If you have been contemplating your need for baptism, this may be helpful!
It is abundantly clear from the God Story that water baptism is to be the willing choice of all who make a decision to follow Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20 is a clear indication of baptism as a priority.
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and you can know, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
Here are some keystone verses on baptism – you will want to know the why and the what!
Romans 6:4 in the New American Standard translation of the Bible
“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.”
Colossians 2:13-15 in the Message translation of the Bible
“When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s Cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.”
The word baptism means to be immersed in the grace of Christ our Deliverer and King. Water baptism is an outward and public identification with Jesus, reflecting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit into your heart which occurred when you believed.
There is little doubt that first century followers of Jesus embraced water baptism at whatever age they submitted their will and believed in Jesus. If you believe in the Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have confessed your sin, and placed yourself in His saving mercy – it is time to be baptized.
It is critical to understand that a person is not saved through water baptism, but through faith and the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 3:18-22). The work of salvation is a work of God’s sovereign grace. It would be a shame, however, to miss out on the blessing of obediently and publicly identifying with Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection!
Questions you may wish to ask about baptism:
Have I recognized my need of My Creator’s grace to save my soul and give me eternal life?
Do I believe that Jesus is God’s Son, and that His blood is the only sacrifice for my sin?
Have I asked God to forgive my sin and become Lord over my entire life?
Do I want to publicly celebrate and testify to what has happened in my heart (through baptism)?
Baptism is associated with these incredible gifts from God:
The forgiveness of our sins…Acts 2:38; 22:16
Our oneness with Christ…Galatians 3:26
Receiving the Holy Spirit…Acts 2:38
Membership in Christ’s family…1 Corinthians 12:13
Water baptism – so good for the heart of every Christ-follower!
Here are some other passages that you may find helpful to amplify the meaning of water baptism. Exodus 14; Leviticus 13; 16:30; Deuteronomy 15:22; Matthew 3:7; 20:22; 28:19; Colossians 2:12; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:28; Acts 8; 9:18; 10:47,48; 16:15,33; 18:1; 19:3-5; 22:16; 1 Corinthians 10:2; Romans 6:3-6.