If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (WEB)
A little boy in our church was baptized several years ago, and with one answer, he broke the hearts of most people in attendance that day.
The little boy had absolute clarity. Here is what he said on the day he stood before the church body. “I have the easy part. Jesus did the hard part for me.”
That little guy realized that being baptized to identify with Jesus was easy compared to all that Jesus suffered to offer salvation to sinners.
Baptism illustrates the death and burial of our old sin nature and our resurrection to new life in Christ. It is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Romans 6:4-11
That brings up a question for believers who have chosen to avoid baptism. If you are truly a born-again believer who has never been baptized, why not?
Look at the key verse, then read the stories below. I encourage you to rethink your dismissal of baptism.
One of the sweetest stories in the Bible about a new believer is the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. This poor man suffered a terrible fate by losing his freedom to brutal slavery. But even though he was a eunuch and a slave, he was drawn by the Spirit through scripture to God.
He only knew about God through the Old Testament prophets and did not believe in Jesus, yet. He was reading Isaiah 53:7-8, which is about Jesus.
As only the Holy Spirit can, He orchestrated a wonderful event in the eunuch’s life. You can find the full story in Acts 8:27-40.
For our purposes today, though, I want you to see the eunuch’s response to being baptized.
Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this scripture, preached to him about Jesus. As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing.
“He went away rejoicing!”
Another great story about 3000 new believer’s obediently following Christ in baptism is found in Acts 2:38-41.
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
“If you love Me obey my commandments.”
A Roman jailer and all of his family were saved and immediately baptized. Read the full story in Acts 16:16-34 (Read this in context. The reason the jailer’s family received salvation is plain. “…all his household, having believed in God.”)
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him, and to all who were in his house. He took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God.”
“If you love Me obey my commandments.”
There are so many other examples in the Bible of people who were joyful at the thought of identifying with Jesus in baptism. Do a Google search on the stories. I found 53 more stories in the New Testament. Also, the Old Testament is filled with pre-cursors to baptism.
So why is this important for you as a believer? Well, there are many reasons. But first, let me clarify. Baptism is not a step to salvation. There are no acts that we can do to secure eternal salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9
This is salvation:
…if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 (WEB)
Baptism is important because it demonstrates your willingness to be obedient to Jesus.
But Jesus came and spoke these words to them, “All power in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. You, then, are to go and make disciples of all the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you and, remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Matthew 28:18-20
Obeying Jesus’ command to be baptized and to share the Gospel is your opportunity to show your love for your Savior. I hope you will.
“If you love Me obey my commandments.”
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
World English Bible (WEB)
by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.
