Water Baptism

Water Baptism

Have you ever wondered why we observe and according to custom perform water Baptisms?

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” – Mark 1:9-11

When we take a step of faith and give our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer we follow that with the act of water Baptism.  First, we follow the example given to each of us by Jesus himself.  Second, we profess to all others through water Baptism that we belong to Jesus.  It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior, the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to the believer's faith in the final resurrection of the dead.

We hold fast to and walk in faith knowing that God’s WORD and HIS promises bring life everlasting and are truth.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. -- Mark 16:16

This does not mean that you are saved through water Baptism only faith in Jesus and HIS sacrifice and atonement for our sin can save us.  We live out that example given to us by Jesus and we profess our faith through the act of water Baptism.  We do this believing that water Baptism signifies the cleansing from our sins through the sacrifice of Jesus and HIS shed blood on the cross.  It also represents our dying to an old way of life and we are now a new creation in Christ.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! -- 2 Corinthians 5:17

What a glorious gift we have been given through Jesus and we are able to honor and bless HIM through our obedience as we observe water Baptism.