For man’s salvation, God showed his grace upon the cross by sending Jesus on the earth who paid the cost of the sin. Now God asks man to repent and baptize in the water to obtain eternal life.
Many people often say that baptism is not important for our salvation, only faith in Jesus is enough. But we need to look very carefully towards the scripture to understand the demands of the scripture for our salvation.
Water baptism in Jesus’ name is a scriptural way to gain salvation. But often many show the example of the thief who was beside Jesus at the time of the crucifixion. He was not baptized but he just believed Jesus so he was saved due to his faith in Jesus.
To understand it we need to know the dispensation when the thief was saved. Until Jesus died and was resurrected the Grace period was not started. So Jesus had the complete authority to save anybody by his words ( Hebrews9:15-17). If we compare the incident with Paul then we’ll understand it clearly. Even Paul also met Jesus but he took baptism in Jesus’ name( Acts 22:16).
This shows us that baptism is important for every individual who confesses his sin before the Lord.
John 3:5(KJV)“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”
Explanation:- Jesus had clarified the conditions for entering his kingdom. When Nicodemus asked him the way to enter heaven at that time Jesus mentioned to him that one must be baptized with water and the holy spirit to get salvation.
Acts 22:16(KJV) “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”
Explanation:- Paul was commanded to be baptized in order to wash away his sins. Jesus has commissioned his disciples to obey it to receive the new life which leads to God’s Kingdom.
1 Peter 3:21(KJV)“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”
Explanation:- A sinner must be baptized to be saved. In baptism, one’s becomes God’s child. Jesus promised us to give us spirit only when we obey his words by taking the water baptism in his name.
Mark 16:16(KJV)“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned”
Explanation:- One who believes in Jesus must take water baptism in order to get rid of Gidsy wrath. On the other hand, one who will not trust Jesus and avoid baptism will perish at the time of judgment.
Romans 6:3-4(KJV)“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life”
Explanation:- Baptism is a symbol where the believer confesses his sins before the Lord and considers himself as a sinner. In baptism, it shows that he dies with Christ and resurrects again with Christ. And he becomes a new creation. Thus the old man transforms into a new man who clothes himself with God’s righteousness.
Luke 3:3(KJV)“And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”
Explanation:- John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He preached to all the Jews to turn from sins as the Lord has come on the earth. He asked them to repent and be baptized so they can prepare their hearts to receive Jesus.
Baptism In Jesus Name
On Pentecost day the church started its journey and throughout the book of Acts, we can find many examples where the disciple of Jesus baptized men and women in the name of Jesus. The disciples obeyed the Lord by baptizing in Jesus’ name.
Acts 2:38(KJV)“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”
Explanation:- Peter preached the good news when the holy spirit came upon the disciples and who gathered there in search of God’s spirit since the day Jesus ascended to heaven. Peter told the people who came to observe the incident to repent for their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus to enter heaven.
Matthew 28:19(KJV)“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”
Explanation:- Jesus also asked his disciples to preach the gospel to the world and to baptize them so man can be saved from the upcoming judgments.
Ephesians 4:5(KJV)“One Lord, one faith, one baptism”
Explanation:- Baptism is not optional; rather it is compulsory for everyone to gain eternal life. To save man from the sufferings of hell, God made this baptism system for mankind.
Acts 10:48(KJV) “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days”
Explanation:- Believers should be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. The book of Acts encourages its readers to be baptized to fulfill the will of God.
Acts 19:4-5(KJV)“Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”
Explanation:- In this passage, we can see rebaptism. When Paul found them that the believers in Corinth were not baptized in the name of Jesus, they were baptized again in the name of Jesus. As it is the right formula for baptism.
Galatians 3:26-27(KJV)“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as having been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”
Explanation:- One can put on Christ by baptizing himself with water. No one can claim himself the child of God if he does not take the baptism which is compulsory for the believers.
Baptism In The Bible
To be saved from our sin we need to be baptized as it is commanded by our Lord. we cannot disobey him. Let us see some examples of Baptism that took place in the Bible.
Acts 8:38(KJV)“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”
Explanation:- While the eunuch heard the complete gospel from Philip, at that moment he was baptized by Philip. Everyone must follow the scripture which has the authority to lead us in the right direction towards God’s plan of salvation.
Acts 8:12(KJV)“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women”
Explanation:- The people of Samaria also believed Jesus and they all were baptized in the name of Jesus. There was a certain sorcerer whose name was Simon, he also trusted Jesus by the preaching of Philip and took water baptism.
Acts 16:33(KJV)“And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, straightway”
Explanation:- A Philippian jailor and his family were saved by taking the water baptism in Jesus’ name. Paul and Silas were in jail but God protected them by the earthquake and the jailer was astonished by the power of God and he decided to turn towards Jesus from that very moment.
Acts 18:8(KJV)“And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized”
Explanation:- When Crispus came to know that Jesus is the promised messiah and he died for our sake, he repented and decided to take water baptism along with his whole house members. We cannot neglect the importance of baptism as it makes us become righteous in the sight of God.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2(KJV)“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea”
Explanation:- In the old testament, baptism also took place. While the Children of Israel were crossing through the sea, they were baptized at that moment.
Paul mentioned that baptism is important and every believer should take baptism as it saves one’s soul.
