Many who are arriving at this page are preparing to go down into the baptismal waters, and many others have already had the privilege of going down into the waters. But we will address here today what baptism in water is. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself was baptized in water, becoming an example for each of us who are willing to follow in His footsteps. Baptism is a symbol of conversion for the Christian, that is, the Christian who is baptized is publicly confirming the new life in Christ Jesus.
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (Mark 1:4, KJV)
Baptism is also the remission of our sins, for when we are baptized, we renounce our flesh to live in a newness of life. Baptism is a sign of commitment to Jesus Christ, it is a newness of life, for we leave behind old practices to live a new life according to the will of God.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)
We can understand that when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ, and then desire to go through the baptismal waters, we are making a public confession not only of the change of life, but also of posture. In baptism, when we are immersed in the waters and upon emerging, the old man dies, that is, he is left behind and from then on a new creature is born according to the will of God. Upon going down into the waters and returning, there a new man is born, the production of the fruits of the Spirit is born. When we come out of the waters, our flesh is mortified and we intensely practice love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.
Want an example? When Mario goes down into the waters, a Mario who was explosive, who did not accept insults, goes down. He comes out of the waters a peaceful Mario, meek, who has self-control. The old Mario was mortified and now a new Mario has been born, a new creature. When we raise our hands to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are confessing that He is the only and sufficient Savior of our lives. Our faith must be solely in Jesus, for only He intercedes for us.
Baptism is also unique and there is no need to be baptized again, for when we go down into the waters, we mortify the old self and thus become a new creature in Christ Jesus.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism. (Ephesians 4:5, KJV)
The old man will always try to resurrect in us, but as a new creature, we must intensely seek to produce love, peace, goodness, meekness, and self-control. We must seek in God every day the mortification of our flesh and our self. Going down into the waters allows us to participate in the memorial of the body and blood of Christ, which is the Lord’s Supper, requiring from the Christian consciousness and responsibility, so as not to partake of the body and blood of the Lord unworthily. Those who partake of the body and blood of Christ unworthily eat and drink damnation to themselves.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:28-32, KJV)
We can understand and comprehend that if we choose to go down into the baptismal waters, we are also assuming a commitment to God and publicly before the church. This commitment that we assume we must carry with faithfulness until the end of our Christian walk. If we lead an improper life, that is, continue in the old practices, and partake of the body and blood of Christ, we will certainly be condemned and our end will be hell.
To conclude this study, we must understand that going down into the baptismal waters requires the one being baptized to look at himself, and understand that baptism is responsibility toward God. The one being baptized must be prepared to assume such responsibility. Yes, he must go down into the waters and like in a marriage, the one being baptized assume this responsibility until the end of his life. The Christian life is made of renunciation, for at every moment we must renounce our self, our flesh, so that we can achieve the great objective which is salvation in Christ Jesus.
You are privileged and congratulations for this achievement which is going down into the waters! Share this message and make other people be impacted by the power of God!
