1. Because
being baptized was one of the conditions of salvation proclaimed
by Christ's authorized messengers in the first century.
Peter
said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts
2:38). "He (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in
the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). "He that believeth
and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16).
2. Because
all believers of the gospel as preached by the apostles
at the first, were baptized.
"Then
they that gladly received his (Peter's) words were baptized" (Acts
2:41). "And many of the Corinthians hearing believed,
and were baptized" (Acts 18:8). "And when they
believed Philip... they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts
8:12). Philip baptized the eunuch (Acts 8:38). Lydia was
baptized and her household (Acts 16:15). The keeper of the
prison was baptized, "he and all his, straightway" (Acts
16:33). "When they twelve men at Ephesus) heard this,
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts
19:5).
3.
Because baptism is the divinely-appointed rite for introducing
believing sinners "Into Christ".
"Baptized
into Christ" (Rom. 6:3). "As many of you as have
been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). "Born
of water" (John 3:5).
4. Because
out of Christ, there is no salvation for any sinner (and
all have sinned).
In Adam
all die" (I Cor. 15:22). "At that time ye were
without Christ... having no hope and without God in the
world" (Eph. 2:12). Gentiles "alienated from the
life of God" (Eph. 4:18). "All have sinned" (Rom.
3:23). "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). "But
now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made
nigh" (Eph. 2:13).
5. Because
Christ and the apostles were baptized.
Jesus
was baptized of John in the Jordan (Mark 1:9). Paul "arose,
and was baptized"(Acts 9:18). Some of the disciples
of John the Baptist followed Jesus and became the apostles
(see John 1:35-37).
6. Because
in baptism, we obtain the forgiveness of our sins.
"Be
baptized... for the remission of your sins "(Acts 2:38 "Be
baptized, and wash away thy sins" (Acts 22:16). "Baptism
doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth
of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience" (1
Peter 3:21). "Purged from his old sins" (2 Peter
1:9). "The washing of water by the word" (Eph.
5:26).
WHAT IS
IT TO BE BAPTIZED
But you will
say, What is Baptism? The question may be answered by considering
the following facts:
1. It is
an action requiring the use of water.
"See,
here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptised?" (Acts
8:36). "Can any man forbid water; that these should
not be baptized?" (Acts 10:47). "John was baptizing
in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there" (John
3:23).
2. It involves
being buried or immersed in water.
"We
are buried with him by baptism into death... planted together
in the likeness of his death" (Rm 6:3-5). "Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him" (Col.
2:12). "Born of (Greek, out of) water" (John 3:5).
3. In other
cases where the word baptism is used, it is with the idea
of complete covering over with the thing or element it is
related to.
"Baptized
with the Holy Spirit... it filled all the house where they
were sitting" (Acts 1:5, 2:2). Israel baptized "in
the cloud and in the sea" (1 Cor. 10:2). Christ's baptism
of suffering: it overwhelmed him (Luke 12:50).
"WHAT
GOOD WILL WATER DO ME?"
None, in the
sense of your enquiry. It is a question of confoming to the ordinances
and appointments of God, who has purposely made use of things
which are nothing in themselves, that His name may be honoured
in their employment and achievement (1 Cor. 1:27-29). He has
appointed and commanded baptism. It is part of His will: and
we know what Jesus has said:
"HE
THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER, THE SAME is my brother,
and sister, and mother."
NEXT:
29. The Glories Of The Age To Come
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