What is Baptism about?
Baptism is the outward expression of a disciple’s inner decision to trust Jesus Christ as the only means of Salvation. The water serves as a symbol for the grave of Christ as the disciple is immersed, symbolically identifying with His death, burial and resurrection from the dead.
The only way to biblically experience this ordinance is through immersion, which is why the New Testament never uses any other word for Christian baptism than bapto (and derivatives) which means “to immerse.” Baptism then becomes a rich personal and physical story of a person’s spiritual faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is not the means of salvation.
We are ‘filthy – Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We are cleansed…
Through Jesus’ blood – 1 John 1:7 …and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:14
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin). Hebrews 9:22
By Faith – John 3:16
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration. Tit. 3:5.
So, baptism does not save anyone or wash anyone’s sins away. If that were possible, our salvation would be by faith, plus baptism (works). Baptism is not for people who want to be saved, but for those who already are-by grace, through faith in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9).
The only way to biblically experience this ordinance is through immersion, which is why the New Testament never uses any other word for Christian baptism than bapto (and derivatives) which means “to immerse.” Baptism then becomes a rich personal and physical story of a person’s spiritual faith and trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is not the means of salvation.
We are ‘filthy – Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;
We are cleansed…
Through Jesus’ blood – 1 John 1:7 …and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Col 1:14
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sin). Hebrews 9:22
By Faith – John 3:16
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration. Tit. 3:5.
So, baptism does not save anyone or wash anyone’s sins away. If that were possible, our salvation would be by faith, plus baptism (works). Baptism is not for people who want to be saved, but for those who already are-by grace, through faith in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9).
February 2024 Baptism