Baptism

Water Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead - Father, Son & Holy Spirit

(Matthew 28:19)

Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death

Death - I died with Him- Baptism is saying that it should have been me on the cross being punished for sins. What He did physically we do vicariously through Him. So in our baptism we declare that we have died & are buried with Him and as He was raised from the dead, He promises to raise us from the dead with Him too.

(Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:5)

Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His burial

Buried -I was buried with Him. Being buried is a putting away of the dead body. It is a dead body and a new body is what we get instead.

Spiritually this takes place now.

(Colossians 2:11-12)

Physically it will take place in the future when we lay this physically body down and get a new body in its place.

(Romans 6:4)

Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His resurrection

Resurrection - I will be raised with Him- we all must die. But in Christ we have the promise that when we physically die we are promised life after that death. Christ proved through His resurrection that there IS life after death and we can know for certain when we die we too become alive.

The resurrection of Jesus is the final work of His redemption plan to pay for and cleanse us of our sin. Baptism represents the full picture of the redemptive work of Christ (death, burial, resurrection). By being obedient to the act of baptism we declare that we accept the redemptive work of Christ in our lives and because of Christ we are now declared righteous in the site of God.

Water baptism represents a Cleansing

A general definition for the word baptism is "a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration."

In the Old Testament, this rite was practiced frequently. It signified purity or cleansing from sin and devotion to God and a new beginning.

In the New Testament, Baptism is significant in that it represents the forgiveness and cleansing from sin that comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist sent by God to spread the news of the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ was directed by God (John 1:33) to baptize those who accepted his message. John's baptizing is called "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Mark 1:4)

Those baptized by John acknowledged their sins and professed their faith that through the coming Messiah they would be forgiven.

(1 Corinthians 6:11)

Water baptism represents a cleansing of the guilt of our sin by the work of the cross which baptism represents.

(1 Peter 3:21)

Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer

It should be preceded by belief and repentance, which simply means "change". It is a change of mind (thinking/belief) which results in a turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past and all of our possessions before the Lord. It is giving the control of our lives over to Him.
Water baptism is the first act of obedience a believer is asked to do

(Acts 8:12-13, Acts 8:36-38, Acts 2:38, Acts 2:41, Acts 22:16)

 

Bible Answer From: The Holypop Team