Baptism

Is Baptism For Me?

The bible teaches that baptism is for anyone who has personally accepted Christ as Savior. Baptism does NOT save or wash away sins. It is simply an outward expression of an inward decision to accept Christ. If you have accepted Christ and have never been baptized, you should choose to be baptized as soon as you can!

How Should I Be Baptized?

The word baptize literally means to plunge or to dunk. The Bible teaches that you should be baptized in water by immersion rather than sprinkling. Because baptism is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, only immersion correctly pictures this. John 1:26 says, “John answered them, saying, I baptize with water…”

Mark 1:9-10 says, “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”

Acts 8:38 says, “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

When Should I Be Baptized?

In the Bible, baptism always took place right after salvation. Rather than taking a lengthy course before you can be baptized, you should choose to be baptized as soon as you can after your salvation decision.

Acts 16:30-33 says,“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.”

What If I Am Not Baptized?

While baptism is not required for salvation, it is an important step of obedience to Christ. The Christian who refuses to be baptized could be compared to a wife who refuses her wedding ring. How can my relationship with Christ start off right if I refuse to follow Him and if I am ashamed of Him before others? By not being baptized, I am disobeying Christ and actually telling Him that I am ashamed that He is my Savior. I am missing the blessing of committing myself to Christ through obedience and losing the testimony I must have through my public identification with Him.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

John 8:31 says, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;”

John 15:14 says, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”