KINGDOM ISSUES
Robert D. Pace
Water baptism, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a salient ordinance of the Christian Faith. As an immutable command of the New Testament, all Christiana should observe this sacrament. Christ commanded His followers to be baptized as an outward recognition of their spiritual conversion.
Posturing itself preeminent among all the effects of Water Baptism is the fact that the New Testament makes this a post-conversion experience. Moreover, as a post-conversion experience, this provides Water Baptism with immense clarity to its meaning. Note three examples:
1. First, as a post-conversion sacrament, Water Baptism teaches that its observance applies only to the Redeemed. Nowhere does God command or expect sinners to be baptized.
2. Two, as a post-conversion sacrament, Water Baptism does not affect one’s eternal destiny. It has no power to cleanse the soul from sin or acquit man from moral guilt. Salvation is Christ’s gift of grace, through faith (Eph 2:8). The ordinance of Baptism provides outward testimony that Christ’s Blood has brought redemption. Thus, Water Baptism is a Confessional Sacrament; not a Transformational Sacrament.
3. Three, as a post-conversion sacrament, Water Baptism visibly interprets three aspects of the Conversion experience: (a) The baptismal participant submits to another’s act of immersing (Just as sinners submit to Christ for salvation). (b) The plunging into the water illustrates cleansing from sin through Christ. (c) And the rising from the water represents the Believer’s resurrection from the dead into the newness of life.
If you are Born Again Christ and have not followed Christ’s command to be baptized, please do so soon.