What is the significance of believers baptism

To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. Shop All Bibles. Shop All Bible Studies. Shop All Books. Shop All Events. Church Ordering. Christian baptism an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior and the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Savior and the believer's death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord's Supper. The word for baptize in Greek is baptizo, which means "to dip, plunge, submerge, or immerse. John's baptism was symbolic of one's repentance from sin and of willingness to participate in the kingdom of God Matt. Jesus submitted to John's baptism Matt. In so doing Jesus symbolized His death, burial, and resurrection.

Baptism translates baptisma, the meaning in the act of baptism, namely, a symbol of what Jesus did to save us - death, burial, and resurrection - and what He does in the believer - death to the old life, its burial, and resurrection to a new life in Christ. Keeping in mind the meaning of baptisma, what is the significance of believer's baptism? A knee jerk reaction to an antiestablishment mindset and ignorance of what the Bible teaches on the subject has caused many churches to ignore the clear indicators of known, committed, and engaged membership in a local body of believers.

Third, churches have downgraded the importance of baptism. Even in churches where Holy Spirit inspired repentance and obedience is preached and taught, there is often minimal exposure to baptism and rare encouragement to be baptized. We have been remiss and have been wrong to leave this out.

This is the point which causes confusion for a lot of people. Many people get baptized when they are younger and as they grow older they get more committed to Christ and wonder if they were even saved when they got baptized the first time.

Upon a person's profession of faith in Christ and desire to be baptized, we should baptize them. What we need is due diligence in making sure that we are baptizing people with a valid Christian testimony. We need to be much more careful in our examination of baptismal candidates. A person should be able to clearly explain the gospel and how Jesus has changed their heart and saved them. They need to be convinced that they are truly a Christian and upon that assurance enter into the waters of baptism.

This can become especially tricky when we are dealing with our children, in that it is hard to know their hearts. But that is the same with adults as well. We must leave it in God sovereign hands. You never know the true condition of a person's heart and you must trust that they are being led by God's Spirit. In the end, only God knows who truly belong to Him 2 Timothy The reason is simple: Because disobedience to Jesus is never blessed by God. As stated previously, God expects and enables obedience.

It is the next step after salvation through repentance and faith and is an important foundation for Christian life. Whoever believes and is baptised is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God.

God brought you alive — right along with Christ! Think of it! A brand-new life: It is a symbol of your new life as a Christian. Baptism is like a wedding ring, it is the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart, a commitment that has to be followed through and lived out on a daily basis. Baptism is a symbol. No, of course not. Imagine that I really was married, though. No way, of course I would still be married. Similarly, I can be a believer in Christ, but not baptised, and my sins are still paid for and forgiven by God.

But imagine that I truly was married and I really, really loved my husband. Would I wear my wedding ring? Of course! I would love my husband and want the whole world to know it! Baptism does not make you a believer; it shows that you already are one! A blessed life: In baptism, the believer has the triune name of the triune God placed upon them: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In baptism there is a real sense of being joined with other believers, not just participating in an individual act of our own spiritual journey.