Meaning and Importance
Water Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work. It gives testimony of a changed life.Why is it Important?
Jesus was baptized of John to fulfill scripture and left us an example to follow.Matthew 3:15b “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.” I have the example of the disciples.
Acts 19:5 “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” I have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38b “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for (because of) the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” It is an act of my obedience
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
I am now a follower of Christ. It is my privilege to follow the Lord in being baptized in water.
Mark 16:16 “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
What is the significance?
Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” It is a testimony of my love and obedience to the Lord before my unsaved friends, family and to my fellow believers.Mode or Method of Baptism
“Baptize” means “to dip or immerse, to be covered by water, put completely under, buried.”Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Immersion in water (baptism) typifies the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. I go completely under the waters of baptism (for just a second); an act on my part to symbolically bury my old life (death to self) and come up in newness of life in Christ.
After I have given my life to God, I will meet with my pastor to discuss being baptized. A date will be set so I can invite any family or friends I want to be there.
I will need to bring a dry change of clothes and a couple of towels.