Showing Your Faith
To baptise means to immerse in water. In the Bible, many people were baptised to show that they had changed their lives. Christians are baptised as a step of obedience to Christ, to publicly show that they believe in Jesus.
Jesus is Baptised
(13) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
(14) But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
(15) Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
(16) As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
(17) And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Why did Jesus ask to be baptised?
What happened when Jesus was baptised?
(31) They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
(32) Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
(33) At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
Who is baptism for?
The Meaning of Baptism
(4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
(5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
(6) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
(7) because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
(8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
What happens when we are baptised? What does it show?
The Command to Be Baptized
Why should we be baptized?
(19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(38) 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.
(8) “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.
The Blessings of Baptism
(11) In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,
(12) having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
(13) When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
(14) having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.
(15) And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
You can celebrate and rejoice that God has set you free from sin and that you have new life and victory in Jesus.
Matthew 10:32 (NIV)
(32) “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
(9) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
(10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
(11) As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
(12) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
(13) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How does this public declaration of faith bless you?
Ask a Friend
Please share about your baptism.
What other questions do you have about water baptism?
Application
If you believe in Jesus but are not yet baptised, would you like to be?
Prayer Model
Lord Jesus, please help me to understand the meaning of baptism and please help me to make a good decision about getting baptised.
Key Verse
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
