Baptised and Ready to Serve

Just as he began his public ministry with baptism, so too for us baptism marks the beginning of our commitment to follow Him. 

From an Africa Study Bible learn note titled “Baptism”: 

John baptised those who accepted his message and were ready to repent and follow God (Mark 1:4, 8; Luke 3:7-16; John 1:25-28). Baptism was such an important part of his ministry that he was known as “John the Baptist.” When Jesus began His ministry, He asked John the Baptist to baptise Him in the Jordan River. Jesus did not need to be baptised to show His repentance, because He was sinless. In fact, the Father and the Holy Spirit publicly affirmed the divinity of Jesus when He was baptised. But Jesus still chose to be baptised to show His approval of John’s ministry and His solidarity with sinful humankind. He was also setting an example for believers.

The disciples of Jesus also baptised believers (John 4:1-2; Acts 2:41). After His resurrection, Jesus told His followers that they should baptise disciples in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16). Baptism is a commandment from the Lord and an integral part of the process of a Christian’s committing to Christ. 

Christian baptism is a physical act involving water that declares publicly and definitely that a person is a Christian. In the New Testament and the very early church, the person being baptised was immersed in water if there was enough available. Otherwise, believers being baptised had water poured on their heads three times. 

Different groups baptise differently. In the early church, people described baptism as a sacrament, a means of grace necessary for salvation; as a sign and seal of a covenant between God and believers; or as a symbol, an outward sign of inner change in the believer. Regardless of your church’s view, we all agree that baptism is a transformational act telling the world that the person being baptised is a believer in Jesus Christ. 

Today: 

We have learned that Jesus was baptised so as to set an example for all believers. How does your church baptise? Have you been baptised? If no, what difference does it make to know that Jesus was baptised? If yes, what new truth have you learned about your baptism today?