Have you identified yourself with Christ by being baptized?

Being baptized is an essential part of following Christ.  Take some time right now to find out what the Bible says baptism is all about. 

What is baptism?

The word, baptize, means ‘to immerse’ or ‘to put into.’  As baptism is used in the New Testament it refers to the act of submerging (‘dunking’) someone in water. This immersion into water is a picture of what has already happened to the person spiritually. 

Romans 6.3-5 say, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.” 

Why is baptism important?

First of all, understand that it does not save you. Clearly, the Bible says that a person cannot be saved by doing any kind of good works (including baptism).

Ephesians 2:8-9 say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

Although baptism does not save you, it is still important.  Why?  It is important for at least 2 reasons: 

Reason #1: It is part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ.  In Matthew 28.19-20, Jesus Christ gave the church the mission of making disciples, which includes baptizing them.  We know from this passage that being baptized is part of being a disciple.  In fact, if a person has not been baptized (which is part of being a disciple of Christ) how can he faithfully obey Jesus’ command to disciple others?  How could he encourage someone else to be baptized if he has not been baptized himself?

Reason #2:  It is declaration of a man to have a clean conscience before God.  First Peter 3.21 says baptism is “not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.”  Peter says that baptism is a pledge to God for a good conscience.  When you make a pledge, you are making a vow, or a promise of some kind.  When a person is baptized, he is declaring his commitment to serve God with a clean conscience (pure intentions). 

When should a person be baptized?

It is to be done after a person is saved.  This is the pattern in the NT. When a person was saved, they were immediately baptized in order to identify with Christ.  It was a public testimony that a person belonged to Christ.

Acts 2 describes the first converts in the first church.  Acts 2:41 says, “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” The account of Philip and the eunuch also shows this same pattern. 

Acts 8:35-38 say, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.” (For other examples read about the Apostle Paul Acts 9.18, Cornelius in Acts 10:48, and new converts in the city of Corinth in Acts 18:8.)

Have you identified yourself with your Leader?

Just as you are called by James to question the validity of your faith if you have no works to back it up (James 2.14-26), so you have reason to question the validity of your being a true disciple if you resist getting baptized.

However, when you do get baptized, you have a wonderful opportunity to identify yourself with Christ.  You are telling others in a powerful way that…

• You have committed your life to Christ.
• You are determined to turn from you’re your old ways of serving yourself to a new life of serving Jesus Christ.
• You are trusting in Christ’s death on the cross as the substitute for your sin.
• You have determined in your heart to do whatever Christ wants you to do.

Jesus Christ, as your Leader, is worth following. Jesus Christ is worthy of all of the worship that we have to offer Him.