Thoughts On Baptism
Water baptism is not required for salvation but is a picture of the baptism that happens in our heart when Jesus enters in. The Bible says we are dead to God without the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Saviour. When Jesus comes into our heart upon belief, He is the living water that cleanseth us from all sin. Baptism is not required for salvation but is required as a way to confess Christ before all men. It is a picture that they have arose to a new life in Christ from the dead spiritually and made alive to God. It is a picture of what happens inside of you on the acceptance of Christ. Jesus died for our sins and then He arose after 3 days. Before we were saved it was as though we were dead. God calls it dead in our sins. Jesus was dead in the grave. We were "quickened" made alive, at the acceptance of Christ and our blind eyes were opened to the things of God. Just as Jesus arose from the dead. We became a new creature in Christ, our sins were forgiven and washed by the shed blood of Christ. the Bible say " The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sins." He said, "It is finished" at the cross. That means, the work required to save you and I, was already done. No other work on our part is required for us to be saved. If not, then His job was not finished and that part of God's word would not be true. God does want us to be Baptized, but as an act of obedience and a testimony of what Christ did in your heart, it is to be done openly, as to say to the world, I'm baptized today in the likeness of Jesus' death and I arise to a New Life, in the likeness of the resurrection of Christ. It should be your first step of obedience, a willingness to humble yourself and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as a living testament into the family God.
Jesus took our place upon the cross and literally took upon himself the sins of the whole world, but the blood is only applied to those who genuinely believe upon Christ and what He did upon the cross and his resurrection. They must believe and accept him as Saviour and Lord of their lives. Admit that they need His forgiveness and desire a relationship with Him as their Father in heaven. Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
Susan Nikitenko
January 14, 2017
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(KJV)