When someone believes the Word and is convicted by the Holy Spirit, immersion in water becomes the next step in their faith journey. But why is it so important? Why does God call us not just to believe, but also to be baptized?
Many see baptism as an option, something to be done if convenient. Yet, Scripture tells us otherwise. Baptism is not an option - it is an act of obedience. Jesus Himself was baptized (Matthew 3:13-14), even though He had no sin, to “fulfill all righteousness”. If Jesus saw it as necessary, how much more should we?
Baptism is not the source of salvation, it does not save us - faith in Jesus Christ does, but it is part of God’s plan for a believer’s transformation. Baptism completes us. It is a moment of spiritual cleansing, a physical act that reflects a deeper, supernatural transformation.
Throughout the Bible, water is connected to both judgment and renewal. In the days of Noah, water brought judgment upon the wicked. When the Israelites escaped Egypt, God used water to judge Pharaoh’s army. And in Jesus’ baptism, He stepped into the waters, symbolizing the judgment of sin that He would bear on our behalf.
Baptism Marks a New Identity
The world leaves its mark on us. It clothes us in its scent, in its sin, in its identity. But baptism washes that mark away. It is the dividing line between the old self and the new creation. Titus 3:5 reminds us: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
When we are baptized, we put on Christ. We come out of the waters of baptism and we receive a new clothing - we become strangers to the world. And what does the world do with strangers? It rejects them. Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” Baptism signifies that we are no longer of this world - we belong to Christ.
Building a Spiritual House
The mission of the Church is not just to gather believers but to build the Body of Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.” However, each stone must be fully processed - free from the scent of the world. God is not in the business of building an imperfect structure. Every believer must go through the full process of salvation, including baptism, to be fully established in Him.
The early Church understood this well. The first message the disciples preached was the need for water baptism (Acts 2:37-38, Acts 8:12-13, Acts 9:17-18). They knew that baptism was not just a tradition - it was the evidence of a transformed life.
If you have placed your faith in Jesus but have not yet been baptized, the question is: What is stopping you? Baptism is not just a ritual; it is a declaration that you belong to Christ. It is an act of obedience, a mark of transformation, and a step into your new identity in Him.
The world marked you, but baptism washes the mark away. Will you take that step of faith?
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