Articles
Baptism
When Jesus charged His apostles to go into all the world, He said in clear, unmistakable words: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mark 16:16 NKJV). Many dispute this truth, but baptism is a command that must be obeyed to be saved. Notice that we are speaking now only of baptism. Repentance, confession, faith, hearing the word, and other vital topics need to be taught, understood, and applied. But look at some of the New Testament’s teaching on the subject of baptism.
In Luke's account of the Great Commission, Jesus said: "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name.” The command to preach the salient aspects of the Good News came from Christ. He has all authority, and it was in His name, or by His authority, that the Apostles went everywhere preaching the need to be baptized. The Apostle Paul told the Colossians that whatever they taught or practiced, they were to do so by Christ's authority (Colossians 3:17). Only by Christ's name can men be saved (Acts 4:12).
In Ephesians, Paul's great treatise on the church, we learn there is "one body." This is the Lord's church (Ephesians. 4:4; 1:22-23). 1 Corinthians 12:13: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit." When are baptized the Lord adds us to His spiritual body. Yes, Christ is our Savior. Yes, He brings those who are obedient together in His spiritual body. He is the head of that body and with all authority, directs and governs actions and attitudes.
When a penitent believer is baptized, she benefits from the death of Christ. Paul said to the Ephesians: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (1:7). Without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). The shed blood of the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, frees us from sin. Penitent believers are baptized into the benefits Christ's blood (Romans 6:34).
When folks respond in faithful obedience they are brought into a vital union with Jesus Christ. In Christ we have all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Paul exhorted the young preacher Timothy with these words: "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10). Salvation is in Christ!
On the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles preached repentance and remission of sins in the name of the risen Savior; the people were cut to the heart. They were guilty; they were lost; they knew they had to do something. Wha? They obeyed the Lord's command stated in Mark 16:16. They were baptized to obtain the remission of their sins. They recognized the authority of Christ. They benefited from His death. They were added to the Lord's spiritual body (Acts 2:47). They were in Christ! That is where we all need to be. Have you obeyed the Lord? Why not?
