¡°At that time Jesus came from Nazareth and was
baptized by John in the river¡± (Mark 1:9).
2. Because Christ commands it.
¡°Jesus said, ¡®Go then, to all people everywhere
and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, and then teach them to obey everything I have commanded
you¡± (Matthew 28:19-20).
3. It demonstrates I really am a believer.
¡°Christ died for our sins¡¦He was buried¡¦and He
rose again¡± (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
¡°For when you were baptized, you were buried
with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ¡±
(Colossians 2:12).
4. It illustrates my new life as a Christian
¡°When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a
brand new person inside. The old self has passed away and a new life has
begun¡± (2 Corinthians 5:17).
¡°By our baptism, then, we were buried with Him
and shared His death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead¡¦so also we may live a new life!¡± (Romans 6:4).
5. Baptism does not make you a believer—it shows
that you already believe. Baptism does not ¡°save¡± you. Only your faith in
Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring—it is the outward symbol of
the commitment you made in your heart.
¡°For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith¡¦It is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast¡±
(Ephesians 2:8-9).
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