Be Baptized

Having heard and believed the gospel, repented of your sins, and confessed Jesus as Lord, the final step of salvation is through the watery grave of baptism.

What is the purpose of baptism?
Romans 6:4 says: "Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might be raised to walk in newness of life."

In Galations 3:26-27 we read: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."

And in John 3:3-5: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemas said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb, can he?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of the water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.'"

In Mark 16:15-16: "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved but he who does not believe shall be condemned."

Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore into all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'"

Acts 2:38 says: "And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

I Peter 3:21 says: And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you- not the removal of dirt from flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the ressurection of Jesus Christ."

And Acts 22:16: "And now, why do you delay? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His Name."

Jesus commanded baptism. These verses tell us that baptism allows us to be raised to walk in newness of life. It makes us sons of God, and clothes us with Christ. Through baptism, we are born again of the water and the Spirit, and can enter the kingdom of heaven. It is through the waters of baptism that we receivesalvation~ the forgiveness of sins~ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Having established that baptism is essential to salvation, We now come to the question of sprinkling or immersion. Does God really care which one we use? To answer this question, we must ask "What does the Bible say?"
Romans 6:4 says: "Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."
Colosians 2:12 says: "Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which also you are raised up to walk in newness of life."
Acts 8:38: "And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water,Philip as well as the eunuch; and he baptized him."
These verses show that baptism is a burial, something that one has to go down into the water to do, something that can only be done by immersion. Every time the word "baptize" is used in the New Testament, the Greek word baptizo is used. Rhantidzo "to sprinkle" is used only when refering to the sprinkling of blood(Hebrews 9:19). Baptism can only mean immerse in the Greek, and that is what the New Testament was written in.

Please examine these Scriptures with an open heart and mind, using only the Bible, and not clinging to the traditions of men, to show what is right. John 12:48 tells us that we will be judged by the Word of God, and says nothing of man made traditions and doctrines.