THE TRUTH ABOUT WATER BAPTISM
THE TRUTH ABOUT WATER BAPTISM
INTRODUCTION:
Jesus, God shown to us in flesh, said, "If you love Me, you will do
what I say" (John 14:15 NLT). This same Jesus tells us, "He who puts
his trust in Me and is baptized will be saved from the punishment of
sin" (Mark 16:16 NLT). If you love Jesus, you will do what He
commands you to do and His Word commands you to be baptized in
Jesus' Name. Those who do not obey will be punished for their sins.
When you repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you, you are
dying out to your sins. After someone dies they need to be buried.
After you die to sin, you need to be buried in baptism (Romans 6:4). When
you obey God by being baptized in Jesus' Name, your old sins are washed
away and God forgives you for all of your past sins.
HOW SHOULD YOU BE BAPTIZED?
Man has designed different ways to be baptized. Some sprinkle
water on you, some pour the water on you, while others cover the
whole body with water. Ephesians 4:5 tells us, "There is one Lord, and
one faith, and one baptism." Which ONE of those ways is correct? Since
the Bible is God's record of truth, the ONE used in the Bible would be
correct. The way Jesus was baptized would be the ONE correct way.
The Bible says, "Jesus came up out of the water" when He was
baptized (Matthew 3:16 NLT). God's Word also tells us we are buried
when we are baptized. You do not sprinkle dirt or pour dirt on people
when they are buried. Neither are you supposed to just sprinkle or pour
water on them when they are baptized. The word baptism actually comes
from a word that means to dip, plunge, or immerse. To be properly
baptized you need to be completely covered with water.
Men not only have different ways of baptizing, but they have different
words they say when baptizing. Since we know that there is only ONE
BAPTISM, we understand that we should say the words that were used
in the Bible when baptizing.
After the Church was born in Acts chapter 2, we have no record of
anyone being baptized using any other words than some form of, "In the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
On the Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, when the Church was
born, Peter was the spokesman for the Apostles. Jesus had given him
`...the keys of the holy nation of heaven" (Matthew 16:19 NLT). So when
the people asked Peter how to be saved, he had God's authority to tell
them. "Peter said to them, Be sorry for your sins and turn from them and
be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and your sins will be forgiven.
You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38 NLT). Three
thousand people obeyed these words of salvation that day and were
baptized.
Philip baptized the Samaritans in Acts 8 in Jesus' name. Paul called
on the name of Jesus in his baptism. Peter baptized Cornelius, his
family, and friends, in Jesus' name in Acts chapter 10. Paul re-baptized
the people in Acts chapter 19 after he found out they had not yet been
baptized in Jesus' name.
"Whatever you say or do, do it in the name of the Lord Jesus"
(Colossians 3:17 NLT). "There is no way to be saved from the punishment
of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we can be saved" (Acts 4:12 NLT). These two
Scriptures emphasize the necessity of using the name of Jesus in
baptism.
CONCLUSION:
God through His Word, the Bible, has commanded that you should be
baptized. He has let you know that there is only one correct way to be
baptized. He also has told you what that correct way is, by immersion in
the name of Jesus.
In John 14:15 (NLT) Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will do what I
say." Being obedient to God in baptism is a test of your love to God. If
you do not obey and be baptized, you do not love Him. If you do not love
Him you cannot be saved from the punishment of your sins. However, by
showing your love for God by repenting and being baptized in Jesus'
Name, your sins will be forgiven and you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit (Acts 2:38 NLT).
The Word of God says to you as Ananiaz said to Paul, "What are you
waiting for? Get up! Be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling
on His name" (Acts 22:16 NLT).
I live in Oxdrift my passion is the word of God and Bible studies. I love to encourage others to read the Bible and to share their personal testimony. I first started to read my Bible (which was a gift from a friend) back in 1982. After several weeks of reading this precious book I became aware how real the people were and I started to became more and more fascinated about the wonderful living scenes, their personalities and their lives were so real that I couldn't put my Bible down. The more I read the more I felt real freedom in my life, wonderful things unfolded day by day such as healings, miracles and magnificent experiences. First time in my life fear disappear, my kidneys were totally healed, peace and joy flooded my life. In April 15, 2003, after seeking and praying for several weeks I met our precious saviour who baptized me with His presence, fire fall on me it touched the top of my head and ever so gently travel through my body and left at the end of my toes, this was such a phenomenal experience that my life was for ever change. Jesus became my passionate friend who has never fail me, He has always been there for me through all these years. Recently He call me to start "The voice of Truth Minitries" I love to share my passion for the work of God with friends and I am thankful for those who stand with me to make this Ministry a reality.
