Baptism

Ok, now that you've repented of your sins, and have asked Christ Jesus into your heart based on faith, you are to be congratulated.  I also hope that you have or will begin to read in the Gospel of John. You will also need to be obedient to Christ Jesus by participating in believers Baptism.  You might ask the question, "What does baptism actually mean?", or "Why do I need to participate in Baptism?"

BAPTISM

The word baptism is the English form of the Greek. word baptismos. The verb from which this noun is derived-baptizo-is held  to mean "to dip, immerse." Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as a sign of his previous entrance into the communion of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. In other words, baptism is a token of the regenerated soul's union with Christ.

Obligation

Baptism is an ordinance instituted by Christ (Matt 28:19; Mark 16:16), practiced by the apostles (Acts 2:38), submitted to by members of New Testament (NT) churches (Rom 6:3-5; Col 2:11-12), and subsequently practiced as a rite in Christian churches. No church hierarchy has the right to modify or dispense with this command of Christ because only the local church (no other visible church of Christ) is known in the NT, and it is purely an executive, not a legislative body.

 

Significance

Symbolizing regeneration through union with Christ, baptism portrays not only Christ's death and resurrection and their purpose in atoning for sin in delivering sinners from sin's penalty and power, but also betokens the accomplishment of that purpose in the person baptized (Rom 6:3-5; Gal 3:27; Col 3:3). By that external rite the believer professes his death to sin and resurrection to spiritual life. He also gives witness to the method by which God's purpose has been wrought for him, namely, by union with Christ. The rite sets forth the fact that the believer has received Christ and in faith given himself to Him (Rom 6:5; Col 2:12).

Who can be Baptized then?

Only those who give credible evidence of regeneration (born again), and who thus by faith have entered into the communion of Christ's death and resurrection, are considered proper candidates for the rite. Biblical authority for this view is given in the command of Christ that those are to be baptized who have previously been made disciples (Matt 28:19; Acts 2:41), or previously repented and believed (2:37-38; 8:12; 18:8). It is also proved from the nature of the church as a company of regenerated believers (John 3:5; Rom 6:13) and the symbolism of the ordinance itself (Acts 10:47; Rom 6:2-5; Gal 3:26-27). Since it is intended only for the regenerate (born again), baptism can never be the means of regeneration. It is the appointed sign, but never the condition, of forgiveness of sins.

I hope that you now have a working knowledge and understanding of why it is important that we are Baptized after believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.  You can be Baptized at your local body of believers.  We attend Park Hills Baptist Church located near Hwy 281 and 1604 in San Antonio, Texas. This is a great body of believers in Christ Jesus, where you can grow in your faith in Christ Jesus, and  where you can follow in Christ Jesus in Believers Baptism.

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