Friday, September 23, 2011
WHY IS BAPTISM A BLESSING?
Some people say, "Baptism only forgives original sin and the sins we commit before our baptism."
But God's Word says ... A great deal more!
According to God's Word, when baptized, you:
+ "Put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.)
+ "Wash away sins" (Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.')
+ "Have remission of sins" (Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.")
+ "Are made free from sin" (Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.)
+ "Benefit from Jesus' death" (Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.)
+ "Enter the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.)
If God's Word says all these things about WHY Baptism is such a blessing, THEN what is your condition without Holy Baptism?
Thanks be to God that I have been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, for the forgiveness of sins!
