To understand the meaning and purpose of baptism as given by God, one needs to prayerfully study the Bible.
Cleansed (Acts 22:16; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
There is a God-pleasing washing that cleanses the obedient from the past. God revealed that baptism washes away sins and cleanses one through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5). “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus…” One goes from spiritual filth to being washed or cleansed beneath the fountain filled with blood provided because of God’s love.
Clothed (Galatians 3:26-27)
The old identity is covered with Christ, whom we are coming more and more to resemble (Romans 8:29). It’s now our heartfelt intention to let the beauty of Jesus be seen in our lives (1 Corinthians 11:1). We pattern our lives after the Lord. We go from being soiled to the whiteness and brightness made possible through His shed blood.
Freedom (Romans 6:16-18; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4)
Sin is slavery, and only in Christ can we be freed from sin (Romans 6:20-23). As Israel was delivered from bondage in Egypt, we can be led triumphantly from sin’s bondage. Yet, this does not free us to do whatever we please, for liberty is not license but rather freedom to become what we should be through Christ. Imagine the blessing of going from the slavery of sin into the freedom provided by His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). Freedom has its price, and let’s remember what it cost our loving Father (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Burial and Resurrection (Romans 6:4)
Something in us dies before we are buried with Jesus Christ, and that is our past lives and desires to practice sin. We don’t want sin to be our master anymore (Romans 6:14), but rather we bury the old life and rise together with Him to walk in newness of life. Baptism is grounded in the authority of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20), and when we submit to His Lordship, there must be complete submission to His commands (Luke 6:46). When we believe in Christ, turn from (repent of) the practice of sinning, confess our faith in Him as Lord and the Son of God, then we are ready to be scripturally buried and raised with Jesus. Because a death has occurred, now there must be a burial (Colossians 2:12; 3:3). Baptism is being covered over, immersed or buried, whereby we are cleansed, and then raised with our Lord.
Forgiveness (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)
Baptism stands between God, man and forgiveness. We will never be saved from sin without responding to what God has commanded. In Christ’s blood is forgiveness and redemption, and God has plainly told us where we contact the Son’s sanctified blood (Ephesians l:7; Colossians 1:14).
May we see the necessity and the eternal importance of complete obedience. Baptism is where one is born into God’s family. One can’t be in Christ without it. Let’s listen to God!
