Joseph Generation Army

What Does Water Baptism Mean and Why Be Baptized?

• Water baptism is commanded. Jesus commanded it (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16).

• Christian water baptism means a dedication to fulfil all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). It is the biblical expression of a commitment to die to the world, the flesh and the devil and live for God alone.

• It is a death, burial and resurrection. (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:11,12). Death to the old nature, the old ways, habits and lifestyle. Burial of all these things. A new life in the power of the Holy Spirit.

• It is identification with Jesus Christ, and a recognition of Him as your master and you as his disciple (Matthew 28:19). It means you commit yourself to obey Jesus Christ. Believers who have never been baptized in water and do not want to be either do not understand the nature and meaning of water baptism or simply do not wish to obey the commandment of Jesus Christ. 

• Baptism in water also shows forth the idea that our sins are washed away. (Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38). Just as baptism is a washing, it declares to the world that our sins have been washed away. In itself it does not wash away our sins, but only in as much as it expresses our faith in the working of the blood of Jesus, shed for us (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14). It is the blood of Jesus that does the real purifying work. Baptism shows forth not only a death, burial and resurrection in Christ, but also a washing away of our sins through the blood of Jesus.

   

Who Is Water Baptism For?

• Water baptism is for those who have now come to a place where they have repented of their sin and believe with all their heart in the Lord Jesus Christ. We see this clearly both from the teaching and the example of the New Testament.

"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptised?" Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." (Acts 8:36,37).

• Water baptism is for those who believe whole-heartedly. To believe with all the heart implies sincerity. To be baptized simply to please a priest or a preacher is not what God wants.

• Water baptism is for those who believe. "He who believes and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16). No promise is made to those who are baptized without believing. Repentance and faith preceded baptism. This can be seen in all the following passages from the book of Acts:

Acts 8:12,13: The conversion of the Samarians.
Acts 8:37 The Ethiopian eunuch
Acts 9, Acts 22:8,16 The conversion of Saul (Paul).
Acts 10:44-48: The conversion of Cornelius, his relatives and close friends. *
Acts 16:31-34 The conversion of the Philippian jailor and his household
Acts 19:1-6 The case of the Ephesian disciples.

FAQ on Baptism

Q. Do I have to be baptized to be saved?

A.  Baptism is not a precondition for being saved.  But why the person does not want to be baptized is very important question that has to be asked. 

  

Q. What is wrong with baptizing babies?

A.  It is wrong to baptize babies because believing is a precondition for baptism and babies are not old enough to believe.  In all of the following incidents of baptism the individual(s) have always believed, repented or confessed.

PENTECOST repented and baptized
Ac 2:14-41 

SAMARIA  believed and baptized
 Ac 8:5-13  

ETHIOPIAN believed and baptized
Ac 8:35-39 

SAUL believed and baptized
Ac 9,22,26 

CORNELIUS believed and baptized
 Ac 10:34-38

LYDIA  heeded and baptized
Ac 16:13-15

JAILOR believed and baptized
Ac 16:30-34

 

Q. What is the difference between baptizing by immersion, sprinkling and pouring?

A. According to Romans 6:4, water baptism for the Christian symbolizes our death, burial and resurrection with Christ. It means identification with Christ.  It is clear, then, that the tradition of sprinkling people or pouring water on them is not true to the symbolism of burial. Only immersion in water shows a burial.

 

Q. In whose name are we baptized?

A.  Jesus commanded baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  It is appropriate to do just that.  Early Christians used to baptize in the name of Jesus.  But they had a proper understanding of the Trinity.  The problem was that in those days the apostles lived in a Jewish environment where the people acknowledged the Father and the Holy Spirit but not Jesus.  It was appropriate for them then to baptize in the name of Jesus.  The most important issue here is the understanding of Trinity.  There are people today who baptize in the name of Jesus with a wrong understanding of the Trinity. 

 

Q. Should a person be re-baptized when they believe,  if he/she was baptized before for the wrong reasons before they believed?

A.   Yes,  believing, repenting or confessing is a precondition for baptism.  If the first baptism was before believing,  re-baptism is necessary.

 

Q. Should backsliders be re-baptized when they come back to the Lord?

A.  No, as long as the first baptism was genuine even if the person backslid later.