WHY BE BAPTIZED?

“Be baptized and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16). Jesus announced in His last words on earth: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mk 16:16). Peter concluded his sermon to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost with these words: “God has made this same Jesus whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ”. When they heard this, they asked, “What shall we do?” The answer: “Repent and be baptized (immersed) … for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:36-38). Hearing or reading God’s word, the Bible, comes first. Believing that Jesus is the Son of God comes second (“Faith comes by hearing the word,” Rom 10:17). Planting the seed is the “begettal,” like when a man implants the seed in woman. Accurate translations of the Bible say: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God” (I John 5:1). This is the implanting of the seed which is the word of God (Luke 8:11). The new birth does not occur until one comes out of the water, the same as the new child is not born until it comes out of the womb of woman (Jn 3:3-5).

(#161)