#309 WHY BE BAPTIZED?

There are two main points of view about why a person should be baptized.  One view holds that baptism is a purely symbolic act which should be done in order to show that we have recently been saved.  The other view says that, while baptism is symbolic of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, that it is more than just a symbol.  This view holds that baptism is a direct and vital command of the Lord, which must be obeyed in order to receive salvation.

If you have been baptized, think back for a moment about why you were baptized.  Was it because you felt that you had recently been saved, or were you baptized in order to be saved?  And now with this question in mind, let's turn to the Bible to see what God really says about why a person should be baptized.  In Acts 2:38, the apostle Peter in his great sermon on the day of Pentecost said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The Bible says in this passage that both repentance and baptism are equally necessary for the remission of sins.  When we remember that Peter was speaking by the inspiration of God, this verse should forever settle this question in our own minds.  Baptism, according to the Bible, is not because we have already been saved, but rather, in Peter's own words, it is "for the remission of sins." Incidentally, this same phrase, "for the remission of sins" used in Acts 2:38 is also used in the book of Matthew with reference to the blood of Christ.  Jesus' blood was not shed because sins had already been forgiven, but was shed "for the remission of sins" or in order for sins to be forgiven, Matthew 26:28.  Is baptism really "for the remission of sins?" If language means anything at all, then the Bible clearly says that it is.

And now, let's turn to some other scriptures which also discuss why a person should be baptized.  In Mark 16:15-16 Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." According to this passage, it only takes one thing to be lost, that is simply not to believe, for without faith neither baptism nor any other act of obedience to God would have any meaning at all.  Jesus said, however, that both faith and baptism are required in order for a person to be saved.  We also read in other passages that repentance and confession of our faith in Christ are also required, Acts 17:30 and Matthew 10:32-33.

Another passage which discusses this same point about baptism is Acts 22:16.  In this account of the apostle Paul's conversion, Ananias, a gospel preacher who was sent to him by the Lord said "And now why tarriest thou, arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Does baptism really wash away sins?  Some say no!  The Bible says yes.  In other related scriptures we read that "Baptism doth also now save us."(I Peter 3:20-21) The apostle Paul adds that we are not even in Christ until we have been scripturally baptized.  We read this in Galatians 3:27 and Romans 6:3-4.

If you have never obeyed the Lord by being baptized for the remission of sins as the Bible requires, may we encourage you to do so today.  If you need assistance in obeying the Lord in this vital matter, please feel free to contact the church of Christ nearest you.