Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Water baptism is one of the two ordinances that Jesus Christ gave us to observe, the other being The Lord’s Supper. The last words of Jesus given to the apostles in the gospels of Matthew and Mark before He ascended up to the right hand of The Father were to go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus then said to baptize them in The Name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Ghost. These words of Jesus are the basis of why we water baptize people.
On the Day of Pentecost, the apostle Peter preached the Old Testament Scriptures that Jesus Christ fulfilled as Lord and Christ. The hearers were convicted and asked what they should do. Peter’s response was for them to “repent and be baptized … in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38,39) Then we read in Acts 2:41: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
These three thousand souls who were pricked in their hearts by the truth about Jesus repented and were water baptized. They were fully immersed in water. This pattern of conviction, followed by repentance and water baptism of every person who came to faith in Jesus Christ, is seen throughout the Book of Acts. That is what we are observing here this morning. Water baptism is a public testimony of The Lordship of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is identifying with Jesus and it speaks of being a new creation, walking in newness of life. This is why we baptize in water.
Reader, have you believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord? Have you been water baptized? Selah
