March 06, 2018by Hector Llanes, Ph.D.in [ ]
Faculty, College of Theology
I am a new Christian. Do I need to be baptized? What is the importance of baptism?
Sincerely,
Theophilus
Dear Theophilus,
The New Testament highlights the importance of baptism for the individual believer and the church. The early Christians practiced baptism as it had been ordained by Christ, it marked the personal identification with Christ, it marked the entrance into the Christian family, and it provided an opportunity for a public confession of faith.
Table of Contents:
- Baptism was ordained by Christ
- Baptism marks the personal identification with Christ
- Baptism marks the entrance into the Christian family
- Baptism is a public confession of faith
Baptism was ordained by Christ
Before Jesus ascended to the Father, he gave to his disciples the last instructions (known today as the Great Commission):
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus’ last instructions to his disciples highlight the importance of baptism for believers and the church. The disciples obeyed Jesus and made disciples of Him. And they baptized the new believers as Jesus had commanded them. Baptism has continued to be an integral part of the Christian church throughout its history.
Baptism marks the personal identification with Christ
When we come to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior, our lives become united to Christ’s life. We begin a journey of faith, united to Christ. We renounce service to sin and give our loyalty and service to Christ. Baptism provides an opportunity to identify with Christ’s death and resurrection.
As Paul put it:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6: 3-4).
The act of baptism will be a reminder for life of the fact that we have died (and continue die daily) to slavery and service to sin and have been born anew in Christ.
Baptism marks the entrance into the Christian family
A new believer in Christ needs a spiritual family, a family of the faith in Jesus. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and we need each other to grow in this faith. Being baptized marks a beginning of a journey of faith together with the family of Christian believers. Baptism seals the Christian union of brotherly love in service to God. Paul named baptism as one of the things that unify a body of Christian believers:
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4).
Baptism is a public confession of faith
The nature of baptism is that of a public act. When a new believer is baptized, he or she is giving a public testimony of his or her faith in Jesus as others are witnessing this public identification with Christ and the Christian church. Jesus taught his disciples the importance of living the faith in public as well as in private. Jesus challenged his disciples to confess their faith before others and to walk before others as his disciples (Matthew 10: 32-3; 16: 13-17, 24). Baptism presents an opportunity to the new believer to confess before others that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do notnecessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited wereaccurate as of the publish date.
FAQs
Baptism marks the entrance into the Christian family
What did Jesus say about the importance of baptism? ›
Perhaps the most popular passage people use to claim Jesus mandates baptism for salvation is Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Once again, the order of the verbs is vital.
What is the importance of baptism? ›
Baptism declares that you are a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a public confession of your faith in, and commitment to, Jesus Christ. It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for Christian life.
Why is baptism important Catholic answers? ›
Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament [Mk 16:16]” (CCC 1257). The necessity of baptism for salvation is broadly recognized among Christians, including non-Catholic ones.
Do Catholics believe you need to be baptized to be saved? ›
“Yes, we Catholics believe that is necessary, but there is more to it than that. In addition to believing and confessing with our lips, we need to be baptized. At the beginning of Romans 6, St. Paul actually explains how we share in the death and new life of Christ: It is through baptism.”
What is the importance of baptism in Jesus name? ›
Jesus challenged his disciples to confess their faith before others and to walk before others as his disciples (Matthew 10: 32-3; 16: 13-17, 24). Baptism presents an opportunity to the new believer to confess before others that Jesus is Lord and Savior.
Why must we be baptized? ›
Jesus taught that we need to be baptized to return to live in God's presence after this life is over. Baptism is being “born of the water.” It makes it possible for us to be made clean from our sins, which is necessary for us to return to God.
What are the three purposes of baptism? ›
As we'll see, Christ not only commands believers to get baptized, baptism is also a gift he graciously gives for our benefit and blessing. Here then are three reasons to get baptized: (1) to obey Christ's command, (2) to publicly profess faith in Christ, and (3) to formally commit yourself to Christ and his people.
What is the most important thing in baptism? ›
Renunciation of Sin and Profession of Faith
Those being baptized are asked to reject sin and Satan, and to profess their faith in the Triune God.
What is the most important effect of baptism? ›
Baptism takes away original sin, all personal sins and all punishment due to sin. It makes the baptized person a participant in the divine life of the Trinity through sanctifying grace, the grace of justification which incorporates one into Christ and into his Church.
While Jesus told Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5), he did not set baptism as a hindrance to salvation but just the opposite. We so often judge things by human standards, but God is not restrained by our standards.
Where in the Bible does it say you must be baptized? ›
We Must Be Baptized for the Remission of Our Sins
The Apostle Peter taught, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Following Paul's conversion, Ananias said to him, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).
Why doesn't baptism save you? ›
The apostle Peter points out that the water of the flood “symbolizes baptism that now saves you,” and makes it clear that the water used in baptism does not provide the MEANS of our salvation. Rather, God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone saves us (Eph. 2:8-9).
Why is baptism important to Catholics? ›
As Christians, we are blessed by baptism. It is the door to the Catholic Faith and the first step we take to pursue eternal life in heaven. This is backed up in Scripture, most notably in John 3 where it is written: “Unless you're born again in the water of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”
Can I be Catholic without being baptized? ›
An adult or child of catechetical age who is not baptized enters the Christian Initiation process and through a process of liturgy, catechesis, and formation is prepared to celebrate the three sacraments of Initiation.
What did Jesus promise us in baptism? ›
When we were baptized, we entered into a covenant with God. We promised to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, always remember Him, keep His commandments, and serve Him to the end. Heavenly Father promised us a remission of sins and, through the ordinance of confirmation, the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Can you go to heaven if you are not baptised? ›
While Jesus told Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5), he did not set baptism as a hindrance to salvation but just the opposite. We so often judge things by human standards, but God is not restrained by our standards.
What did Jesus say about water baptism? ›
Even Jesus was baptized. Scripture teaches that he did it when he had no sin, because, as he put it, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15).
What is the message of Jesus to us through the story of his baptism? ›
In Baptism of the Lord, Jesus' divinity is made clear when God the Father proclaims “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Jesus's baptism also underlines the mystery of the Son of God becoming one of us. As a human person, Jesus identified with us not only in our strengths, but in our frailty.
