Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and commanded that all Christians be baptized. The apostles also commanded that all believers be baptized. But, why? What does it mean?
Baptism is simple obedience to the commands of Jesus and the apostles, but it is so much more than that. Baptism is an outward witness of an inward faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. Every baptism in the New Testament came after repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ so that’s why it is only for the believer. The act of baptism is a public declaration of your faith in and identification with the crucified, buried and risen Savior. It is a beautiful and visible display of the gospel of Jesus Christ! The believer being baptized is immersed beneath the waters, which expresses death to sin and the burial of their old life, and then brought out of the water, which expresses resurrection to a new life in Christ Jesus.
Baptism solidifies our identity in Christ and serves as a public declaration to the world that we belong to Him – that we are dead to sin and alive to Christ! “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” Romans 6:4
~Pastors Jon & Kristine Morgan