Baptism, The
Believer's Confession
Romans 6:3-4
Baptism is an ordinance of Christ that is
observed by many, but understood by few. Most people in our society have been baptized, or undergone some religious ritual called
"baptism." But very few understand the nature and meaning of this
blessed gospel ordinance. Be sure you understand these four things about
baptism.
1. The one prerequisite
to, or condition for baptism in the New Testament is faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Baptism is for believer's only. "If
thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest" (Acts
2. Baptism is an act of obedience to
Christ our Lord (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk.
3. Baptism is "the answer of a good
conscience toward God" (I Pet.
4. And baptism is the believer's
confession of faith in and allegiance to Christ as his Lord and Savior. This is
Paul's doctrine in Romans 6:1-11. Baptism is the means by which the believer
confesses his faith in Christ, identifies himself with
Christ and declares his commitment to Christ before the world. In chapters 3,
4, and 5 Paul declared, explained and illustrated the glorious gospel doctrine
of free justification by the grace of God, through the blood of Christ. In
those chapters he showed us how that sinners are
justified before God by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone. In
chapter 6 he shows us the believer's responsibility, having been saved by
grace, to live in righteousness. He is describing our new life in Christ. And
the very first thing he deals with is believer's baptism.
This is a matter of great importance. It
should never be neglected, or looked upon as a "non-essential" thing.
Who dares to declare that the ordinance of Christ is non-essential? If you are
a believer, baptism is essential. It is, as it were, the first step in the life
of obedience to God.
Don Fortner