Baptism is important because, as many have said in the past, it’s an outward expression of an inward change – in your heart. It lets others (i.e., spouse, family members, friends and acquaintances) know about your faith in God, and it lets God know (although he already recognizes it before you even think about being baptised) about the extent of your faith in Him.
To me, baptism is an important step in ones walk with Christ.
mysticwindmill, I like what you wrote about baptism being a public expression or our personal relationship with Jesus. I’ve noticed that the whole Body of Christ is strengthened and encouraged as believers are baptized. God uses baptism to build and strengthen His people.
It’s your first step in leading an obedient life and being more like Christ. He gave us the example in His own baptism and instructed us to do likewise.
You’re right, lindagma, baptism is a sign of obedience to Jesus. He said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
I agree with others that it represents public expression, obedience and our persoal relationship with Christ. To me it also means washing away the old as you become new in Christ. After I was baptized, I felt new, different, refreshed and clean. The process of preparing, the comfort of those guiding the process and the imersion reminded me of our/my relationship with Christ and all that He is to me.
For me baptism is a declaration of faith. It signifies the death of my old self and the new beginning of my life with Christ Jesus. It’s important for me because I can now call myself a true Christian.
I agree with all of your comments, and I would add that because all grace comes from God, and he is the one who established baptism, that he must be doing something in our baptism as well. I think that we are saved before baptism at the moment we place our faith in Christ, so baptism doesn’t save us. But is it fair to say that in baptism God completes my experience of salvation by confirming it in my heart through physical signs and joins me to his body, the church? If the latter is true, then our baptism should always come with membership in a local church.
Yes, very helpful. In the booklet they speak of following the Apostles mode of Baptism, and in every scripture they reference, If I read my bible correctly, (the only true source of interpretation) in every instance they baptized in the name of Jesus, would this not give us the proper mode of baptism?
And in Mark 16 he clearly states that if you believe and are baptized you would be saved, why put that in the verse if God did not mean it? I’m not sure I can twist the Word of God to fit any other rational thinking. Thanks for your insight though.
mysticwindmill on January 3, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Baptism is important because, as many have said in the past, it’s an outward expression of an inward change – in your heart. It lets others (i.e., spouse, family members, friends and acquaintances) know about your faith in God, and it lets God know (although he already recognizes it before you even think about being baptised) about the extent of your faith in Him.
To me, baptism is an important step in ones walk with Christ.
tom felten on January 4, 2011 at 10:24 am
mysticwindmill, I like what you wrote about baptism being a public expression or our personal relationship with Jesus. I’ve noticed that the whole Body of Christ is strengthened and encouraged as believers are baptized. God uses baptism to build and strengthen His people.
lindagma on January 4, 2011 at 7:59 am
It’s your first step in leading an obedient life and being more like Christ. He gave us the example in His own baptism and instructed us to do likewise.
tom felten on January 4, 2011 at 10:27 am
You’re right, lindagma, baptism is a sign of obedience to Jesus. He said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
GirlwithGod on January 5, 2011 at 9:53 pm
I agree with others that it represents public expression, obedience and our persoal relationship with Christ. To me it also means washing away the old as you become new in Christ. After I was baptized, I felt new, different, refreshed and clean. The process of preparing, the comfort of those guiding the process and the imersion reminded me of our/my relationship with Christ and all that He is to me.
Weslie Villejo on January 10, 2011 at 12:13 am
For me baptism is a declaration of faith. It signifies the death of my old self and the new beginning of my life with Christ Jesus. It’s important for me because I can now call myself a true Christian.
mike wittmer on January 10, 2011 at 8:03 am
I agree with all of your comments, and I would add that because all grace comes from God, and he is the one who established baptism, that he must be doing something in our baptism as well. I think that we are saved before baptism at the moment we place our faith in Christ, so baptism doesn’t save us. But is it fair to say that in baptism God completes my experience of salvation by confirming it in my heart through physical signs and joins me to his body, the church? If the latter is true, then our baptism should always come with membership in a local church.
allenp109 on September 4, 2012 at 8:29 am
Baptism is essential to salvation:
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
tom felten on September 4, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Thanks for your post, allenp109. I would suggest you read through the following online booklet: http://discoveryseries.org/discovery-series/baptism-what-can-we-agree-on/
Hope this proves to be helpful!
allenp109 on September 4, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Yes, very helpful. In the booklet they speak of following the Apostles mode of Baptism, and in every scripture they reference, If I read my bible correctly, (the only true source of interpretation) in every instance they baptized in the name of Jesus, would this not give us the proper mode of baptism?
And in Mark 16 he clearly states that if you believe and are baptized you would be saved, why put that in the verse if God did not mean it? I’m not sure I can twist the Word of God to fit any other rational thinking. Thanks for your insight though.