baptism

 

Baptism is an Act of Obedience.

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Baptism is an Act of Discipleship.

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

Baptism was the Practice of the Early Church.

When we obey the Lord by following him in baptism, we are following the pattern of the early church we find in The Book of Acts. Acts is a historical book in the New Testament, which recounts the story of the first followers of Jesus. There are many examples: Acts 2:36-38; 2:41; 8:36-38; 10:47-48; 16:30-34

Baptism is a Symbol of our Faith in Jesus Christ.

Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, yet baptism is more than symbolic. It is a spiritually significant work of living faith, whereby we bury the “old man.” (Romans 6:6) We are included in Jesus’ suffering and triumph when we first believe. When we are baptized, we are baptized into Jesus’ death and the waters of baptism become for us a watery grave.

Romans 6:1-7 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Baptism is a Sign of God’s Covenant Made without Hands.

God relates to his people through covenant. When God established his covenant with Abraham, there was a sign of covenant give, circumcision. In the new covenant God has established us through Jesus, baptism is the outward sign of our inclusion in the covenant.

Colossians 2:11-12 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

 If you are ready to take this next step in giving your life to God, sign up here:

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