Believer’s baptism is one of the two primary ordinances of the local church. Believer’s baptism is a reflection of the Christian’s new life in Jesus Christ.
Why Believer’s Baptism simply examines what is believer’s baptism and the significance of believer’s baptism for the person who has put their faith in Jesus Christ as the way, the truth and the life.
Why Believer’s Baptism Explained!
To answer the question why believer’s baptism, we need to ask ourselves what is believer’s baptism and what is the significance of believer’s baptism?
1. What is Believer’s Baptism?
Believer’s Baptism is a ceremony in which a person, who has placed their faith and trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the means of salvation, goes through the waters of baptism.
There is only one prerequisite for believer’s baptism and that is belief in the finished work of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
This was evidenced in Samaria when Phillip proclaimed the gospel, “they believed” and then “they were baptized” (Acts 4:21).
In Corinth Paul preached the gospel and “many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized” (Acts 18:8).
Believer’s Baptism is sequential. First, belief then baptism.
We also see this order in the conversion of the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35-38), Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15) and Crispus (Acts 18:8).
2. What is the Significance of Believer’s Baptism?
Believer’s baptism has great spiritual significance when we understand what it symbolizes or pictures.
A. Believer’s baptism is an outward expression of an inward experience.
First, believer’s baptism is a visible picture of one’s salvation. It pictures one dying to self and sin and now living for Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-5).
Second, believer’s baptism is a visible picture of one’s spiritual baptism. It pictures one’s identification with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
B. Believer’s baptism by immersion best demonstrates the outward expression of the inward experience.
When the believer goes down under the water, it depicts death to self and sin. When the believer comes up out of the water, it depicts new life and a new desire to please God.
This is not the only reason for immersion. The English word ‘baptism’ comes from the Greek word ‘baptizo’. Greek scholars agree that ‘baptizo’ implies ‘to dip under’ or ‘immerse’.
The biblical evidence for immersion is quite evident. When John baptized Jesus in the Jordan river, we read in Mark 8 that Jesus came up immediately out of the water. “As Jesus was coming up out of the water…” (Mark 1:8-9).
Also we read in John 3:23 that because there was plenty of water, people were constantly coming to be baptized.
Furthermore, we read in Acts 8:38, “when they came up out of the water…”
3. Some Concluding Remarks
Why believer’s baptism? Well, Jesus commanded that believers be baptized (Matthew 28:19-20). When we go through the waters of baptism, we demonstrate our love and obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 5:3).
Although believer’s baptism does not save us, nevertheless, God is pleased when we step out in obedience to His command to be baptized.
4. Should Children Be Baptized?
This is an important question. As stated before, the only prerequisite for believer’s baptism is belief. If a child demonstrates the fruit of salvation, then baptism needs to be considered.
The resource below – Believer’s Baptism For Children – is one resource that you may be able to take a child through so that they understand Why Believer’s Baptism?