"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:16
As we continue to work through our current series, Making Disciples, it was inevitable that we would come to the topic of baptism. To talk about making disciples and not talk about baptism, would be like talking about salvation without talking about repentance from sin.
Baptism is an interesting thing and in some examples has become the wrong thing. For example, we don't baptize infants because Scripturally we only have reference to those being baptized as those who have understood the Good News of Jesus Christ and by faith believed in Him for salvation. Additionally, we don't believe that baptism is how we are saved. If this were true, we would find salvation in something that we did instead of something that God does.
However, baptism is not something that can be neglected. In the New Testament, from Jesus’ command to His disciples to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15) no account of someone believing in Jesus Christ by faith exists without that person or group of people subsequently being baptized.
In Acts 2, the Jews ask Peter what they should do to be saved and he says, "Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins," and in the verse above Jesus says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."
Baptism does not save you. The act of being baptized is not how we come to salvation. But, for the one who has by faith believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, the next step for that person is the public confession of their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. And, in the Bible, the way we see this confession happening is in the waters of baptism. This plays out all through the book of Acts, as the Apostles are making disciples. And, in Matthew 28:19 Jesus says in regards to making disciples, "Go...baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Have you by faith believed in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you confessed Jesus publicly before man and obediently through baptism? If not, consider this a personal invitation for you to join us this Sunday and in obedience be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
If you have any questions about baptism at all and would like to talk more about it, please feel free to contact me!
Grace & Peace,
John
(You can reach Pastor John at jwhite@thevillagemi.com)