Baptism
After he was raised from the tomb, Jesus told his disciples, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of he Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20)
Baptism is an outward symbol of an inward reality. The water (immersion for some; sprinkling for others) tells the world that you are a believer in Jesus Christ. In Acts, the disciples told people to “Repent and be baptized.” Repentance is turning from sin to Christ. It is faith in him alone that saves us from eternal destruction, and because he has done so much for us, we want to obey him. One of the ways we obey is to follow his command to be baptized.
Baptism is a public statement to the world that our old lives are behind us and we now identify with Jesus Christ. We are now his. Going into the water symbolizes the death and burial of Christ. Coming out of the water symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection. In the early days of the church, people who became Christians were often kicked out of their families. Baptism was a tremendous act of faith because they were saying to the world, “Jesus means so much to me that I am willing to lose everything to be his disciple.”
Some churches “baptize” infants. Many churches call this “christening,” not baptism. They are welcoming the child into the church family’s care. I believe this is most meaningful for the parents of the child. True baptism is for believers. If you have been christened or baptized as an infant, ask the Lord if he wants you to experience believers’ baptism.
If you are a Christian, if you have trusted Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for your sins, you need to obey his command to be baptized. Talk to your pastor or youth pastor about how your church fulfills this call. Some churches have a baptismal pool in the sanctuary; some use a swimming pool; some go to a river or the beach; and some use a sprinkle from a cup. However it happens, remember that you are identifying with Jesus Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection.
