Have You Been Baptised?

Monday, 15 July

TEXT: Mark 16:6, MORE LESSONS: Matt.28:18-20

It is unfortunate that many believers in Christ do not really understand the significance of water baptism after being born again. Many have funny ideas that are not in line with what the Lord Jesus and the apostles taught. Some believe in infant baptism but we can see from the scripture above that infant baptism cannot be valid.

Jesus says He that believes and is baptised shall be saved. Baptism is needful only after you have believed and personally received Christ as your Lord and Saviour. Baptising someone who has not believed is like white washing a sepulcher. A toddler has not reached the age to believe. Some believe in baptism by sprinkling, but the Bible says we are buried with him (Christ) in baptism (Rom 6:4). Baptism is actually from the Greek word batizo which means to dip, immerse, submerge or bury. Hence valid baptism is done by immersion in water after you have truly become born again.

Yet some say that baptism is not vital, and they cite the case of the thief on the cross who went to Heaven though he was not baptised in water. Now, are you a thief on the cross? There may be cases of people who receive Christ at their dying hour and have no opportunity to do water baptism. That is a narrow escape and God certainly has an arrangement for that. But for anyone who still has the opportunity after being born again to choose not to be baptised by immersion in water is violation of the Word of Christ.

Water baptism is a crucial part of the salvation process. It is the outward evidence that one has given one’s heart to the Lord. I t symbol i s e s one ’s identification with Christ’s death (buried in water) and His glorious resurrection (coming out of water). It is an indication that one has died to sin and received a glorious new life in Christ. On an issue as fundamental as the matter of the salvation of the soul, it is wise that you are not in any doubt that you have got it right. If you have never been baptised since you believed or it was done for you when you were an infant, go for water baptism now.

PRAYER/ACTION

* Pray that you will walk in the truth of the Gospel all the days of your life.

* Pray for your pastor that he will teach the truth of the Word of God without fear.

* Pray for every believer that has not been baptised in the proper way that their eyes shall open to the truth of the Scripture about water baptism.

Like and share