To Heaven and Back Again: Water Baptism

Baptism

The word for baptism in the Greek language is baptizma. The word literally means “to immerse.” You do this by being completely submerged under the water symbolizing the washing away all uncleanness/sin. It is a total immersion, never partial. John the Baptist appeared and was baptizing people in water for repentance. This is only part of what a Christian baptism is about. Before we are baptized, we must have faith.

Faith

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Faith in Jesus which is what brings salvation. We must hear the gospel message and then faith comes in so we believe what we have heard.

...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

It is faith in who Jesus is and what He has done that brings salvation. Once we have faith and believe, then we simply confess what we believe.

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to [enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). (Romans 5:1 AMPC)
For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; (Ephesians 2:8 AMPC)

We cannot do anything to earn salvation, it is the greatest gift ever given. God gave His Son, and it is through faith in Him that we come into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. We receive this gift by declaring Jesus as our Lord.

The word Lord means owner, master. When He is our Lord, we are willing to do what He says. We begin learning is ways and turn from anything that the Bible tells us is sin. This is often referred to as “dying to the flesh.” as we make the effort to turn away from our sins. This is an everyday effort we must make.

This may sound impossible and burdensome, but we don’t have to do this alone or all at once. “Dying” is an ongoing process. God will not ask more from us than we can do. Jesus put it this way:

Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke on you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 AKJV)

The Lord will teach you His ways one step at a time. It won’t be hard. Also, when you make the declaration that Jesus is your Lord, then you will have a “Helper,” the Holy Spirit. He will come into your spirit and you will be a new creation before God. This is being “born again” which is necessary before you are baptized or during baptism. Jesus tells Nicodemus about the need to be born again.

Jesus answered him, “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born?”
Jesus answered “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-5 AMPC)

The phrase “born of water” refers to the water that comes forth with baby; the birthing water. This is the first birth in this world. After you hear the gospel and have faith to make the decision to believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you can receive the Holy Spirit and become a new creation inside your spirit. This is all that is necessary for salvation. Baptism is the next step along the path of the Christian journey.

Action

Your decision to be water-baptized means you are ready to put your faith into motion. When you are submerged underwater, you are saying goodbye to your old life and embracing the new life with Jesus as your Lord.

Some of the first Christians began by being baptized by John the Baptist. It was a Jewish tradition, an outward sign of what our heart was set on; to turn from sin and start fresh with God in the right direction. John made it clear that unless you are prepared to turn away from your sins don’t bother to get baptized!

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee and escape from the wrath and indignation [of God against disobedience] that is coming? Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]... (Matthew 3:7-8 AMPC)

Everyone in Israel was coming to be baptized because John warned the people of Israel that they had strayed away from God’s ways and they needed to repent. The baptism represented turning from (repenting) from wrong ways that were being practiced in Israel.

Jesus was born in Israel. He lived a perfect life but was part of the corrupt system led by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Through the act of baptism, Jesus was declaring that He was turning from the corrupt system.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, “It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right].” Then he permitted Him. And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And behold, a voice from Heaven said, This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I delight! (Matthew 3:13-17 AMPC)

Through baptism, Jesus declared He was not in agreement with anything that was sin, including the religious leaders of that time. After this, Jesus started correcting the wrong teachings in the Temple and synagogues, showing Israel the right ways of God.

When we take Jesus as Lord, we must be willing to turn from sin, wherever we find it.

If anyone comes to Me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life - such a person cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26-27 NIV)
Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations; And repays them that hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him that hates Him, He will repay him to his face. (Deuteronomy 7:9-10 AKJV)

The word hate is a strong word for many of us. In the Aramaic language and in the Old Testament, those who hated God were those who were not honoring Him by doing what He said to do. Sinning is siding with the enemy of God, and puts us on the enemy’s side. This is why sinning is referred to as hating God.

When Jesus spoke about hating our parents and siblings, He was speaking about obeying our family and our family traditions instead of obeying Him. We must “hate our mothers and fathers because we choose to disobey them if what they are saying contradicts what God is saying.

After making the decision to be water baptized, when you see that people are acting sinful, you absolutely cannot join in with those people that are displeasing God and disobeying God. That is where you have to remind yourself that you have ‘made a promise to follow Christ.’ It doesn't matter what your mother, father, brothers, sisters, or children are doing, you must choose to turn the other way and follow Christ.

In the previous verse of Luke 14, Jesus says that such a person “cannot be my disciple.” What does He mean? When you choose to be water baptized, you are making a commitment to discipleship which cannot be fulfilled if you are choosing to follow your family traditions and instructions instead of doing what Jesus says.

Disciples

Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be). (Matthew 28:19-20 AMPC)

Jesus instructed his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. He didn't necessarily say go and make church members. That is not the purpose of water baptism. So according to this scripture in Matthew 28, if you are not willing to be disciples for Christ, then why are you getting water baptized?

Your decision to be water-baptized, should not be a flippant decision. You have to count the cost – it's a heart experience. You have to recognize that your life is nothing without Jesus and you accept that you are set apart for the service of God. If you're in a church and someone says, “We're going to have water baptism in three weeks, who here wants to be baptized?” It’s not a matter of just saying, “I do!” You need to understand that you are saying, “Lord, I want to die to my old life, and I want to begin my new life, my new service with You.”

Requirements for Baptism

So, who should be baptized? What are the requirements of water baptism?

1. You heard the gospel of Jesus Christ

2. You have accepted the payment made for your sins – the blood Jesus shed on the cross

3. You have accepted Jesus as your Lord

a. Lord means master, owner. Jesus has literally bought you, sins and all

b. You will learn about your Lord to see what He wants you to do

4. You intend to repent or turn from your sins

And the Bible says he who believes and is baptized shall be saved. This scripture implies salvation and water baptism go hand in hand. You are saved when you believe and baptism should naturally follow if you truly understand that you have a new “lord” which means owner, master.

He who believes [who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] and is baptized will be saved [from the penalty of eternal death]; but he who does not believe [who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth] will be condemned. (Mark 16:16 AMPC)

When we know that we are able to go to Heaven because of what Jesus has done, we have to rely upon Him. We must get to know what He wants and do it. When speaking to the women at the well, Jesus said…

Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live. (John 11:25 AMPC)

Many debate if water baptism is a requirement to enter Heaven. While the Apostle Mark indicated both salvation and baptism go together, Jesus stressed the importance of believing in Him. We must believe and trust in Jesus to enter Heaven.

Choosing to be water-baptized is a decision to go deeper in your walk with Him. Water Baptism is a cleansing step that only you can choose for yourself. You have to believe, and be aware of the need to realign yourself with your new benefactor: Jesus. Sin is in the opposite direction of where Jesus and God are, to cleave to Jesus you must change your behavior and move away from sin.

As long as you have heard the gospel, have the faith to believe in Him who died for you, and are ready to turn from sin, then you are ready to die to yourself and receive your new life in Jesus. Baptism does not require a six-week course. In the Bible, as soon as someone believed and made a decision for Christ, they were baptized right away.

If you wish to be baptized, please go to our website and click on the APPOINTMENTS page to schedule a Let's Chat.

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