Baptism

  

              What is baptism? I know this is a question that linger in most of Christian minds why do this ritual of being immersed in water.?, so what is the big deal of me being baptized have I not washed myself enough to be clean ,this reminds me of apostle peter comments in the thirteen chapter of John when Jesus wanted to wash his disciples feet, as simple as the washing of disciples feet was it carried with it great weight such that Jesus made it a condition that unless peters legs be washed by Him peter has no place in Jesus.

       Baptism was a ritual introduced by Jesus in mark! 6:16 refer also to the famous phrase in Matthew 28:16-20 commonly termed the great commission 

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mar 16:16 KJV

               Looking at this verse in point of fact reveals the intend of Jesus introducing baptism into the church, To Jesus baptism carried with it the salvation power ,it was during the time of reformation that the protestants got it wrong on the outcome of baptism when they tried to free themselves from the error of the roman catholic, From the above quoted verse in mark 16:16 clearly shows the biblical pattern is as follows that is whoever believes and is baptized will be saved NOT whoever believes and is saved will be baptized 

                    What is salvation related to? A good student of the bible will realize that 

Salvation is related to the world ,we are saved from this world ,looking at verses like john 3:7 and  Rom 5;19 the first book speak of wrath that was to come ,now the question arises to whom is the wrath destined to come to ,the phrase in romans answers the question and states  as follows 

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Rom 5:19 KJV

 

                    From this we learn that from the lawlessness of Adam all posterity of Adam changed position and become rebellious  to God therefore the wrath of God is manifested to all rebels .salvation is a shift from one side that is of rebellion to God to a side of obedience to God, and the shift ticket is baptism. Reading the bible the following facts about the world are evident that firstly the world is under judgment, secondly the world is under Satan, thirdly the world crucified the Lord Jesus and finally the world is enemy to God .so salvation is position where are you in relation to God.

                        Reading the Acts you will realize a number of phrases that seems to be difficult to explain is salvation personal or corporate look at the following verses Acts 4:12 and 13:26 in this two verses salvation is quoted as personal but when we look at Acts 16:30-31 you will notice that Paul speaks to the jailer on salvation as corporate, from this two point of view we can with confidence deduce that salvation is both personal and corporate but eternal life(john 3:3) which is very much related to salvation is only personal. Therefore salvation is related to the position and relationship that one has with the world which is already condemned  

From mark 16:16 we can come with two deductions, that is;

 1. Whoever does not believe is condemned.

2. Whoever believes must be baptized to be saved 

                      When we look at the religions of the world confession Christ is not an issue one can confess Christ and still be regarded as a brother to an Islam, Judaist or even a Hindu but when one is baptized the bar is created and this attracts persecution ,from this we can clearly see that when one is baptized the world recognizes that they have departed from their camp and therefore the only thing they can do is persecute them  hence from this we can say that baptism which is usually public is an open testimony that men have changed position 

               Baptism also come with another benefit apart from being a public testimony of changed position it also carry with it forgiveness of sin 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Act 2:38 KJV

And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

Luke 23:18 KJV

                   We can connect the two verses when we investigate the people that apostle peter was addressing, remembering that the same people who were listening to Apostle peter were the same who ganged up with the gentiles and crucified a righteous blood and it did not end there they also said let his blood be on our head Matthew 27:25 therefore at the words of peter their inquired what shall we do to be forgiven of this grievous sin and his response was repent and be baptized 

 The third benefit of baptism is washing away of sin 

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Act 22:16 KJV

            The last benefit is salvation from the water,

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

1Pe 3:20-21 KJV

                    Looking at the above verses we realize that those that emerged from the water that is the only ones in the ark were saved from judgment that come to the world the same applies to us when we emerge from the water we are saved from the judgment that is already in the world 

              Now we have looked at the benefit of one approaching the waters of baptism after now baptism has taken place looking back what baptism did to a believer, when we look at the book of Romans 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:3 KJV

Looking at romans we realize that when we look back a believer is baptized into Christ death meaning they no longer alive to the world but dead in reality to the world 

After death now what? The Holy Spirit says in Colossians 

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

Col 2:12 KJV

                 The subject of death does not end there but we also have another activity that was does that is we were risen together with Christ from the two realities we can say that baptism is not an changed life given but a total exchange of life we release one life to death and another is given at resurrection 

                 When we look back again at baptism we also realize that we were placed in Christ when he died we died with Him that’s why in baptism we are included in His death the Holy Spirit states that 

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 

1Co 1:30 KJV

Question what is the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus baptism?

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