The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on Dec 29, 2024.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
What is the significance of immersing a person in water? It is vital. It’s a command to be obeyed by every Christian. The disciples were instructed to go out and lead people to Jesus and baptize them. If you fail this first thing, you’ll struggle with the rest of the commandments.
The Bible is the inspired Word of God. We search it for answers to our questions. Mark 1:4 tells us that John the Baptist baptized his followers. It was a visible sign that a person had been changed; he or she had repented. That’s how we get right with God–we repent. This is a turning around from how you’ve been living and taking on a new life in Christ. Why did Jesus get baptized? He hadn’t sinned. It was an example for us to follow. The book of Numbers tells us about this requirement for leaders. Once a person repents, the next step is baptism. This is not so your sins will be washed away. Water washes no one’s sins away. The washing of sins is always through the blood of Jesus. Look at the text. Going is part of the Great Commission. Making disciples is part of it. Teaching is part of it. Baptizing is part of it.
In the book of Acts countless numbers came to know the Lord and were baptized. In Acts 8 the question is asked of Philip by the eunuch what hindered him from being baptized. Philip had preached to him Jesus. The response was If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The book of Romans shows us it takes place after repentance. This is a personal thing between a person and the Lord. Baptism speaks of your public identification to the world of that repentance. The Bible speaks of it as being buried with Christ–buried to your old life–and being raised to this new life you have chosen in Him. It’s a total commitment to becoming part of the family of God. It symbolizes His death and resurrection. Remember that baptism doesn’t save. Everyone is saved “by grace through faith.” Our guilt is removed when we receive Jesus Christ into our heart. The past is gone and we are made new in Him. In a way, baptism is a funeral for that old person you used to be and you’re raised from the water to walk a different life in the newness of God.
When we pledge allegiance to the American flag we show our allegiance to the USA. Baptism is that pledge. We publicly identify with Jesus telling others by it that we are saved. We believe in immersion into the water because it symbolizes a watery grave to be raised from into the new life. I’m thankful for this way to show the world we identify with God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 