The Significance and Necessity of Baptism in Christianity, Essays (university) of World Religions

Download The Significance and Necessity of Baptism in Christianity and more Essays (university) World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! Jesus’ Offer of Brand New Life (Baptism) What is baptism? If you ask 10 people on what baptism is, you could get 10 different answers. How important is baptism? Is it accidental that in the New Testament, baptism was mentioned 100 times? 1. The Necessity of Baptism A. What is the example of Jesus? Matthew 3:13-15 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.. Jesus did not need to be baptized. But He did so to identify “Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do.” Baptism is an aspect of “righteousness” in which every believer needs to experienced. Since Jesus Christ, the Sinless One, was baptized to “fulfill righteousness,” sinners ought to do the same. Jesus identified Himself with the sinners and took the necessary steps that we should follow His footsteps. B. What is the command of Jesus? Matthew 28:19 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The necessity of baptism is base on Jesus’ own authority. He has commanded it. In this command or commission, He made it clear that baptism is required to those who will become a part of His church. C. When is a person becomes a child of God? Galatians 3:26, 27 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The word “for” in verse 27 begins to explain how a person put on Christ. Baptism is the point a person becomes a child of God. Prior to baptism, a person is not yet in Christ—still outside Christ. A person might experience believing, repenting, and confessing but baptism is the point that puts a person “into Christ”—and becomes a child of God. Becoming a child of God “by faith” includes baptism. 2. The Meaning and Purpose of Baptism A. What is the meaning or significance of baptism? Romans 6:3-8 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. Baptism is symbolic in meaning. Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. It was in Christ’s death that He shed His blood to save a person from sin. In baptism, the eyes are closed and the breath is suspended for a moment. In baptism, a person died to sin and he sinks beneath the water. He is buried with Christ. Moreover, as Christ rose from the dead apart from sin, so also a person arises out of water as new being. Baptism then became the grave of the old man and the birthplace of the new. Baptism in and of itself does not save us. It becomes important and of value only as it symbolizes our faith to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Baptism by immersion therefore, is the best representation of identifying the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. B. What is the purpose of baptism? Acts 22:16 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Saul, who later became Paul, related his own conversion (vv. 6-16). Before his baptism, he had experienced the Lord on the road to Damascus. He believed the Lord and was willing to obey Him. Jesus told him to go into the city and would be told what he must do (9:6). Ananias came and told him to be baptized and wash away his sins. To believe and call only in the name of the Lord is not enough. Despite seeing the Lord, accepting Jesus as Lord, and praying and fasting for three days (9:9-11) had not saved him. Not until he was baptized were his sins washed away. 3. The Method of Baptism The administration of baptism in the Christian world varies. Some employ immersion; others sprinkling; and still others pouring. Many are perplexed by these disagreements. What is the biblical method of baptism? The Bible assures us that there is only one mode of baptism, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Ephesians 4:5 A. How should a person be baptized?