What does God’s Word say about baptism?

1. It must be accompanied by belief to bring salvation. Without belief baptism is not efficacious.  Mark 16:16,  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will [already] be condemned.

2. It must be accompanied by repentance to obtain remission of sins.  Without repentance baptism does not bring the desired result.  Acts 2:38, Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

3. Those who gladly receive the apostle’s words submit to it. Acts 2:41, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

4. Those who believe the things taught concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ submit to it. Acts 8:12, But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

5. When Jesus is taught, one will ask for it. The teaching of Jesus requires teaching about baptism. It requires enough water to go down into.  Acts 8:35-36, Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Acts 8:38, So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

6. Baptism is more than something that someone wants to do. It is a commandment. Acts 10:48, And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

7. Lydia received baptism. Acts 16:15,  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

8. The Philippian jailer received baptism, immediately. Acts 16:33,  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.

9. The Corinthians received baptism upon hearing and believing.
Acts 18:8, Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

10.  John the Baptist’s baptism did not bring the desired result after Pentecost. Acts 19:3-5, And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John's baptism.”  Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

11.  Baptism isn’t something that one waits to do. It is to wash away sins.
Acts 22:16,  “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

12.  Baptism is a symbolic representation of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  It is the obedience to the gospel--see also 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.  It is how one gets into Christ. Romans 6:3-4, Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

13.  It is how one gets into and puts on Christ. Galatians 3:27, For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

14.  There is only one baptism.  Ephesians 4:5, one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

15.  It is a part of the process of becoming a disciple. Matthew 28:19-20,       Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Amen.

In view of the above Scriptures why would some want to refuse baptism for the remission of their sins so that they might become a part of the body of Jesus Christ and put Him on?

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