The act of water baptism

The act of water baptism (being immersed in water in response to receiving salvation) is a very important first step in the Christian life.

In Matthew 3:13-17 (KJV) 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Here we see the Lord Jesus Himself coming to His cousin John to be baptized, in order to "fulfill all righteousness."

He then went on to establish baptism as an eternal ordinance for His church, calling every believer to follow in His footsteps.

(See Matthew 28:19 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

In our modernized, "comfort zone Christianity," we do, sad to say, tend to take God's commandments far too lightly.

As Chuck Colson points out: 
"Most Westerners take baptism for granted, but for many in the world the act requires immense courage. In countries like Nepal it once meant imprisonment. For Soviet or Chinese or Eastern bloc believers, it was like signing their own death warrant." 

• SYMBOLIC
  A wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married. A military uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular branch of service. Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

However, I use the word "symbol" here with caution. To say that it is "just a symbol" takes away from the depth and beauty of water baptism. Baptism is a symbol, but it is so much more than that. 

When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ

(Galatians 3:27 (KJV) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.) and into His Body , the church

(1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

• Baptism in water is an outward representation of these inward realities.In Biblical symbolism, water represents inner cleansing.

(Ephesians 5:26 (KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,,

Hebrews 10:22 (KJV) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.)

• And spiritual rebirth(John 3:5 (KJV) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.) both of which are central themes of baptism. 
• Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which we testify, both to God and to the world, which the person we were before is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ. This is beautifully illustrated by these Scriptures:
  
  "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."- Romans 6:4
  
  "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."-Colossians 2:12

• Being baptized is a command from God, not an option.

It is an act that God requires of every believer. In fact, among Jesus' last recorded words on earth were . "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved...." (Mark 16:16.)

Think about that for a moment. Jesus' very call to believe on Him includes a call to be baptized. If He puts it in that category, He must see it as being something very important, wouldn't you say?

You never read of an un-baptized Christian anywhere in the Bible.

In fact, baptism immediately followed a person's salvation. They didn't see it as something to be delayed or put off. Let's take a look at some of the conversions described in the Book of Acts.


Acts 2:38. When the people respond to Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the first thing he instructs them to do is "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." We further read in verse 41 that they "gladly received his word, and were baptized...."

Acts 8:26-40- This is the account of Phillip leading the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ. As they finish their discussion, the eunuch enthusiastically asks "What is hindering me from being baptized?" to which Phillip replies "If you believe with all your heart, you may." Then they come to a body of water, and Philip promptly baptizes him. 

Acts 22:16 (KJV) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

The first thing the apostle Paul is told to do after his conversion was to be baptized.
 

(In each of these cases, notice the sense of urgency that is attached to baptism.

Acts 10:46-48 (KJV) 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 16:13-15 (KJV) 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Acts 16:29-33 (KJV) 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Acts 18:8 (KJV) And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Acts 19:1-5 (KJV) 1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

These people all responded to Jesus in simple faith. However, they didn't see their faith as complete until they had obeyed God by being baptized.

Keep in mind that faith without works (corresponding actions) is dead (James 2:17.)

A living faith produces an obedient heart 

(Matthew 7:21 (KJV) 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.;

Luke 6:46 (KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?;

1 John 2:3-4 (KJV) 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.)

 Water baptism is to be our first act of obedience. 

Christians who do not follow Jesus in water baptism have a much higher rate of backsliding than those who do. After all, if our walk with God didn't begin with the most basic act of obedience, it got off to a faulty foundation in the first place. This will make it more difficult to walk obediently in other areas of our lives.
 

Are you struggling with guilt over your past?

It may be because you haven't yet given the person you once were a proper burial! Water baptism is a very powerful reminder of God's wonderful grace. The person we were before is dead forever, and we are raised with Jesus as a totally new creation:

"Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!- (2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible)
 

Baptism is a simple, but profound act of obedience that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. If you have not yet taken this step, I strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible.

Closing
Of course, we cannot take baptism without first embracing the reality that it represents: A living relationship with Jesus Christ. Without this, baptism is simply getting wet. If you have not given your heart to Him, why not do it now?