Why do we need to be baptized in water?
1. It is God's will for every believer
After believing in God and repenting, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is the next necessary step on the way of salvation and fulfillment of God's will. The apostles of Jesus very clearly taught this.
Acts 2:38-41 "Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls"
Water baptism was performed not only by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. Even before the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist began. He came to prepare the way for the Lord. Let's see how it happened, and what significance it has for us.
Luke 3:2-3 "In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins"
John the Baptist preached and baptized people not from himself. He received message from God, so he began to do it. It was God's will for people to repent and be baptized in the baptism of repentance. Jesus confirmed this later, saying the following words:
Luke 7:29-30 "When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves"
Although the baptism that John preached was different from the New Testament baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, it was at that time God's will for the people. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law rejected this God's will for themselves, and did not get baptised. Today the baptism in water in the Name of Jesus Christ is the will of God for all people, who repented and believed in the gospel. God has very clearly revealed this to us through His Son Jesus Christ and His Apostles.
2. It is the commandment of Jesus for all who believe in Him
Jesus commanded his Apostles to go into the world, preach the gospel, teach people, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Matthew writes about this in his Gospel. Water baptism is the will of God and the commandment of Jesus Christ for all who believe in Him.
Matt.28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen"
Water baptism is one of the commandments of Jesus Christ for His followers. He said that if we love Him, then we will keep His commandments.
John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments"
John 14:21 "One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him"
John 14:23 "Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him"
3. It is necessary for our salvation
Jesus and His Apostles taught that water baptism is necessary for our salvation. In the Bible there is not a single case, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, describing the salvation of a person without baptism in water in the name of Jesus.
Mar.16:15-16 "He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned"
1Pet.3:21 "This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Therefore, water baptism saves us. But it does not save us by itself, but by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is, through Jesus' resurrection and our faith in Him and His resurrection.
What is baptism in water?
1) Immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ
Before we begin to say what baptism is, we need to explain the very meaning of this word. The original Greek word, translated as "baptism" into English, means "immersion". It can relate to different types of immersion. Perhaps to distinguish religious, Biblical immersion from any other immersion, it was translated into English by the word "baptism."
So, the New Testament water baptism is a short-term immersion of a person in water, which is performed on the basis of a person's faith in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This immersion takes place in the name of Jesus Christ. In the Biblical sense, there is always the essence, reality and authority of the one in whose name something is done. That is, in other words, water baptism is performed for the sake of Jesus Christ, obeying Him, His authority, and invoking his Name. That's why it's called baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is a complete immersion in water. Jesus and His Apostles showed us this example. To perform water baptism, we need to have enough water, so that the baptized person can be completely immersed. Let's look at the examples of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and also an example from the life of the evangelist Philip, confirming this.
John 3:23 "John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized"
Matt.3:13-17 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased"
We see from the above example that Jesus entered the water, was immersed, and went up from the water. John did not sprinkle him with water, because this is not immersion, or, in other words, this is not baptism. Recall that the very word baptism means immersion, and nothing else!
Now consider the example of the baptism by the evangelist Philip of the Ethiopian eunuch. We will see in this example that they also went into the water, the eunuch was submerged in the water by Philip, and they came out of the water.
Acts 8:35-39 "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing"
2) Fulfillment of all righteousness. Example of Jesus
When Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist, John did not want to baptize Jesus. He understood that Jesus is superior to him, and rather he must be baptized by Jesus. "But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt.3:15).
Why Jesus was baptized? To give us an example, and to fulfill all righteousness. This was what God wanted from all Israel at that time, and Christ obeyed God's will. Water baptism is God's will for all believers. Accepting water baptism, we thereby do God's will and fulfill all righteousness that God requires of us with respect to baptism in water.
3) Likeness of our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus
According to the Bible, water baptism is also a likeness or a symbol of our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus Christ. Through water baptism we show outwardly what happened to us internally, through faith in Jesus Christ. A person is always baptized into that state or condition in which he already resides. For example, John the Baptist baptized by the baptism of repentance only those people who already repented . Baptism was not their repentance. It was an external confirmation that they have repented.
Likewise, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is not a death for sin and a resurrection for a new life. It is an external confirmation that our sinful nature, our old sinful lifestyle, our old man died with Jesus Christ. Water baptism is the image or symbol of the burial of this old man, and our resurrection with Jesus Christ for a new life that came about through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism by itself does not make a person dead for sin and does not resurrect him for a new life. It is only an external manifestation of the fact that this person died for sin, his old nature is buried, and he rose again for a new life. All these actions must occur in a person before water baptism. And they are achieved by the true repentance, by the knowledge of the truth, and by the faith, but not by water.
Rom.6:3-11 "Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
4) Moving from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ
The Holy Scriptures teach us that God delivered believers from the power of darkness and brought them into the Kingdom of His beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Col.1:12-13 "giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love"
The prototype of this deliverance of believers from the power of darkness was the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and the power of the pharaoh. The Israelites were finally saved from the power of pharaoh when they crossed the Red Sea. This transition is called in the New Testament the baptism of Israelites into Moses, and into the sea. It is a type of New Testament baptism in the name of Jesus Christ in the water.
Just as the final deliverance of the Israelites from the power of Egypt occurred when they crossed the Red Sea, the final deliverance of the Christian from the power of darkness occurs when he is immersed in the water in the Name of Jesus Christ. This shows us the special importance of water baptism. Before the Israelites were baptized into Moses at sea, they were in great danger. Their first-borns were already saved thanks to the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb and his blood on the doorframes of their doors. God did miracles and began to take them out of Egypt. But still they were in great danger. They still continued to be on the territory of Egypt. Pharaoh was too close, and continued to have claims on them. He chased after them with his army, either to bring them back into slavery, or to destroy them. To avoid this danger, and finally get rid of the power of Egypt, the Israelites had to go through the waters of the Red Sea, which God parted before them. Only after that they were finally saved from the power of Pharaoh and Egypt.
This prototype teaches us a lot. To finally get rid of the power of darkness and the devil's claims to our lives, we need to make a transition similar to that which the Israelites accomplished. This transition for us is water baptism. The Israelites passed through the sea, they were baptized into Moses in a cloud and in the sea. We must also be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. This baptism is the visible transition of a man from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son of God.
1Cor.10:1-2 "Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea"
1Cor.10:11 "Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come"
Ex.14:22-23 "The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen"
Ex.14:26-30 "The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. The LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore"
So, the final deliverance of the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians occurred when they crossed the Red Sea, and were baptized into Moses in the sea. It was the prototype of our water baptism in the name of Jesus.
5) Answer or pledge of a good conscience toward God
Another definition of what water baptism is for us, is given to us in the First Epistle of Peter.
1Pet.3:21 "This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
1Pet.3:21 "And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (NET)
So, the water baptism is an answer or a pledge of a good conscience to God, and it is necessary for our salvation.
6) Visible joining of the local church
In addition to all of the above, water baptism is also a visible joining of a believer to the local church. We read about this in the book of Acts, the second chapter.
Acts.2:38-42 "Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer"
Conditions for Baptism
I. Repentance
The first condition for baptism in water is repentance. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter said to the people who heard his sermon, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). Repentance must precede baptism.
This was also taught by John the Baptist. When some people came to him to be baptized, he told them to bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. As a prophet, he knew that they did not repent, and therefore he did not allow them to be baptized in water. Repentance was the first prerequisite for John's baptism, and it is the first prerequisite for water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Matt.3:7-8 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!"
II. Faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The next necessary condition for water baptism is faith in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification. Without such faith a person can not be admitted to water baptism. First, because this very baptism is performed in the name of Jesus Christ. And secondly, because in this baptism the believer shows that he died for sin with Christ, that his dead old man was buried with Christ, and that he was resurrected for a new life with Christ. Therefore, a person who accepts water baptism must necessarily believe in Jesus as the Son of God, believe in His death, burial and resurrection. Without this faith, a person can not be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:26-39 "But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
“Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ He answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing"
We see from this text that the eunuch read the Book of Isaiah, chapter 53. It is this chapter that speaks of the suffering, death and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus. It was with the explanation of this chapter that Philip began his conversation. Therefore, the eunuch believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died for the sins of people and was resurrected from the dead. It is such faith that is necessary for a person who desires to receive water baptism.
III. To be instructed in teaching of Jesus
When Jesus Christ sent his disciples to preach the Gospel, He told them to baptize those who believed. But apart from that, He also told them to teach believers, to make them disciples. Prior to water baptism, a person should at least briefly be taught the basics of Christ's teaching. But after the water baptism, the training of the believer does not end. He must continue to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He must continue to learn God's will and to fulfill it in his life. His goal should be to become like his Teacher - Jesus Christ.
Matt.28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen"
Luke 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher"
IV. To have a good conscience
Water baptism is the answer or the pledge of a good conscience to God (1 Pet. 3:21). Conscience should become good in a person before water baptism. It does not become good during water baptism. The water into which one is immersed can not make his conscience good. The conscience is cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, through our faith. To make a pledge of a good conscience to God in water baptism, this conscience must be first cleansed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. If conscience is contaminated by any sin after water baptism, it must immediately be cleansed again with the Blood of Jesus Christ through confession and repentance. After we have made a pledge to God (to live for Him and to serve Him), we must try to keep it. The Bible says that it is better not to promise than to promise and not to fulfill.
Heb.9:14 "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
Heb.10:22 "Let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water"
1John 1:7-9 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
Eccl.5:3-5 "For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay"
Baptism in water in the name of Jesus is an important step of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, and an external proof of our repentance and turning to God.
Bible verse for memorization:
"This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21)
1. It is God's will for every believer
After believing in God and repenting, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is the next necessary step on the way of salvation and fulfillment of God's will. The apostles of Jesus very clearly taught this.
Acts 2:38-41 "Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls"
Water baptism was performed not only by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. Even before the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ, the ministry of John the Baptist began. He came to prepare the way for the Lord. Let's see how it happened, and what significance it has for us.
Luke 3:2-3 "In the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins"
John the Baptist preached and baptized people not from himself. He received message from God, so he began to do it. It was God's will for people to repent and be baptized in the baptism of repentance. Jesus confirmed this later, saying the following words:
Luke 7:29-30 "When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves"
Although the baptism that John preached was different from the New Testament baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, it was at that time God's will for the people. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law rejected this God's will for themselves, and did not get baptised. Today the baptism in water in the Name of Jesus Christ is the will of God for all people, who repented and believed in the gospel. God has very clearly revealed this to us through His Son Jesus Christ and His Apostles.
2. It is the commandment of Jesus for all who believe in Him
Jesus commanded his Apostles to go into the world, preach the gospel, teach people, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Matthew writes about this in his Gospel. Water baptism is the will of God and the commandment of Jesus Christ for all who believe in Him.
Matt.28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen"
Water baptism is one of the commandments of Jesus Christ for His followers. He said that if we love Him, then we will keep His commandments.
John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments"
John 14:21 "One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him"
John 14:23 "Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him"
3. It is necessary for our salvation
Jesus and His Apostles taught that water baptism is necessary for our salvation. In the Bible there is not a single case, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, describing the salvation of a person without baptism in water in the name of Jesus.
Mar.16:15-16 "He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who disbelieves will be condemned"
1Pet.3:21 "This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Therefore, water baptism saves us. But it does not save us by itself, but by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That is, through Jesus' resurrection and our faith in Him and His resurrection.
What is baptism in water?
1) Immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ
Before we begin to say what baptism is, we need to explain the very meaning of this word. The original Greek word, translated as "baptism" into English, means "immersion". It can relate to different types of immersion. Perhaps to distinguish religious, Biblical immersion from any other immersion, it was translated into English by the word "baptism."
So, the New Testament water baptism is a short-term immersion of a person in water, which is performed on the basis of a person's faith in God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This immersion takes place in the name of Jesus Christ. In the Biblical sense, there is always the essence, reality and authority of the one in whose name something is done. That is, in other words, water baptism is performed for the sake of Jesus Christ, obeying Him, His authority, and invoking his Name. That's why it's called baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is a complete immersion in water. Jesus and His Apostles showed us this example. To perform water baptism, we need to have enough water, so that the baptized person can be completely immersed. Let's look at the examples of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and also an example from the life of the evangelist Philip, confirming this.
John 3:23 "John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized"
Matt.3:13-17 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. But John would have hindered him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?” But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased"
We see from the above example that Jesus entered the water, was immersed, and went up from the water. John did not sprinkle him with water, because this is not immersion, or, in other words, this is not baptism. Recall that the very word baptism means immersion, and nothing else!
Now consider the example of the baptism by the evangelist Philip of the Ethiopian eunuch. We will see in this example that they also went into the water, the eunuch was submerged in the water by Philip, and they came out of the water.
Acts 8:35-39 "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing"
2) Fulfillment of all righteousness. Example of Jesus
When Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist, John did not want to baptize Jesus. He understood that Jesus is superior to him, and rather he must be baptized by Jesus. "But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt.3:15).
Why Jesus was baptized? To give us an example, and to fulfill all righteousness. This was what God wanted from all Israel at that time, and Christ obeyed God's will. Water baptism is God's will for all believers. Accepting water baptism, we thereby do God's will and fulfill all righteousness that God requires of us with respect to baptism in water.
3) Likeness of our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus
According to the Bible, water baptism is also a likeness or a symbol of our death, burial and resurrection with Jesus Christ. Through water baptism we show outwardly what happened to us internally, through faith in Jesus Christ. A person is always baptized into that state or condition in which he already resides. For example, John the Baptist baptized by the baptism of repentance only those people who already repented . Baptism was not their repentance. It was an external confirmation that they have repented.
Likewise, baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is not a death for sin and a resurrection for a new life. It is an external confirmation that our sinful nature, our old sinful lifestyle, our old man died with Jesus Christ. Water baptism is the image or symbol of the burial of this old man, and our resurrection with Jesus Christ for a new life that came about through our faith in Jesus Christ.
Water baptism by itself does not make a person dead for sin and does not resurrect him for a new life. It is only an external manifestation of the fact that this person died for sin, his old nature is buried, and he rose again for a new life. All these actions must occur in a person before water baptism. And they are achieved by the true repentance, by the knowledge of the truth, and by the faith, but not by water.
Rom.6:3-11 "Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him! For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
4) Moving from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ
The Holy Scriptures teach us that God delivered believers from the power of darkness and brought them into the Kingdom of His beloved Son Jesus Christ.
Col.1:12-13 "giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love"
The prototype of this deliverance of believers from the power of darkness was the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and the power of the pharaoh. The Israelites were finally saved from the power of pharaoh when they crossed the Red Sea. This transition is called in the New Testament the baptism of Israelites into Moses, and into the sea. It is a type of New Testament baptism in the name of Jesus Christ in the water.
Just as the final deliverance of the Israelites from the power of Egypt occurred when they crossed the Red Sea, the final deliverance of the Christian from the power of darkness occurs when he is immersed in the water in the Name of Jesus Christ. This shows us the special importance of water baptism. Before the Israelites were baptized into Moses at sea, they were in great danger. Their first-borns were already saved thanks to the sacrifice of the Paschal lamb and his blood on the doorframes of their doors. God did miracles and began to take them out of Egypt. But still they were in great danger. They still continued to be on the territory of Egypt. Pharaoh was too close, and continued to have claims on them. He chased after them with his army, either to bring them back into slavery, or to destroy them. To avoid this danger, and finally get rid of the power of Egypt, the Israelites had to go through the waters of the Red Sea, which God parted before them. Only after that they were finally saved from the power of Pharaoh and Egypt.
This prototype teaches us a lot. To finally get rid of the power of darkness and the devil's claims to our lives, we need to make a transition similar to that which the Israelites accomplished. This transition for us is water baptism. The Israelites passed through the sea, they were baptized into Moses in a cloud and in the sea. We must also be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. This baptism is the visible transition of a man from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the beloved Son of God.
1Cor.10:1-2 "Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea"
1Cor.10:11 "Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come"
Ex.14:22-23 "The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea: all of Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen"
Ex.14:26-30 "The LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. The LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh’s army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them. But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore"
So, the final deliverance of the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians occurred when they crossed the Red Sea, and were baptized into Moses in the sea. It was the prototype of our water baptism in the name of Jesus.
5) Answer or pledge of a good conscience toward God
Another definition of what water baptism is for us, is given to us in the First Epistle of Peter.
1Pet.3:21 "This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
1Pet.3:21 "And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you – not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (NET)
So, the water baptism is an answer or a pledge of a good conscience to God, and it is necessary for our salvation.
6) Visible joining of the local church
In addition to all of the above, water baptism is also a visible joining of a believer to the local church. We read about this in the book of Acts, the second chapter.
Acts.2:38-42 "Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer"
Conditions for Baptism
I. Repentance
The first condition for baptism in water is repentance. On the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter said to the people who heard his sermon, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). Repentance must precede baptism.
This was also taught by John the Baptist. When some people came to him to be baptized, he told them to bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. As a prophet, he knew that they did not repent, and therefore he did not allow them to be baptized in water. Repentance was the first prerequisite for John's baptism, and it is the first prerequisite for water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
Matt.3:7-8 "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance!"
II. Faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The next necessary condition for water baptism is faith in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose from the dead for our justification. Without such faith a person can not be admitted to water baptism. First, because this very baptism is performed in the name of Jesus Christ. And secondly, because in this baptism the believer shows that he died for sin with Christ, that his dead old man was buried with Christ, and that he was resurrected for a new life with Christ. Therefore, a person who accepts water baptism must necessarily believe in Jesus as the Son of God, believe in His death, burial and resurrection. Without this faith, a person can not be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:26-39 "But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”
He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.” Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him.
Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter. As a lamb before his shearer is silent, so he doesn’t open his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth.”
The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?” Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus.
As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
“Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ He answered, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’” He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing"
We see from this text that the eunuch read the Book of Isaiah, chapter 53. It is this chapter that speaks of the suffering, death and resurrection of the Messiah Jesus. It was with the explanation of this chapter that Philip began his conversation. Therefore, the eunuch believed in Jesus Christ as the Son of God, who died for the sins of people and was resurrected from the dead. It is such faith that is necessary for a person who desires to receive water baptism.
III. To be instructed in teaching of Jesus
When Jesus Christ sent his disciples to preach the Gospel, He told them to baptize those who believed. But apart from that, He also told them to teach believers, to make them disciples. Prior to water baptism, a person should at least briefly be taught the basics of Christ's teaching. But after the water baptism, the training of the believer does not end. He must continue to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. He must continue to learn God's will and to fulfill it in his life. His goal should be to become like his Teacher - Jesus Christ.
Matt.28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen"
Luke 6:40 "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher"
IV. To have a good conscience
Water baptism is the answer or the pledge of a good conscience to God (1 Pet. 3:21). Conscience should become good in a person before water baptism. It does not become good during water baptism. The water into which one is immersed can not make his conscience good. The conscience is cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ, through our faith. To make a pledge of a good conscience to God in water baptism, this conscience must be first cleansed with the Blood of Jesus Christ. If conscience is contaminated by any sin after water baptism, it must immediately be cleansed again with the Blood of Jesus Christ through confession and repentance. After we have made a pledge to God (to live for Him and to serve Him), we must try to keep it. The Bible says that it is better not to promise than to promise and not to fulfill.
Heb.9:14 "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
Heb.10:22 "Let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water"
1John 1:7-9 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"
Eccl.5:3-5 "For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words. When you vow a vow to God, don’t defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay"
Baptism in water in the name of Jesus is an important step of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, and an external proof of our repentance and turning to God.
Bible verse for memorization:
"This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21)
