Baptism

Should you be Baptized? The third chapter of Matthew gives us our answer, yes. Why? Because it symbolizes the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself set the example for us when He was Baptized by John the Baptist. We should follow His lead always. Also we should note that Jesus emerged, or “came up from the water”; He was not sprinkled! We should likewise be emerged; it is a sign of obedience however, without repentance and acceptance that Jesus is Lord, being Baptized, (whether sprinkled or dunked), is essentially useless.(Except maybe to help take a bath). Need proof? In this chapter you will note where John the Baptist castigates the religious leaders who came to his baptisms because they were not repentant and instead relied on their Jewish heritage and efforts to follow Jewish law to please God. He correctly told them that without Jesus they would be thrown into the fire. Being dipped in water doesn’t wash away our sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus does that!. Only through our repentance and acceptance of Jesus as our Lord can we please God and achieve reconcilement. Baptism helps solidify our determination to follow God’s commands and follow the example set for us by Jesus.

Do you know anybody today who thinks of themselves as a morally good person and cannot conceive that they would end up in Hell? I do. Nothing seems to convince them otherwise. Just like the Pharisees they do not see the need for Jesus. These people are difficult to persuade. They fail to understand that God’s law is perfect, with no gray areas. We all need Jesus, even if we only commit what we believe to be little sins such as telling little white lies. John told these, the most religious leaders on the face of the earth, that they were doomed without Jesus. Nothing has changed, God’s law is the same today, as yesterday, as it will be one thousand years from now.

Following John the Baptist’s logic, it is entirely useless to baptize a baby as many religions do, for the child has not reached an age of accountability and really does not even have the slightest idea of what repentance means. The Bible teaches that we should be baptized “after” we accept Jesus and repent of our sins. I do think it is a nice gesture for parents to dedicate a child to God, I just hope that they understand that baptizing a baby does not ensure a one-way ticket to heaven for the child. That will be determined later in life by choice, and if we love our children, we will make sure that they are instructed from a young age as to how to be forgiven.

How well do you know the Bible?
Who was the prophet who accurately predicted that John the Baptist would precede Jesus?
A. Daniel
B. Isaiah
C. Jeremiah
Matt. 3:3
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Matt.3:16
When He had been baptized
Jesus came up immediately from the
water; and behold the heavens were
opened to Him, and He saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove
and alighting upon Him.
And suddenly a voice came
from heaven saying, “This is My
beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.”

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