The truth about baptism

Water Baptism

      In a juvenile jail class I was once asked the question, "What does baptism have to do with salvation from sin? Isn't baptism just a bunch of water?" That was a sincere question which demands a Biblical answer!

     Yes, baptism involves enough water to immerse the believer. John the Baptist baptized his converts “in Aenon near Salim because there was much water there” (Jn. 3:23). “Much water” is needed for one to be "buried with Him (Jesus) into death" (Rom. 6:4). The rich meaning of water baptism is that it is a beautiful reenactment of faith in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. Jesus died for our sins. Through repentance we choose to die to the practice of sin. As He was buried, “we were buried with Him through baptism into death" (Rom. 6:4). As He was raised from the dead, our old man of sin was raised with Him from a watery grave to walk "in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4).

     When one understands how baptism is "into the death of Jesus", the truth will dawn that baptism is the holy moment in which one's soul contacts the precious blood of Jesus. The old hymn asks, "What can wash away my sin?" The answer is, "Nothing but the blood of Jesus." God's wisdom declares that our sins are washed away by the blood when we are buried by water baptism into the death of Jesus (cf. Acts 22:16).

     Is baptism "just a bunch of water"? No! Baptism is water and the blood of Jesus! It is a physical act involving much water. It is also a spiritual act which expresses our faith that Jesus shed His blood "for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28). Peter commanded baptism "for the remission of sins" in Acts 2:38. We can understand the vital, spiritual link between water baptism and Jesus' blood "for the remission of sins" when we understand that baptism is the moment of faith when we make contact with the cleansing blood of Jesus.

     In His parting words Jesus clearly stated one must believe (trust His blood) and be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16). In 1 Pet. 3:21 Peter declared baptism "now saves us". The context of Peter's statement is the flood of Noah's day. When Noah and his family entered the ark they were leaving their old world of sin. When they stepped out of the ark they stepped into a brand "new world" which had been washed of all sin. In this sense of the word Peter declares that "eight souls were saved through water".

     Yes, baptism is "a bunch of water" which washes our sins away because baptism outwardly expresses our faith in Jesus' blood as "the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21). When we enter the waters of baptism we leave the old world of sin behind. When we step out of the waters of baptism we take our first step into the new world of God's spiritual kingdom of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!

 Ralph Weinhold