Faith Essentials 4: WHY WATER BAPTISM?

Water Baptism is a believer’s ‘next step’.
‘Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16.16ESV)

Being baptised is actually A COMMAND of Christ.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19 NIV

The followers of Jesus took His command seriously.

Acts 2 records the first sermon preached in the early church. Peter, one of the disciples, got up and spoke to the crowd and told them all about Jesus and how they had crucified Him. The crowd was cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other disciples: ‘What should we do?’

Read Acts 2:38 – 41 to see what happened.

What was the first thing Peter told the people to do? (v38)

After repenting, what were they to do?

This is why we refer to Water Baptism as believer’s baptism. They believed first and were then baptised to declare publicly that they had become followers of Jesus Christ.

How many people does this verse command to be baptized? (v38)

How soon after becoming Christians were they baptised? (v41)

When we come to faith in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, this is what the Bible says has happened to us on the inside:

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Look up: Galatians 2:20 What does it mean to you?

Baptism is an outward sign of what happened to us inwardly when we believed. It is symbolic of being ‘born again’. The Bible teaches that in baptism we have been buried with Jesus & raised with Him.

Colossians 2:12 (NRSV) “… when you were buried with Him in baptism, you were also raised with Him through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

Look up Romans 6:3 – 4 What does it say?

Going under the water symbolises that your sins are forgiven and that your old way of living is dead and buried. Coming up out of the water symbolises the new life you have in Jesus.
Baptism is a symbol of what happened when we repented of our sins, and believed Jesus died so we could be forgiven, and was resurrected, guaranteeing our resurrection. Baptism itself doesn’t wash away sin.

1 John 1:9 (NIV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

What is it that takes away our sin?