Tuesday, September 27, 2011
WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Some people say: "Baptism is only an outward 'symbol' of one's inward faith. It does *not* give grace, forgiveness, or salvation."
But God’s Word says (John 3:5-6): "Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.'"
In the United States it is easy for us to take for granted the luxuries we have when it comes to our personal hygiene. The same is true of how easy it is to take for granted what Baptism truly is as well -- in a similar way, a form of spiritual hygiene. When I take a shower, wash the car, do the dishes, wash the laundry, clean the bathtub, toilet, etc, I always use water. But not just water alone, because that doesn't do the job. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus in John 3 He says a similar thing about using water + a certain cleansing agent. To be "born of the Spirit" Jesus says that one is to be "born of water + the Holy Spirit (the cleansing agent of the soul)." Simple water alone isn't going to get any filthy soul clean from the mess and wickedness we've all rolled around in at one time or another.
When I'm asked or I think about my own Baptism I don't think that it's just a "symbol" or something that I did for God. Galatians 3:26-27 and Romans 6:3-11 both talk about what being "baptized into Christ" means. It literally means that when you or I were baptized, that God "plugged us into" Christ by means of God's powerful Word so that God actually "puts Christ on us" like one puts on a shirt or other covering. Ephesians 5:26 and Titus 3:5 also both show this cleansing power of God's work in us through Baptism. WHAT is Baptism? It certainly is a very beautiful picture of God drowning the Old Adam in me with His Gospel waters, but it is also a real act of cleansing and forgiveness by which my heavenly Father adopts me into His family and connects me, a sinner, with the death and resurrection of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord! I've been baptized!
