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WATERBAPTISM
Believe and be baptized!
Waterbaptism
Why be baptized in water?
Matthew 28:19... "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
Mark 16:16... "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (logically, whoever does not believe is not baptized)
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:3-4... Or do you not know that as many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
According to Jesus, how important is baptism?
"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". John 3:5
In water baptism we are identifying ourselves with Christ, His death and Resurrection. Water baptism by immersion is the most symbolic way in which to portray our identification: As Jesus died, was burried and arose, so we die to the old nature/sinful flesh, be burried; old flesh completely gone, down and under; as nothing of our old flesh will be visible. We arise in the fullness of life; as visible to the world through being His witness in word and deed.
Colossians 2:12... Buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
1Peter 3:21...There is also an antitype which now saves us - baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Salvation to a sinner does not only come by the hearing of the Word, BUT through an individual's repentance and acceptance of and faith in Jesus' Sacrifice and Resurrection.
After which ANY believer should obey the Lord's command, and be baptized.
Acts 2:38... Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In the name of Jesus Christ means here " in the His authority."
vers 41a...Then those who gladly received his word were baptized.......
Wherever the apostles write "to be baptized in the name of Jesus" this refers to baptism in the authority of Jesus Christ or on His command, according to Matthew 28:19, which reads in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Although there is only ONE name by whom we get saved, the name of Jesus, if it wasn't for the Father we wouldn't have had a Jesus to save us. And if it was not for the Holy Ghost we would never be able to walk in obedience unto God's word. The Holy Spirit is the power by which an individual comes to Christ.
GOD, the Father and the SON and the HOLY GHOST are INSEPARABLE. Therefore the Godhead takes Three. This is why Jesus Christ gave this command in Matthew 28:19, to baptize in the name of the Father, Yahweh, and of the Son, Yeshua, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, Comforter. The Three in One.
When it comes to water baptism, believers ought to realize the stand they are taking, the testimony they are projecting, and the confession they are making. Believers confess Christ as Lord of their lives and take their stand with Him and for Him in all that it involves and implies.
Acts 22:16...And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Although, water baptism may not save you,...disobedience to the Word definitely puts your salvation at risk. Continuing in disobedience means loss of the state of being saved.
As in Acts: NOW WHY ARE YOU WAITING? To tarry in this step of obedience could be tragic. Really to tarry in any of the demands of the gospel has the effect of impeding your progress in the things of God. TO TARRY is to tamper with TRUTH.
Obedience
1John 2:17... And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Acts 5:29... But Peter.......said: We ought to obey God rather than men.
John 8:51...Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.
John 15: 14...You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
James 1:22...But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Matt 7 :21... Not everyone who says, Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
ALL boils down to this:
Our salvation through the acceptance of and faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and His Resurrecton is not the end, but the beginning of our walk with the Lord. Water Baptism follows repentance. Really, salvation is the means for a deeper relationship with Him, which includes obedience to His Word.
We have to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling; by the means of obedience, allowing the working of the Holy Spirit and the development of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
You may never have heard of Water Baptism as a necessity or realized what a blessing is attached to this act of commitment and obedience.
I admonish you to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Do as the Ephesians did, "When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Of course, there are exceptions as the robber on the cross, a person on a death bed, death row, fatal accident etc., when there is no opportunity for baptism.
Anyone who repents of his sins, has a good conscience toward God, has a desire to follow His command in baptism, shows obedience to the Word of God, at least in this respect.
Copyright © Dr. Trudy Veerman, 2006.
All rights reserved.
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. . . GOD'S TRUTH . . .
