briefly attempt to answer a few of those questions.

1. We should be baptized because Jesus told us to.

Ok. That is enough of a reason for me, but let’s investigate further.

Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make dicicples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Now that sounds straight forward enough, doesn’t it? But one might say that this shows that we need to be baptized in order to be saved. If so then let’s continue to verse 20…

…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

If verse 19 teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation then “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded” would also be necessary for salvation. This cannot be the case because that would be work righteousness.

2.It allows us the wonderful opportunity to publically proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior to those around us.

Romans 6:3-5 – Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The phrase “baptized into” simply means to “identify with”. It cannot mean that baptism is the means by which we enter into Christ. The Bible teaches this is “by faith”. If baptism is required for salvation then it would be ritualistic communion and Paul in no shape, form, or fashion even taught such things.

3. If we follow Jesus, we should follow His example and He was baptized, but why?

Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness" so he could enter into the Melchizedek priesthood so He could be the High Priest and offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. For a detailed look into this I would recommend looking at the following link. Why was Jesus baptized?

Be sure and check out Matt Slick's baptism section on Carm.org.

Conclusion: Water baptism was commanded by our Lord. He did not suggest that we do it. He did not ask us to fit baptism into our busy schedule. He commanded it! Baptism is a sacred time and a wonderful way to publically proclaim our God. Water baptism cannot save a soul. Water baptism is something we do after we have been forgiven to identify with Jesus. If your salvation hinges on something that you have do to then you are taking Glory from God and aligning it with your own pride because baptism is something you have done. Stop robbing God of His glory! It is all about Him. He gives us the faith to believe in Him – Phil 1:29. He grants us repentance – 2 Tim 2:25. Even our believing is a work of God – John 6:28,29. We are born again not of our own will – John 1:13.

It’s all about Him. You can’t wake up a dead man. So how can you save yourself? – Eph 2:1,5