10 reasons to be water-baptised
10 reasons to be water-baptised
jesus was
Jesus was baptised, and we should be too. He sets the example for us and calls us to follow him. If the Son of God, who was without sin, was prepared to humble himself with sinners and be baptised, then we as sinful human beings should be prepared to follow the example of our Lord.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him (Mt 3:13-16)
To Humble us
Baptism is an act that humbles us; it is very difficult to look impressive dripping wet! Some people are reluctant to be baptised because of the embarrassment of a public demonstration; some question the need to do anything more than to pray a prayer to follow Christ. But it is Jesus who set the example of being publicly baptised and gave the command. In baptism we are submitting ourselves to the Lord; that begins a heart-change that should become the way we live as Christians.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up (Jam 4:10)
To Confess We’re Sinners
Confess means “to agree with,” so when we confess our sins we are agreeing with what God says about it. What He calls sin, we call sin, even if once we liked doing it. Confession is a prayer that goes something like this: “Father, I read in your word that what I have been doing has been an offence to you. I agree with you that what you call sin, is sin. Please forgive me and change the way that I think to the way you see this sin.”
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River (Mt 3:6)
To Repent From Sin
Repentance is a change of mindset, so that you think and act differently than before. When our mindset changes, we hate the things we once loved, and love the things we once hated. We begin to see things as Jesus sees them. Our mindset is changed through our emotions; the Holy Spirit works godly sorrow in our hearts, so that we feel things as Jesus feels them. Baptism begins the repentance process and as we humble ourselves before the Lord the Holy Spirit changes our attitudes. Christians never outgrow repentance: every day is an act of repentance, changing the way we think into the way Jesus thinks. In the days ahead in your Christian walk there will be many attitudes and actions you will repent of as you become more and more like Jesus. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins (I Jn 1:9)
It is a Symbol of Burial and Resurrection.
Baptism is not a bath, it is a drowning. When you are baptised by being immersed in water, it is symbolic of your death to sin. When you are raised up from the water, it represents a new life for God.
Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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 (Rom 6:3-4)
To Prepare for Spirit-Baptism
Being baptised with water opens your life to being baptised with the Holy Spirit. He will live in you and pray through you in other tongues, so that you can pray the will of God. Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
To Declare Our Faith and Toughen Us
Baptism declares to the world our faith in Christ and toughens us for persecution. Baptism is the first step of making your faith public. If the situation arose where being a Christian were illegal, would there be enough evidence against you to convict you in a court of law?” There should be: we are not to hide our light under a bushel, but put our lamp on a stand for all to see. Baptism is the place to begin.
Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you -- guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us (II Tim 1:14)
To Defect from Satan
Baptism declares to Satan our defection from his kingdom and our allegiance to Christ. Baptism sets you up for victory over Satan. The enemy will fight against you to keep you from being baptised, because he knows it is a point of no return: it is a stand you must take for spiritual victory.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (Jam 4:7)
To Symbolise Our Part in the Body of Christ
When you are baptised you are publicly stating that you are a part of Christ’s body on the earth: you are not a solitary individual.
Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love (Eph 4:16)
To Grow as a Christian
In the New Testament, new believers were encouraged to be baptised as soon as possible -- baptism is not a step to be delayed. If you have been saved you should be baptised now.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" (Acts 8:36)