1 Kings 15:25-17:24 / Acts 10:24-48 / Psalm 134 / Proverbs 17:9-11
We at Bethesda Springs Church are getting ready to study Baptisms. We’ll study baptism in water, baptism into the body of Christ, baptism of fire and baptism in Holy Spirit. We’re starting with baptism in water. It’s about to get real because I’ve been having my foundational beliefs wrecked as I move away from the doctrines of men, being sure my foundation is Biblical.
As I’ve talked about before, I was born again, saved, baptized into the body of Christ – whatever you want to call it – at the age of 5. I clearly heard God tell me I needed to be saved, so I obeyed what I was hearing. I was water baptized at the age of 7 in the James River in Virginia. I don’t remember why I was baptized because there is no recollection of it being because of God speaking and me obeying. I think I was water baptized because that’s what was expected. I was baptized by Holy Spirit for the first time at the age of 11. I may talk more about that later.
As I mentioned, my foundation is being wrecked and rebuilt. Many of the teachings I’ve heard and received were laced with legalism and the Lord is rebuilding me with a foundation of Grace and Love. Did I say it’s painful to have your foundation jack-hammered and redone? Well, it is. My wrestling has me asking about water baptism. Why do I need to be water baptized? What does water baptism gain for me – other than the fact of obeying Jesus’s example. I wanted to know more. I wanted to know why.
First, let me say that asking “why” is not a bad thing. We must be able to know why we believe what we believe and why we do what we do. So when I read about Cornelius and his family receiving faith in Christ, along with Holy Spirit falling on them. And when I read that orders were given for them all to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, I knew it was time to dig a little deeper.
Scripture establishes that salvation and water baptism are separate experiences, and that water baptism is an outward expression of what has happened inwardly when we receive salvation by faith through grace. (See Acts 10:40-48) This scripture, along with many others, show that salvation is received first apart from water baptism. Water baptism is not necessary for salvation. So, why be water baptized?
The example in scripture is that most who received salvation followed their declaration of faith in Christ with an outward demonstration of that inward faith by being immersed in water. Who knows whether the verses that depict salvation apart from water baptism simply do not tell the rest of the story, or if some were not water baptized for various reasons. Not every detail of every event is written in the history of scripture.
The “why” of water baptism is answered this way. Choosing to be baptized is our “first witness” to our inward change. When we have received Christ, we are made new creatures as in says in 1 Corinthians 5:17. The new creature both thinks and acts differently.
Romans 6:4-6 Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.
My conclusion in favor of water baptism is that if I have become a new creature, and if I now want to be like Christ, I want to follow Him in the path He walked – the path of death, burial, and resurrection to new life. By being immersed in baptism, I am stating that I want my old nature dead and buried, and I want to be raised to my new nature in Jesus Christ.
I’m one who loves drawing lines in the sand so to speak. I have a feeling that in the Spirit world a line is drawn in the sand when we make a public profession of faith by submitting to baptism. Why would I quietly receive Christ, then hide the beautiful gift I’ve been given? I would only hide the gift if I’m ashamed of it, and I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the power of God for salvation. (Romans 1:16)
If you have not been water baptized, please consider doing so. If you’d like to come visit with us soon (only if you’re in Knoxville, TN and don’t already have a home church), message me for the address. I have a feeling we’ll be doing some baptisms very soon!
