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KEY 6 // WHY BAPTISM?

Jesus gave his followers a mission, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Baptism is an outward declaration of the inward decision a person makes, to put their faith and trust in Jesus. In Romans 6, the author Paul describes baptism as us joining with Christ in His death and rising again as Jesus did into our new life.

Jesus himself was also baptized. He was not a sinner, but He did it in obedience to God and to give us an example to follow. He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River and Matthew 3:16 says, “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.”

Making the decision to get baptized is making a public declaration that we are leaving our old life behind and stepping into the new life God has called us to. A good analogy for this unity with Christ would be a wedding ring. Although the ring itself doesn’t make us married, it is a symbol of marriage! There are many Scriptures that make it clear that it’s our faith that pleases God, and baptism is a symbol that shows our faith publicly.

TAKEAWAY TIPS

1. HOW ARE WE BAPTISED ​?

The word baptism in Greek means to immerse or dip underwater. Every baptism in the Bible was by immersion underwater, and the book of Acts shows us that this was the norm for every believer.

2. WHO SHOULD BE BAPTISED?

​Anyone who has made a decision to follow Jesus. Acts 2:41 says that those who accepted the message were baptized. The one requirement for baptism is faith in Jesus!

3. WHY SHOULD WE BE BAPTISED? ​

There were many believers in the New Testament who were baptized on the same day they made a decision. We don’t have to wait to be baptized, we’ve just got to put our faith in Jesus and we’re set!