Baptism
Water baptism technically is when a believer is immersed in water in a public confession of his/her faith in Jesus Christ. Water baptism is an act of obedience to His commands.
Water baptism is a physical show of what spiritually happens in a person’s life when he or she believes in Jesus. The Bible states: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. When a believer is born again, old sins are washed away by the cleansing blood of Jesus.
Jesus died on the cross to pay the full penalty for our sins. He died as our substitute. If we believe on Him, we receive forgiveness and reconciliation with God the Father.
Jesus also died in our stead to put to death the power of sin in our lives. As we unite ourselves with Him, we can attempt to live righteously and overcome the temptation of sin. We are united to Christ when we invite Jesus to become Lord and Savior of our lives.
This does not mean that we can no longer sin. It means that we have the freedom and power to choose not to sin. We are no longer held as slaves or held in bondage to sin. The Bible says:
“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Romans 6:22.
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:11-13.
In water baptism, the believer’s immersion in water represents death of the old self. As the believer comes out of the water, it is a symbol of new life, or resurrection.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.
By Sungeeta Jain
