Every August, Fusion Christian Church, my home church, has a beach baptism on the California coast. It’s one of the highlights of the year for me. I have baptized hundreds of people there, and I love it! Every person who gets baptized is special to me.
But over the years, I’ve realized that some are hesitant to get baptized. Mainly because they don’t understand it. They don’t know that baptism is one of the essential practices of the Christian faith and is one of the two ordinances Jesus commanded the church to practice.
Right after he rose from the dead and before ascending to heaven, Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This is what’s known as the Great Commission and the believer needs to take it seriously. Making disciples and baptizing them in the name of Jesus is not just something we do to be religious; it’s the actual mission of the church. Its importance in your spiritual growth can’t be overstated. Its priority should be at the top of your list.
Considering this, why do some people procrastinate when it comes to being baptized? I think it’s because they don’t fully understand its importance. So, if that’s you, I want to help you overcome your fear and procrastination.
Here are three reasons you should be baptized as soon as possible.
Jesus Commanded Us to be Baptized
If for no other reason, this should be more than reason enough. Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)
The Apostles Commanded Us to be Baptized
In the first sermon of the early church, the Apostle Peter preached that Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.
“When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.’ With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:37-41)
There was no procrastination in the early church. Once they believed, they were baptized.
You Unite with Jesus’ Death, Burial and Resurrection.
Romans 6:3-5 talks about the spiritual implications of baptism when it says, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Baptism alone doesn’t save you, only your faith in Jesus does that. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:15-16) It represents the death of your old sinful self and the beginning of your new life in Jesus Christ. It promises blessing for this life and the one to come.
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