Baptism is defined according to dictionary.com as
- Ecclesiastical. a ceremonial immersion in water, or application of water, as an initiatory rite or sacrament of the Christian church.
- any similar ceremony or action of initiation, dedication, etc.
- a trying or purifying experience or initiation.
- Christian Science. purification of thought and character.
Synonyms of baptism
debut, immersion, ritual, ablution, purification, purge, introduction, purgation, dedication, sprinkling, christening, naming, sanctification, launching, rite of passage, lustration, baptismal, dunking
Table of content
Learn what baptism is
Why is baptism important (II Timothy 2:15)
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Types of baptisms in the bible
Infant Versus Adult baptism
Reasons why baptism is important
What is baptism
Baptism, as defined above is a ceremonial immersion usually performed as a form of purification or as an initiatory rite or sacrament of a Christian church and can be performed either by immersion or sprinkling of water on the head. It is usually performed as a sacrament in some churches and as an ordinance in other churches. In other words, it is a way of been born or adopted as a new birth into the Christian kingdom. According to the bible, baptism is defined as
As you become baptize you become dead to sins and alive in Christ Jesus as stated in Romans 6:11.
Baptism by water and Fire
Baptism is one thing that we all go through at a point whether we like it or not we will get baptized either by water and the Holy Spirit on earth or by fire in hell.
Mathew 3:10–12
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire
Now it is clearly stated here that we will all get baptized at a point, as John the Baptist said “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:” It is apparently stated by John the Baptist in Mathew 3:12 that Jesus christ will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner and he will burn up the chaff with the unquenchable fire which is hellfire because it is the only fire that is unquenchable and eternal.
What is baptism according to the bible?
The bible is really clear about baptism as Jesus said unto Nicodemus in John chapter 3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus not understanding what God was saying asked that how can a grown man be born again? Will the grown-up man return back to a baby and then enters its mother’s womb? This is the question that every man led the flesh would have asked but Jesus said unto Nicodemus that:
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
This verse is really common among Christian as it is what really depicts one of the reasons why baptism is necessary. Now, what does this verse 5 means? Jesus said that except you are born again of water which is the same as water Baptism and of the spirit which is the Holy Spirit he shall not see the kingdom of God. There are two things needed to qualify to see the Kingdom of God according to John 3 chapter 5 which is baptism and the Holy Spirit. Let us understand what the kingdom of God means in this verse the Kingdom of God is where God reigns as John the Baptist told the people in Mathew 3:2 that they should repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand the kingdom of God in this scene is the messianic kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is God’s reign — His sovereign power and action in the world to redeem and deliver people in both now and the future.
Now we can take a closer look at what Jesus was trying to tell Nicodemus since the kingdom of God is the sovereign power of God to deliver and save us from now and the future if any man is not born again he cannot be saved for now and the future.
Baptism illustrate your death, burial and resurrection with Jesus Christ. And baptism of the Holy Spirit happens inside of you, baptism with the water happens outside of you.
Types of Baptism
Water Baptism wihich should immediatelt following salvation.
Baptism by the Holy Spirit
Baptism with Fire (Mathew 3:10–11)
Why is baptism important?
Baptism serves as a public declaration of Jesus Christ. The moment that you step into the water you are saying that you are a follower of Jesus Christ and you are as well making a public confession of your faith in him. As he has commanded us to go into the world and spread the good news.
Obedience to the command ment of Jesus Christ. If you get baptized it shows that you obeyed the commands that Jesus gave to his disciples in Mathew 28:19–20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
In this bible verse, Jesus said that we should go into the world and teach them the gospel as he has commanded as well as baptizing everyone with the name of the father, of the son, and the Holy Ghost. The “them” that Jesus told his disciples in verse 19 means that we should make disciples and baptize them with water. So if you believe and you get baptized you have obeyed God and have become a family of God which led me to my second point.
You will become a family of God
when you become you have a newness of life and all your sins are completely washed away. 2 corinthians 5:17 says if a man is a new creation he is a new creation old things are pass away and all things have become new. There are ways that people can be adopted into a family, either by birth or by adoption The new birth is the way that you are both adopted and born into the family of God when you are adopted and born into the family of God a spiritual experience that transforms you from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God takes place.
You will experience God’s favor in your life. Let’s take an example of Jesus Christ when Jesus was baptized immediately by John the Baptist according to Luke 3:22
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
when we get baptized something supernatural takes place immediately you are publicly and spiritually declared and God’s own as the case of Jesus Christ. You get saved and you secure your life with Christ for save keeping as long as you remain in the faith.
Reasons why people are not yet bapitszed
- They do not understand what baptism and the important of baptism and therefore think that it is no big deal
- Some have not really heard someone preach or talked about it
- They have partake in the infant baptism
- Another reason why people don’t get baptized is pride. People are proud of how far they have gone in the church without been baptized and they don’t want to be seen baptized because they have been known to be in Christ for a long time.
Is baptism necessary for salvation?
As stated according to the gospel of Mark 16:6 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. This evidently shows that you are not saved because you are been baptized by water but you are saved because you believe in the Jesus from the moment you believe you are saved and you should baptized because it is
We can also use the analogy of a married man or woman to explaining what Baptism represents and what we do whenever we get baptized. In marriage, the ring signifies the engagement and acts as a bond between the husband and wife. The husband has decided to accept the wife and likewise the wife so therefore they both show the people around them by the ring in their hand. Now if the man for example though he loves his wife with all his heart and does not cheat on her forget his ring at home or is not used to putting in the ring this does not mean that he does not belong to the wife and that the wife will not love him back in return or for that reason decide to divorce or deny him.
Infant Baptism
Infant Baptism is not found in the bible neither is the sprinkling of water found in the bible. This is a common believe by the catholic bible and this process involve baptizing babies as it is believed that this will wash away their sins. This goes with the belief that babies are born into sin and they have to be baptized immediately because they may die anytime soon.
There is nothing like this in the bible because infant baptism is not what is necessary for salvation but faith in Christ Jesus Christ. If you are baptized without it being your personal decision you are not saved baptism should occur immediately when you believe in Jesus Christ and then you make the decision which obviously a baby can’t do. It does not matter if you are baptized 20 times or born in the pacific ocean, if you are baptized without the following of your own decision to follow Christ you are not yet really baptized. In fact in Mark 16:16 says
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.
