WHY IS BELIEVER'S BAPTISM SO
IMPORTANT?
It is certain that baptism has no saving merit or efficacy. It adds nothing to the finished work of Christ, It has nothing to do with the removal of our sins or with our eternal inheritance in heaven, However, the realization of these facts in no way lessens our esteem for this ordinance of Christ. No commandment, example, or ordinance of our Lord is to be despised, or taken lightly.
BAPTISM IS A MATTER OF
OBEDIENCE TO OUR LORD. Our Savior commands all believers to be immersed in
water, following his example. Those who refuse to obey Christ as Lord do not
know him (Mk.
BAPTISM IS THE BELIEVER'S PUBLIC CONFESSION OF FAITH IN
CHRIST. Our immersion in water is a symbol, a picture of our salvation by
the substitutionary work of Christ. Baptism is a symbolic burial and
resurrection, declaring how that we were crucified, buried, and risen again with Christ our Substitute. "Know ye not, that so many of you 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 the newness of life" (
BAPTISM IS A BELIEVER'S PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION WITH CHRIST AND HIS PEOPLE. When those early believers were publicly baptized, they by that act renounced the religions of their fathers and identified themselves with the despised people of God. Being born again by the Spirit of Christ, they said, from this day forward by the grace of God we will "walk in newness of life".
And BAPTISM PICTURES OUR
ANTICIPATION OF THE RESURRECTION (
Let all who believe "Be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!"