Bold In Christ Ministries

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:3,5

When we are saved, we are “baptized” by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ, which is the universal church. First Corinthians 12:13 says, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Baptism by water, what is normally meant by the term Christian baptism, is a “reenactment” of the baptism by the Spirit.(Borrowed quote)

For Christians, baptism is a very important and necessary part of our faith. First, a person must first believe in Jesus Christ to be baptized. It is by calling on the name of the Lord and believing that He died and was resurrected that we are saved. If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 CSB.

Baptism is a direct command from the Lord Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Baptism is an outward acknowledgement of a person’s past sins and desire to change, to be cleansed from past guilt. And to become a disciple of Jesus Christ as a member of the church of God. Baptism is not a ritualistic ceremony, but It is the symbolic outward expression of inward change.

 “What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭22‬:‭16‬ ‭‬‬

 The word baptize in Greek is baptizõ meaning to submerge or immerse. The use of water symbolizes the washing away of our sins and the purification of our life. The old sins are symbolically washed away and cleansed from our record. It symbolizes the death and burial of our old man(sinful nature and character) in the watery grave of baptism. So in short, Repent and be baptized. 

 “Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭3‬-‭5

Baptism can only occur after a change of heart and direction. One has to first acknowledge their sins before God and turn to God for forgiveness. There can not be forgiveness of sins where there is no remorse and repentance. “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭

Passing from death to life. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. Romans 6:7-8.

Baptism is symbolic to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Believers are submerged in water during baptism as a symbol for the cleansing and washing away of sin. It symbolizes being born again from acts of death to life in Jesus. The old man dies and the new man arises in Christ.

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

 This is followed by the laying on of hands for the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer’s life.

“Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” ‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬ ‭

When a person believes they are dead to sin and become alive in Christ. We are buried with him through baptism into death. Romans 6:4. Coming out of the water symbolizes being raised to a new life. We are made alive together with him. And are forgiven our sins.

“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Call on the name of the Lord today while there is still time, repent and be baptized in the Name of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭13‬