Hi there, everyone! Today we’re starting a section on “What takes place after and because of salvation, and what are the evidences of salvation.” We’ll be discussing 1 of 5 today. All Scripture is from the ESV Bible unless indicated. All italics within Scripture is mine.
E. What takes place after/because of salvation? What are the evidences of salvation?
1). Be baptized, this is one thing you should do following salvation. In order to better understand it, we’re going to look at the “what,” “why,” and “who” of baptism.
What is baptism? The Greek word used for baptism is baptizō (pronounced bap-tid-zoh). This word means “to make overwhelmed, fully wet, or to cover over completely, submerge.” Not sprinkle, spray, splash––immerse! Mark 1:5 says that “they were being baptized by [John the Baptist] in the Jordan River.” Not by, beside, near, across from, but in. And the Greek actually reads “were being immersed.” When Jesus was baptized, both Matthew 3:16 and Mark 1:10 say Jesus came “up” out of the water––not “away from it,” as would be if they were simply at the edge of the water, for example. And, John tells us that John the Baptist baptized where “there was much water” (John 3:23 NASB). It would not take “much water” to baptize people by sprinkling, but it would take a lot to immerse people. Many people went to John to be baptized. It would have been much easier for John to just throw some water on them as they passed him...but he didn’t. He took them into much water and overwhelmed them––immersed them. That’s what baptism is.
Baptism is a symbol. The new Christian is buried in a watery grave and raised up as a symbol of his trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the atonement of sins. Only immersion adequately pictures a burial and resurrection. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3,4).
Why should one get baptized? There are several reasons to be baptized. 1) It is commanded. Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). And Jesus tells us in Mark 16:16 that “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved … .” He tells us to get baptized. 2) We need to follow Jesus’ example. Jesus started His ministry with baptism in Matthew 3:13-15. 3) We need to publicly confess Jesus through baptism. Although baptism does not save us, it is an outward confession of an inward faith. The eunuch was baptized following his faith in Jesus (Acts 8:36-38); the jailer and his family were taught the word of the Lord, believed, and were then baptized (Acts 16:30-33). Baptism follows repentance and faith. 4) Baptism shows a spiritual unity with the church. Peter says in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptized every one of you …,” and then in verse 41 it tells us that “those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” were added to the church. Baptism connects you with the universal Church of Christ—all Christians all over the world.
Who should get baptized? The pattern shown in the New Testament is one where only those people who give a believable profession of faith are baptized. And these are the only ones who should be baptized. This view is often called “believers’ baptism” because it holds that only those who themselves accept Jesus Christ as their Savior should be baptized. The reason for this is that baptism, in the New Testament/God’s Word, is portrayed as a symbol of the beginning of a Christian life, so should accordingly be given only to those who have begun a new life in Christ. No infant or young child can do this. This view is clearly illustrated in the New Testament, but argued against vehemently. Following are Scripture passages that support believers’ baptism. “Repent and be baptized …” (Acts 2:38)—infants cannot repent. “So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41)—the people received the gospel, they accepted it. Acceptance takes the ability to reason to conclude that something is good or worth accepting. Infants cannot reason. “But when they believed …, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12)—believed. Infants don’t believe anything. Also, notice who or what were baptized—men and women, not infants. “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (…, the answer of a good conscience toward God), …” (1 Pet. 3:21 NKJV)—the person baptized is stating that he has repented and put his trust in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Infants and young children simply do not have the mental capacity to understand what any of that means.
So, baptism is immersion, a command, and is done by “knowing” believers in Christ. We must realize that baptism does not make us saved or complete our salvation, nor is it necessary for salvation. It is something that Christians should want to do to follow Christ’s example and command.
Next time we’ll discuss evidence 2 of 5! I pray you enjoy a wonderfully blessed day today.
Niki Ƹ>Ï<Ʒ
No comments:
Post a Comment