The Implications of Water Baptism (Episode 173)

Water baptism must be important to God because even Jesus Himself was baptized by John. After Jesus died and rose again, He commanded His disciples to disciple, teach and to baptize others. But what is the significance of water baptism? In this episode, Frank King teaches on that subject.

On one end of the spectrum, there are those who believe water baptism is a requirement for salvation. But on the other end, there are those who see it as no more than a religious ritual.

In his epistle to the church at Rome, Paul writes, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3, KJV). So, here Paul is talking about us being baptized into Jesus. Then in 1 Corinthians 12:13, he says that by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. So, baptism into Jesus is a work of the Holy Spirit.

So, how does water baptism fit into this discussion? Water baptism is the ritual that portrays the burial or being baptized into Jesus’ death that Paul talks about in the verse above. Water baptism is how we publicly identify with the death of Christ.

Accordingly, water baptism should occur only after one makes a commitment to follow Christ. It should be noted, however, that water baptism alone does not save anybody. Being immersed into the water symbolizes a burial and our coming out of the water symbolizes a newness of life that we are to walk in.

That's the implications of water baptism. Every believer who can do it should submit to baptism because Jesus has commanded us to do so.