Why do you observe water baptism?  Because the Lord commanded us to baptize.

Water baptism has no saving power.  Though many religions believe water baptism is essential for salvation, they have no actual scriptural authority upon which to base their belief and practice.  See the question “Is water baptism essential for salvation?” for more information on this subject.

So, if water baptism is not essential for salvation, then why baptize new converts?  The answer is simple.  Water baptism is an ordinance that Jesus gave the church.  In Matt 28:19, Jesus commanded us to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” 

You will notice, as you read through your Bible, that Jesus was baptized “to fulfill all righteousness,” [Matt 3:15].  In other words, he did something that was right to do even though he was perfectly sinless.  Likewise, following our Savior’s example [1 Pet 2:21], though we don’t need water baptism to be saved, we should be baptized because he commanded it.

Observe that the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized in water after he had believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and had confessed him [Acts 8:36-38].  Similarly, Cornelius and his household were not baptized in water until after they had believed [Acts 10:43-48].  Hence, if you were baptized in water before you were saved, then you should be baptized again, properly, after you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior.

You see, water baptism outwardly pictures your spiritual baptism, which you undergo the moment you receive Jesus Christ.  According to Rom 6:3-5, 1 Cor 12:13 and Col 2:11-12, you are baptized by the Holy Ghost into the body of Christ when you get saved.  You become a member of his literal body [Eph 5:30-32].Since the literal body of Christ was crucified, was buried, and rose from the dead, you go through his literal death, burial and resurrection at salvation.  Therefore, your immersion in water pictures your death on the cross with Christ [your body “crosses” the plane of the water before you are baptized], your burial with him [as you are completely immersed in the water] and your resurrection with him [when you come back up out of the water].

Hope this helps,

Pastor Welder

 

Back to the Question of the Week Archive Page

Copyright © 2001-2005 Bible Believers Baptist Church
These articles cannot be stored on other Internet sites or sold or placed by themselves or with other material in any electronic format for sale, but may be distributed for free by e-mail or by print. They must be left intact and nothing removed or changed.