What is baptism? Does someone have to be baptized in order to go to heaven?
So what is baptism? The meaning of the word itself is to immerse in water. But what is the meaning of baptism itself? Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize anyone who believed in Him. So why is it so important?
First, I’d like to make it very clear that baptism does NOT get you to heaven. It does not save you from your sins. It does not give you favor with God that you did not have before.
Ephesians 2: 8-9 says that it is “by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Very clearly it says that God is not interested in your works. If you get baptized, it is not something that makes him any more likely to let you into heaven. He made it clear that you are saved ONLY by faith in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is a command: “repent and be baptized for[because of] the remission of sins.” (Acts…)
Galatians 3:26-27 says, “For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
So, God makes you His child through faith in Christ Jesus, NOT through baptism. Then why get baptized? Baptism is something you do to show your faith to the world, by publicly uniting with Christ. You take off your old life by identifying with, or saying you have something to do with Christ’s death, shown by going under the water. You put on Christ by identifying with, or saying you have something to do with, Christ’s resurrection (when He came back to life), shown by coming out of the water.
Colossians 2:12 says, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.”
Baptism is an act of obedience that takes faith. You have to believe that by taking on Christ, God Himself will give you a new life to live. Baptism itself doesn’t give you new life, but by being baptized, you are telling the world that you are a follower of Christ, which means He WILL be leading you in a new life.
Romans 6:3-4 says “Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Jesus Christ in baptism, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Him by baptism. And just a Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
Why do it? Jesus said that we are to take up our cross and follow Him. We are to seek to be like Him in every way. Believe it or not, Jesus Himself was baptized on this earth by John the Baptist. And the bible says that when He came up out of the water, God made it very clear to everyone around that Jesus was someone He was well pleased with.
There are many examples of people in the bible who received Jesus as their personal Savior and then were baptized. God wants not only to save you from sin and hell but to help you to live a new life by following Christ. But His requirement is that you surrender, He wishes that you do it in such a way that the world knows about it. Jesus did it for you when He died on the cross and rose from the dead, and now, He’s asking you to go public with your faith. Don’t keep it a secret! Tell others you are following Jesus through baptism.
Choose that you are going to leave your old life behind and follow Christ. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Following Christ means leaving your old life behind –the constant, nagging desire to be like everyone around you, the need to be accepted by your peers- leave it all behind.
Even if fear is threatening to hold you back, realize that Christ never calls you to do anything alone! He promised to help you by His Spirit to live out your Christian life. He promised to teach you, if you become His student. Don’t say no to His command to go public with your faith through baptism.
