Baptism - why?

Baptism: not how or what but who?

Baptism is not about how or what but who. Not about how much you know nor about what you have done, but about who you follow - Jesus. It's the start line not the medal ceremony.   It marks the start and is not an award for an achievement.  It's for the just beginning; only learning; don't know much.

Baptism: what is it?

Baptism is the public act reflecting your personal decision to follow Jesus.  It is your initiation into Christian life.  There are three sets of people involved.

God: Your baptism marks what God has done for you in sending Jesus who died as your substitute bringing forgiveness and freedom.  It's mostly a celebration of God.

Others: Your baptism is not a secret!  It's intentionally a public declaration of your faith in God and union with his people, the church. 

You: Your baptism is a momentous moment declaring your faith in Jesus.  It's a celebration of God personnel to you.  You are saying 'I don't know much but this I do know - I'm for Jesus because he is for me.' 

Baptism and the Bible - why so crazy an act?

Baptism (the way we do it) involves grown people, fully dressed, being half-drowned in a small swimming pool!  It's dramatic, memorable, wierd and an attempt to imitate the Bible!  

There are a number of reasons given in the Bible as to why you should be baptised.  Here are some, just sketched in.  If I've not unpacked them enough and they don't make sense, don't worry.  Just remember it's not about what you know and how you live about about who you follow.  

You are doing what Jesus said you should do.  Jesus says to get baptised if you believe in him.  'Then Jesus...said ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’  (Matthew 28:18-20)  Jesus, who we pledge allegiance to, commands his followers baptise those who choose to follow him.  Not to baptise someone who believes or be baptised as someone who believes, unless for exceptional reasons, is an act of disobedience - by the church and the individual.  Jesus says ‘You are my friends if you do what I command’ (John 15:14).  Why would we want to start our new life in Christ disobediently?  Because of this it was and is normal church practice (e.g. Acts 2:37-18) and even Jesus himself was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17). 

It's a reminder that you are cleaned spiritually  ...be baptised and have your sins washed away by calling on his name (Acts 22:16).  ...this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.  (1Peter 3:20) Believing in Jesus means our sin and shame is cleaned away; the ‘bath’ of baptism is a sign of this. 

It's a reminder that the old you is dead the the new you is alive.  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  (Romans 6:3-4)  Jesus calls us to die to our selfish motivations and be reborn to a new life.  Baptism is a dramatic symbol of this. You are lowered into the water (horizontally laid out like in a coffin!) before symbolically rising; dripping wet and symbolically ‘washed’ of your sin and shame, to enter a new life in Christ.  In essence you are saying ‘Lord, I die to self’ as you enter the water, and ‘Lord, I have been raised to live for you’ as you rise from it. 

It's a moment that will change you.  He saved us not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.  (Titus 3:5)  Though it is Jesus and faith in Jesus alone that saves us, the Bible suggests the symbolic act of being baptised in true faith can be the source of new power and new joy in the Spirit.  God often uses our baptisms to generate a greater experience of God, to bring out certain gifts of the Spirit, or as a future source of assurance when our faith might wane or times are difficult. 

It links you in with all the others, globally, who have also chosen to follow Jesus.  For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free...  (1Corinthians 12:13)  Baptism is the normal way we enter God’s universal church as we identify ourselves not only with Jesus but with his people. Therefore we encourage baptism be closely followed by the commitment of membership into your local church.

How should I be baptised?

Practically there are a number of things to consider about how you should be baptised:

When you are old enough to understand a considered and clear decision about following Jesus through the entirety of your life, comprehending its privilege and cost.  Therefore as a church we do not baptise children and babies (though we love to celebrate and welcome children through blessings and dedications which are wonderful celebrations).

Publicly. It's a ‘good profession of faith before many witnesses’ (1 Timothy 6:12).  So feel free to invite friends and family to witness this tremendous picture of the gospel.

In faith as public baptism follows personal belief in Jesus. You should not be baptised for any other reason (e.g. cultural or family pressure), nor is anything but genuine faith required.  Its your decision because you are following Jesus.

By your local church in which you can serve, learn, love and grow in Christ.  There your friends and family.

Ideally by going right under the water which more completely displays the symbolism already described. Of course there are exceptions, e.g. medical reason that mean full immersion is inadvisable. 

What if I have been baptised, Christened or confirmed already?

Some people who turn to Jesus as adults may have been christened or baptised as a child, or been confirmed as a teenager or young adult.  You might be asking should you be baptised now as a conscious believer?  The answer depends on your view of that earlier act.  Was it void and empty, isolated from any true commitment to Christ?  Faith is what qualifies you for baptism and if that earlier event was devoid of faith, then baptism now may well be the right thing.  However, if that earlier event had genuine meaning in terms of faith, then probably baptism now would not be appropriate. 

However the desire for baptism potentially points to a renewed, re-found, or re-invigorated faith.  So finding an appropriate, alternative way of marking that new commitment or richer faith you have come into is a good idea. It’s best to talk to your pastor about this.

What next?

Is it time for you to speak to your pastor or church leader, clarifying any questions you have and perhaps thinking about being baptised yourself?