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Water Baptism
What It
Really Means to Take the Plunge!
by
Pastor John Hamel
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we should also walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)
We’ll get back to that above verse in a minute. First I want to
remind you that Jesus said, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John
3:3)
What does it mean to be Born Again? Simple.
The first time you were born you entered into the Earth realm
through the person of your Mother.
The second time you are born you enter into God’s Kingdom through
the Person of Jesus. He’s the door.
Say, “Jesus, You’re my choice” and you’re in the Kingdom and
the Family. (John 1:12; Romans 10:13; Colossians 1:13)
Once a person makes Jesus Christ the Lord of their lives, God
requires them to take the plunge – literally. God calls all Born Again
Believers to be water baptized. Why? I’ll explain. The verse of Scripture
at the top of this page answers that question in two parts.
First, when someone is properly baptized they are wholly
immersed in water, not just sprinkled.
This is why the above verse says we are “buried” with Him in
baptism. To go down into what I call
“The Watery Grave” is to identify with the death and burial of Jesus Christ
on our behalf. It’s actually a way
of saying, “I died to my own sinful self when I gave my life to Jesus.”
Second, to rise up out of the watery grave is a way of
identifying with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It’s actually a way of saying, “I’ve been
raised from my former dead life of sin and have risen to a new life in
Jesus.”
So, it’s easy to see that Water Baptism is simply an outward
expression of an inward experience.
It’s the Born Again Believer’s way of saying, “I completely identify
with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ on my behalf.” This is why it is not Biblical or
acceptable to “sprinkle” baptize an infant.
First, infants are unable to identify with the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus. Their
undeveloped little minds cannot possibly comprehend such a thing.
Second, Biblical Water Baptism is by complete submersion, not
sprinkling. Now you know why.
Water Baptism is powerful, too!
In one Church where I served as Pastor for a number a years, a
drunken man kept showing up in my services.
He sat quietly and paid attention.
He reeked of booze but behaved as a gentleman. The Lord told me, “Allow him to attend
as long as he behaves.” He continued
to behave so I allowed him to sit and hear the Word of God. He came week after week.
One day after hearing me teach on the symbolism and the power
of Water Baptism, this man asked us to baptize him. We went to an area lake and baptized
him. As circumstances had it, I was
to never see this man again.
However, three years later I received a call from him.
This former alcoholic said, “Pastor John, I want to tell you
something. When I began coming to
your services, I had been drinking alcohol every day of my life for
thirteen years. I want you to know
you helped me to understand what Water Baptism really is. I also want you to know that I have not
had one drop of alcohol since the day you baptized me in Lake Thunderbird. I’ve never desired
booze again.”
All I could say was “Glory to God.” There is something powerful about the
true Biblical form of Water Baptism.
When it is fully understood and obediently adhered to, it somehow
releases the delivering power of God.
That’s what obedience to God’s Word always does. Obedience
always sets the stage for the miraculous.
Say, “Jesus, You’re my choice” if you’ve not been Born
Again. That’ll get you into the
Family. (John 1:12) Then submit to
the watery grave of Biblical Baptism.
By going down into the water you’ll be saying, “My old life is dead
and buried in Christ.” (Colossians 3:3)
By coming up out of the watery grave you’ll be saying, “I’m raising
to newness of life in Him.”
Keep in mind that Water Baptism does not wash away your sins as
some teach. The Bible teaches that
only the Blood of Jesus can wash away your
sins. (Hebrews 9:22) Water Baptism
is an outward declaration of an inward experience. It says, “Hey, lookie
here. The old me
is dead. The new me has risen in
power with Jesus.”
Water Baptism. Now you know
what it really means to take the plunge!
Be blessed ... John and
Barbara Hamel
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