Our previous article showed us that those who had this query during the first century were led to be baptized. Baptism is a very interesting word. It is actually a “Transliterated Word.” This means that it is a word that corresponds to another word in a different language. The word baptize was transliterated from the Greek language and the word baptizo. This word means, “To dip, immerse, plunge, purify, rinse and wash.” In the New Testament, baptize/baptizo is used to mean “To immerse, submerge, or make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)”.
After Jesus resurrected He gathered His disciples together and told them to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…” Matthew 28:19.
In Mark’s account Jesus is quoted to say, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…” Mark 16:15-16.
John tells us that Jesus, the Word, “Came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of man, but of God.”
John 1:11-13
Note carefully the process of receiving, believing, becoming and being born to be, “Children of God.” Now consider what Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews about this process.
He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”John 3:1-3
He then went on to say, “Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
This is speaking about a spiritual birth that brings one into a saved relationship with God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:5-6
The scriptures confirm that this occurs at the point of baptism. “For in Christ Jesus you are sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is nether slave or free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
It can’t be any clearer and it is done this way so we can know with certainty that we are in a saved relationship with God. My prayer is that we all have confidence about our saved relationship with God. But if we should have doubts we should want to address them.
When we are dirty the natural thing for us to do is wash. This concept aligns with baptism. But in baptism it isn’t our body that is being cleansed. It is our soul and spirit. 1 Peter 3:21-22.
About the author:
Don and his wife Brenda have been married 48 years. They have two married sons Jason/Crista and Nicholas/Heather and four grandsons Luke, Ryker, Blake and Drew. Don is a graduate of the Gateway School of Preaching, Fairview Heights, IL, the Bristol Roads School of Biblical Studies, Flint, MI and he has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Michigan Christian College. He has been preaching since 1979. He has preached at Pacific, MO; Howell, MI; Arnold, MO; Festus, MO; Dexter, MO; and De Soto, MO where he has served since 2007. He also serves the congregation as one of the elders. Don has done campaigns and meetings in several states and mission work in Cuba, India, and Jamaica. Don refers to himself as a “Minister” because he loves ministering to others and helping them learn about Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him.
De Soto church of Christ 