What is Baptism?
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What Is Baptism?
Baptism is one of the ordinances that a biblical church observes (the other is the Lord’s Supper or Communion). Baptism is never taught in the Bible as essential for one to be saved or have eternal life. Salvation is always by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone and baptism is never part of the equation.
However, baptism is an essential part in the believer’s life because of its significance. Baptism is a result of a determined choice of a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to publicly identify with Him and His people, the church. The book of Acts gives us a number of examples those who followed the Lord in water baptism through immersion after believing in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Acts 2:41; 8:12, 38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15, 33; 18:8; 19:5). When a person places his or her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, baptism follows as a demonstration of love and obedience to the Lord’s command (Matthew 28:19, 20).
The Lord Jesus showed to us how important baptism is by being baptized himself (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Furthermore, baptism signifies the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The point is—if Christ Himself was baptized, we have no reason not to if we truly say we love Him and that He is our Personal Lord and Savior (John 14:15).