1 Peter 3:18 – 22 “ For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit, in which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built.
In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge ofe a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.”
Through the years, there have been lots of teachings – and lots of confusion – about baptism. It is probably the easiest if you think about baptism as being a symbol of your commitment once you have chosen to follow Jesus Christ. One author explains it this way:
Being immersed in water is a picture of Christ’s death and burial. When you become a born again Christian, your old spirit, which was evil, dies to sin. You receive a new spirit and are quickened or made alive, in its place. Thus emerging from the water is a type (a symbol) of Christ’s resurrection and the newborn spirit in a new believer.
As Jesus was ascending into heaven, he ordered his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28;20) These beautiful parting words of instruction from Jesus to His Disciples before He ascended and returned to Heaven established baptism as an ordinance for the Christian church. The people were to be taught first and then baptized once they were born again believers.
Nowhere in the Bible is it ever stated that baptism is required to be a born again believer. In fact, we see the exact opposite through scripture. The book of Acts provides many details instances of the Gospel being preached and new believers being born again. And from these accounts baptism plays no role in the conversion of the new Christian. The thief on the cross next to Jesus was nailed at his hands and feet. He was completely unable to perform any action, much less be baptized. And yet he was saved:And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, truly I tell you, Today you will be with me in paradise. — Luke 23:42-43. It was his faith that saved him, with no other action. And Jesus Christ personally confirmed it.
When Saul the Pharisee chose to follow Jesus and became Paul the Apostle, he was not baptized for several days after that. There are many places in the world where witchcraft is very common that church elders will watch a new believer for some time to make sure that their commitment is a real one before baptizing them.
If baptism is not necessary for one’s salvation, why should we be baptized? Baptism demonstrates to us and to all those around us that we have become changed people. We have turned away from lives of sin and we are now following Jesus Christ and his teachings. Symbols are important, both for the believer and for those around him/her.
Personally, I was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church. Infant baptism indicates that parents are dedicating that baby to God. Church members taking part in such services also swear before God that they will help this baby grow in the Christian faith. But when I became an adult, I was privileged to visit Israel with a church group. There I underwent baptism in the Jordan River at the site traditionally considered to be the site of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. This second baptism service was extremely meaningful for me because it was only a year after I had rededicated my life to Christ. I needed that baptism as a symbol to myself that I was a changed person and that I had no intention of going back or abandoning the call of Jesus on my life.
Other rituals are equally symbolic. Just think about weddings and everything that goes into a formal wedding. If the bride and groom truly mean what they are saying when they repeat their vows, they are swearing oaths before God never to leave each other. Those oaths should not be taken idly and are important, particularly at times when one’s spouse is behaving in a less than angelic manner!
In closing, I wish to quote a Gospel song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ou36Er2mI
“I Will Never Be” Darlene Zschech
I will never be the same again
I can never return, I’ve closed the door
I will walk the path, I’ll run the race
And I will never be the same again
I will never be the same again
I can never return, I’ve closed the door
I will walk the path, I’ll run the race
And I will never be the same again
Fall like fire, soak like rain
Flow like mighty waters, again and again
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name
There are higher heights, there are deeper seas
Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me
The Glory of God fills my life
And I will never be the same again
Fall like fire, soak like rain
Flow like mighty waters, again and again
Sweep always the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name
Fall like fire, soak like rain
Flow like mighty waters, again and again
Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff
And let a flame burn to glorify Your name
I will never be the same again
I can never return, I’ve closed the door
I will walk the path, I will run the race
And I will never be the same again
And I will never be the same again
And I will never be the same again
Father God, help us to follow hard after you all the days of our lives! Change us into the likeness of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ matchless Name we pray with thanksgiving. Amen.
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