By Titto Thomas
So far we have covered two elementary foundations, mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-2. We saw that repentance brings us to a place where we can have faith. Now faith without actions is dead (James 2:17), so actions must always follow true faith! It is interesting to note that the rest of the series is based on actions that follow faith, which rest on God’s amazing work. This will become clearer as we progress.
THE REALITIES
Faith rests on biblical facts. The Faith that God used to bring salvation to you is rested on the following facts.
1. Jesus died 2000 years ago.
2. He was in the grave for 3 days
3. On the third Day, Jesus was resurrected through the mighty power of God.
4. Now Jesus is very much alive
Faith worked (at the point of salvation), making this a reality in your life. You realized that Jesus died for you while you were still a sinner and that he was a substitute for you. You also saw that he rose from the dead and that he now wants to live in you. This revelatory knowledge (at some point in your life) made you cry out “Abba, father forgive me and come into my life!” During this process there are a few things that take place, which you must understand.
1. You become a new creature 2 Cor 5:17 – If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.
2. This does not mean that God decided to give you a fix! He made you new. But in order to become new, you had to die(John 3)! Not your physical body, but rather your old man died. (Colossians 3:3). Also important to note is that it did not say you will die, but that you have died! More specifically crucified with him (Gal 2:20, Romans 6:6)
3. To be born again as (in reference to John 3) is to be born into God. Having died to your old self, you are now alive to God!
In other words, when Christ died, you died and when he rose you rose up with him and thus we identify with him in his death and resurrection.
BAPTISM
To put it plainly baptism is a public declaration of a person’s faith in God (Acts 8:37). It testifies to Christ’s work in personal terms. This implies that the primary requirement for a person to be baptized in water should be the fact that he/she is born again. If you haven’t met with God before you get baptized, you are merely getting wet! It will make no sense.
Romans 6:4 explains that baptism signifies us being dead, buried and then rising up to a new life in Christ! Also refer to Col 2:12.
Baptism is a fundamental requirement that must be obeyed. Right after you have initially met with the Lord you must be baptized. Why so? Is it because salvation depends on it? By no means! I have already explained that baptism is a response to salvation. So what makes baptism a necessary commandment? Simply because God told us to! There is no hard knowledge that you must learn before you can get baptized, if you are sure that you have been saved it is vital that you go into the waters of baptism.
AN ANALOGY
An interesting analogy of baptism concerns marriage. Let me explain. What is marriage? It is the sign of a covenant. Can you imagine two unmarried people living together? The reason they say is because they love each other! Now we know that this relation is wrong! It is not acceptable. Likewise, when we came to Christ we entered into a covenant relationship with him. Therefore just like marriage, baptism is the sign of that covenant relationship.
Just as marriage is not done privately, baptism too is an open declaration to:
1. God
2. The enemy
3. People of God
that we no longer belong to the domain of darkness but now have chosen to believe in Christ and what he has done for us!
Earlier I provided some useful insight into water baptism. It was just to show you how baptism is a vital cog in our walk of faith. In the next post, I will explain about the true biblical nature of baptism and whether it is necessary for us to go to heaven.
Amen, Titto! Well said!
Baptism is also an answer to a clear conscience. I’ve found that figurative explanation is one of the most powerful ways of explaining something. If you want to explain clearly something to a kid, try making figures [pictorial] of it and you’ll find that they’d grasp the concept very quickly.
I believe Abba has used the same method here. He wants to make what has happened to us at salvation a reality, and so He has implemented this figurative act of baptism in water. But the significance of it goes beyond the dip.
Sid
An excellent analogy.
Hello my name is Jacob i took an early Baptism when i was still week in faith under completion
i was not really prepared how ever today almost 10 years later I have grown in faith in Jesus , the last ten years I have learnt much and is closer to God than ever , Today i cannot imagine a life without Christ , But however i feel the first Baptism as an improper baptism , its troubling me should I Baptist once more with a true mind
Hello Jacob,
Writing in response to your question
No one really fully understands everything about baptism when they take it. I know I didn’t. But as time passes by, our baptism and it’s significance becomes more real to us.
Baptism is like Marriage. It is a public commitment that we make by choice that we are being united with Christ in His death and resurrection- just like a man a woman becomes one when they get married.
However, if you think it helps you to establish this truth again- go ahead!