Baptism

In Matt 28:19 Jesus said, "...go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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..." Jesus Himself was perfectly sinless yet was baptised to fulfil all righteousness (Matt 3:15) and we also need to be baptised, if we are to be obedient and follow in His footsteps.

Baptism doesn't save us nor does it bring forgiveness of sins. We are saved the moment we repent and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. Eph 1:13-14 says, "you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory." The Gospel is the power of salvation and our salvation is through repentance and faith, through believing. (Romans 1:16).

Baptism is often considered to be merely a public confession of faith but this falls way short of its description in Romans 6:1-14. In this passage, baptism is described as an identification with Jesus, dying to self as He did, and rising to new life as He has. In undergoing baptism we declare ourself dead to sin, and our old life, and alive to God in Christ. As we go under the water we pledge, to God, death to our old way of life and as we come out of the water, we rise to new life, fully committed to Christ. All believers should be baptised, in obedience to Jesus' command, to declare their committment to God as well as to publically declare their faith.

A person can be baptised but not saved. Note that in Romans 8:12-13 it says to Christians, "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live." The was written to Christians, some of whom would have been baptised, and it clearly tells them that they must be born again, walking in the Spirit, if they are to live. For a discussion on this, please go to Perseverance Of The Saints.