Articles
Baptism
After Faith, Repentance, and Confession, the next "step" in the process of how one is converted to Jesus Christ and becomes a Christian is Baptism. There is much debate in the religious world over baptism. This is a tragedy, since the Scripture's teaching on it is so plain. What does the Scripture say about baptism?
It is a burial, or complete immersion in water. Acts 8:38 and Romans 6:3-4 show that one is to be completely buried in water to be considered baptized. Religions that practice sprinkling or pouring and call it baptism are not practicing the baptism found in the New Testament.
It is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). When Peter convinced the Jews of their guilt of murdering Jesus (Acts 2:22-36), they asked what they sould do to rectify their hopeless situation. He didn't say "Just believe.." Rather, he said to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. They were not to be baptized because of the forgiveness of sins, but for, or in order to be forgiven.
It saves us (1 Peter 3:21). This verse teaches that baptism is not just an outward washing, but a demonstration of the complete submission of our will ("the answer of a good conscience") to doing whatever God has commanded us. It is accomplished "through" the resurrection of Christ.
Is it necessary for you to be baptized to be saved? Much of the religious world today teaches that it is not essential; we only have to believe. The word of God says without a doubt it is necessary. Consider the following...
When we are in sin, the Bible says we are "dead" (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13). These same two verses teach that once we obey the Lord's commands and become a Christian, we are "made alive".
We have already shown that baptism is a burial (Romans 6:4).
If we accept the religious teaching that baptism is not necessary, we would be saved (made alive) at the point of faith, and then baptism (buried) sometime later. Can you see the error? We would be buried alive!!
We must put to death our old sinful self (Romans 6:6). Once that part of us is dead, we bury it in baptism and arise from the watery grave a new creature, just like Christ did when he arose from the dead (Romans 6:3-5). Our baptism is a form or copy of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you want to be saved, you must be baptized.
