Why Baptism Matters
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” -Acts 2:38
I gave my life to Jesus at the age of twelve, but I didn’t get baptized until I was twenty. You might be wondering what took me so long. I admit, I never thought baptism was all that important. I assumed it was optional, and maybe even a bit ostentatious if I’m being completely honest. I mistakenly equated it with prayer, an act that should not be done to impress but instead done humbly between me and my heavenly Father (Matthew 6:6). I didn’t understand why believers made such a big deal out of being baptized. Donning a swimsuit in front of an audience and coming up out of the water to the sound of cheers and applause sounded a bit over-the-top. I clearly had not read what the Bible had to say about the matter. If I had I would have been set right, which is exactly what happened eight years after giving my life to Christ.
As Jesus’ disciples spread the word of His resurrection and ascension, a call to baptism came with it. “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” declared Peter (Acts 2:38). It turns out, believers are not just encouraged to be baptized, they are commanded to be baptized. All throughout the New Testament, those who left their life of sin and became believers were immediately baptized. It was the implied next step because it symbolized what had just taken place in their hearts. Their sins had been washed clean and they had been made new in Christ (1 Peter 3:21). Sharing their baptism with others was a beautiful way of sharing the redeeming love of Christ, and an invitation for others to follow suit. As if these weren’t good enough reasons, Jesus himself was baptized, setting the example for all of us who believe in Him (Matthew 3:13-17).
I remember standing waist-deep in a hot tub in the middle of the county fairgrounds, sharing my testimony in front of my church family at the annual summer picnic. I was all nerves, but as I rose up out of that water and saw all the smiling faces, something in me changed. The guilt and shame of my past were left in the water, my convictions were stronger and I had a renewed sense of God’s purpose and plan for my life. I had obeyed God’s will for me through the act of baptism and in the light of that obedience, everything looked new.
Study & Reflection: Study the following passages pertaining to baptism: Luke 3:16, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Acts 2:41, 8:12, 19:14, 22:16, Colossians 2:12
What is Jesus trying to tell us about baptism? What do you think that attitude was for those who were baptized in the days of Jesus? Why did they do it? What can you learn from those who have gone before us in baptism?
Prayer: Prayerfully consider any areas in which you are being disobedient to God. What justifications are you using? Ask God to direct you to passages in the Bible that will help you follow Him with a willing heart. With a repentant heart, step into the waters of renewal and allow God to remove any sin in your life. Now go, and be different because of it.