The
regenerate at new birth by faith becomes spiritual member of the body of
Christ. This is done freely by virtue of simple faith in the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ for man’s redemption. This integrates the believer into
Christ and he is made partaker of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection
through death to sin and a consequent vocation in newness of life. This act of
faith is termed baptism for the remission of sins; (1st Cor. 12:13,
Acts 2 : 38, Rom. 6:3). Now, as Christ was physical dead, carrying the Sins of
the world, buried and resurrected into victory over death, the believers in
seeking to be fully identified with the lord and in keeping with his command to
fulfill all righteousness have adopted the sacrament of water baptism to
outwardly declare to the world about their inward purity. Water baptism serves
to figuratively express the inward purity by the blood of Jesus and the word of
God.
Water
baptism is a symbol of Christianity whereby a believer is immersed into water
to outwardly express the inward purity that has taken place at new birth, to
fulfill all righteousness according to the Lord’s command. This is drawn from
the Greek word BAPTIZO which means to dip into or overwhelm with flood.
It is also
to figuratively express that the regenerate having renounced sin is identifying
with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ unto newness of life.
Water
Baptism also shows an open declaration to the world, concerning the new
vocation. It is a sign of genuine conversion and a declaration of new faith and
commitment to Christ.
SCRIPTURAL
PRINCIPLES FOR WATER BAPTISM
It is of
prime importance to note that water baptism becomes effective only when one has
actually believed since it is only a figure of inward purity.
Water
baptism does not save but when the pure water of the word of God has sprinkled
our evil conscience, we become clean to serve God, fulfilling all
righteousness, (Matt. 3:15). Since the ordinance of water baptism does not
save, there is no basis for infant baptism until such children have grown and
believed; (Mk. 16:16).
Water
baptism is very important because it is a declaration of new faith to the world
and commitment to the Lord. Jesus Christ Himself was baptized by John in River
Jordan; (Matt. 3:14-16, 5:17-18).
As much as
keeping the command of God is very important, yet water baptism should not be
conducted before a man attains the righteousness which is of God by faith in
Christ through new birth.
New birth
should precede water baptism; therefore, infants who are not born again are
only baptized in error. Salvation comes by grace, through faith in the blood of
Jesus by whom we are redeemed (Eph. 2:8-9, John 3:15-18, Acts16:31).
CHRISTAIN
BAPTISM AND JOHN’S BAPTISM
Whereas John
was baptizing the Jews unto repentance to prepare them for the coming Messiah,
the Christian baptism differs in the respect that it is only authorized for the
believer, whose sins are forgiven and remitted by the blood of Jesus. The pure
water of the word of God purifies the evil conscience of which water baptism
symbolizes in figure (1 Pet.3:21). The Christian baptism is for those who have
by remorse, turned away from sin and believed the word of God, symbolizing
union and commitment to the Lord.
METHOD OF
WATER BAPTISM
Water
baptism according to the biblical injunction is only by immersion, symbolizing
the burial with Christ (Rom.6:4-5, Col.2:12). It is not scriptural to baptize
by sprinkling of water. The usual method is by single immersion conducted in
the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). This is the authority
Jesus gave to the church.
New birth is
the only requisite for water baptism, so that the regenerate having turned to
God by faith is first baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit, before outwardly
showing this purity in a figure by water baptism.
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