{"id":1167,"date":"2015-07-15T17:38:15","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T21:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.slentz.us\/wordpress\/?p=1167"},"modified":"2025-06-12T17:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T21:37:17","slug":"water-baptism-what-is-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/slentz.org\/blog\/teachings\/water-baptism-what-is-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Baptism \u2013 What Is It?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u2022 What is “Baptism”?<\/strong>
Baptism comes from the Greek word “baptizo” \u2013 to submerge, to dip, to immerse completely in a liquid<\/em>. The Greeks used this word to refer to the act of dyeing a garment \u2014 in the sense that the cloth must be completely submerged in the dye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John the Baptist received a revelation from God concerning Water Baptism (John 1:31-33; Mat. 3:1-6)<\/em>. Christ confirmed this fact (Mat. 21:23-27)<\/em> and therefore those who rejected John’s baptism “rejected the counsel of God against themselves”<\/em> (Luke 7:29-30)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John baptized where there was sufficient water to fully immerse the people (John\u30003:23)<\/em>. The Bible also points out that when Jesus was baptized by John, He was completely immersed under the water (Mark 1:10)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though the procedure<\/strong> is the same, John’s baptism and the baptism ordained by Christ differ in purpose<\/strong>. John’s baptism was for repentant Jews to prepare for the coming of Christ the Messiah (Mat. 3:6-11)<\/em>. The baptism Christ ordained is a part of God’s progressive plan of salvation (Mat. 28:19; Acts 18:24-25; 19:3-6)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Who is Eligible for Baptism?<\/strong>
Only those who sincerely believe and have repented from their sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12,36,38)<\/em>. Babies and small children who have not reached sufficient maturity in order to experience salvation can not be considered eligible for Water Baptism (Acts 8:12, 36-38)<\/em>. Jesus blessed the small children, but the Bible does not say anything about Jesus baptizing children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Is Baptism Necessary?<\/strong>
If we want to be true followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, Water Baptism should not be an option. Water Baptism is an essential part of the Gospel. It is a necessity for the new-born child of God who wants to experience the fullness of God’s grace and grow stronger as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16)<\/em>. The disciples always taught new believers about the importance of Water Baptism (Acts 2:38; 10:47-48; 22:16)<\/em>.

\u2022 What Occurs in Baptism?<\/strong>
The Word of God indicates that Water Baptism is a part of the progressive salvation that begins when a sinner first repents and believes in Christ (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At new birth, one receives forgiveness and is saved from sin’s eternal punishment in hell; but in Water Baptism, the new-born child of God receives a victory over the \u201cnature of sin\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “nature of sin” (or “old man”) refers to the inherited nature of rebellion and disobedience that came into the whole world due to Adam’s sin in the garden (Rom. 5:19).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Adam first sinned, everyone is born with this “nature of sin” (Psa. 51:5; Jer. 13:23). Death, therefore, is the only way to be completely free from its power over one’s life. This is exactly what Water Baptism is \u2013 a death and burial!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death…” (Rom. 6:4)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him…” (Col. 2:12)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He that is “dead” is freed from sin (Rom. 6:7,11).<\/em> In Water Baptism, the believer is buried<\/em> with Christ. He then comes up out of the water to walk in “newness of life”<\/em> \u2013 a life of victory and authority over the nature of sin that previously dominated his life (Rom.\u30006:1-6).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 A Step of Obedience<\/strong>
Jesus Christ was determined to be baptized by John in order to “fulfill all righteousness”<\/em> (Mat. 3:15)<\/em>. The immediate response from God the Father was: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”<\/em> (Mat. 3:17)<\/em>. If it was necessary for Christ, how much more for those who would choose to follow Him! And what a joy to know that God the Father is well pleased with such an act!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water Baptism is definitely an important step of obedience for the child of God. Referring to their obedience in Water Baptism, Paul told the Roman believers: “…ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed<\/strong> from the heart that form of doctrine…” (Rom. 6:17).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 A Daily Experience<\/strong>
At Water Baptism, the believer obeys<\/strong> God and the nature of disobedience is supernaturally exchanged<\/em> for a nature of obedience \u2013 a nature which the believer must choose daily to walk in. The body that served sin is buried and now those same body members are given to God as a “living sacrifice”<\/em> to do His will which is good, acceptable and perfect in every way (Rom 6:11-13; 12:1-2)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water Baptism is the believer’s first<\/em> step in obedience \u2013 but not the last! As the believer considers himself dead to sin, and daily<\/em><\/strong> chooses to walk in obedience to God, this work of God’s grace in Water Baptism will continue to lead him onward in victory and spiritual maturity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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