Why is baptism important

1. Baptism– 18th
December2015
“We were therefore buriedwith him throughbaptismintodeath in order that, justas Christwas
raised fromthe deadthrough the gloryof the Father, we too maylive a new life”(Romans6:4).
Baptismisan importantpractice for Christians.It’sasymbolicactand a sacramentthat holdsgreat
meaningforbelieversof the Christianfaith. If the meaningof baptismcouldbe boileddowntoone
word,that wordwouldbe identification.Baptismspeaksprimarilyof apersonal,publicidentification
withJesusChrist. The apostle Paul explainsitthisway:“Ordon’t you know that all of us who were
baptizedinto Christ Jesuswere baptizedinto hisdeath? 4
We were therefore buriedwith himthrough
baptism into deathin order that, just as Christwas raisedfrom the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans6:3-4).One needsto notice the strengthof the
expressions—"baptizedintoChrist"and"baptizedintohisdeath"and"buriedwithhiminbaptism."
How importantisyourbaptism?Itis yourpersonal identificationwiththe greatestactof human
history—the death, burial and resurrection of JesusChrist. AsChristianswe mustknow that Baptism
doesn'tsave you—butitisthe initial actionthatstatesone’sacceptance and willingnesstobe identified
as a Christfollower.Thereafterthe personneedstoseek salvationfromoursinandsinfulness…andthat
comesby faithalone.We can learnthisinEphesians2:8-9, “Forit is by grace you havebeen saved,
throughfaith—andthisisnot from yourselves,it is the giftof God— 9
notby works, so that noone can
boast”.One’sacceptance andwillingnesstobe identifiedasa ChristfollowerthroughBaptismenablesa
personto seekSalvationthroughwhich guiltbeforeGodisremoved. Therefore baptismis very
importantbecause itis our personal testimonyto,andthe inward assurance of, ourdecisiontomove
away fromthe old sinful life toanewlife inkeepingwithGod....
So what,doesbaptismmean? Firstitmeanswe have turnedfromthe oldlife of sinto a new life inJesus
Christ. Seconditmeanswe are publiclyidentifyingwiththe death,burial andresurrectionof Christand
thirdit meanswe are openlyjoiningthe ranksof those whobelieveinChrist. Whenyouare baptized,
youare in fact visuallypreachingthe gospel.Asyoustandinthe waterwaitingtobe baptized,A,you
symbolize Jesusdyingonthe cross.Asyouare loweredintothe water,B,yousymbolize Jesusburiedin
the tomb.As youare raisedfromthe water,C, yousymbolize Jesusrisingfromthe dead. Therefore
whenone is personallyare beingbaptized, the personis alsosaying,"IdiedwithJesusChrist,Iwas
buriedwithhimandnowI am raisedwithChristto beginabrand-new life".Inshort, whensomeoneis
baptizeditisakinto him preachinga sermonwithoutusinganywordsatall. Thisstatementwill be more
effectivethananysermonbecause it openlystates thatyounow belongtoChrist, toyour family,
friends,all the onlookers andthe restof the world!.
A brief surveyof baptisminthe NewTestamentrevealsthe followingfacts: Baptismrequireswater.We
can learnwhenJohnthe Baptiststated.“Ibaptize youwith water for repentance. But after me comes
one who ismore powerful thanI, whose sandalsI am not worthyto carry. He will baptizeyou withthe
Holy Spiritand fire”(Matthew3:11). We can also learnthatBaptismrequiredplentyof water asit
requiresimmersioninwateranditcomingupout of the water. “Assoonas Jesus was baptized,he
went up out of the water. At that momentheaven was opened,and he saw the Spirit ofGod
descendinglike a dove andalightingonhim” (Matthew3:16). Furthermore,Baptismiscalleda“burial”
where we can readin Romans 6:4, “Wewere therefore buried with himthroughbaptisminto deathin
order that, just as Christwas raisedfrom the dead throughthe gloryof the Father, we too may live a
new life”.We can alsolearnfrom Colossians2:12, “…havingbeenburiedwith him inbaptism,inwhich

2. you were alsoraisedwith himthrough your faithinthe workingof God,whoraised himfrom the
dead”.Baptismis“intohis death”andinvolvesbeing“raisedtowalkinnewnessof life.”
It involvesabrief ceremony,inwhichthe believerclosestheireyes,foldstheirhandsacrossthe chest,
and holdstheirbreathastheyare quicklysubmergedunderwater.Whentheyemerge fromthe water,
it isas thoughtheyare a newperson,fullyacceptingof ChristastheirLordand savior,andreadyto walk
throughlife withHim. The baptismceremonyfollowsaseriesof stepsthatrepresentsthe death,burial,
and resurrectionof JesusChrist.Asthe believeriswaitingtobe immersedinthe water,itisa
representationof Jesusdyingonthe cross.Then,whenthe believerissubmerged,itrepresentsthe
burial of Jesus.Asthe individualisraisedupoutof the water,theyare symbolizingJesusbeing
resurrectedfromthe dead.The watercleansesanindividual of theirsins,andtheyare thenreadyto
start theirnewlife asa followerof Christ.
For Christians,baptismisasymbolicrepresentationof the believerfollowingJesusChristthrough His
death,burial,andresurrection.Itisbotha personal andpublictestimonythatone ismakingtoshow
theirdedicationtotheirfaith.Itisa commitmentthateveryChristianshouldmake once theyhave
acceptedChristas theirsavior.