- My Lord said it would save me. (Mark 16:16)
- The apostle Paul told me it is the only way to "put on" Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
- Jesus told Nicodemus that the one who would be in God's kingdom must be "born again." (John 3:1-5)
- It washes my sins away. (Acts 22:16)
- When the Jews asked "what must we do," Peter told them to repent and be baptized. (Acts 2:38)
- I want to rejoice as the Ethiopian eunuch did after his baptism.
- It is where spiritual circumcision (cutting away sin) occurs. (Colossians 2:11-13)
- The Apostle Peter told me it was a "like figure" that now saves us. (1 Peter 3:21)
- It is the only way to become a "new creature" in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- It is the only place I can contact Christ's death (His blood). (Romans 6:1-6)
- The book that teaches faith, repentance, and confession also tells me to be baptized. (Matthew 28:19)
Why is it that the plainest subject in the Bible seems to be the most difficult to accept. As a preacher, I've discussed the subject many times. One of the most common statements of people who believe it is not necessary is "I don't see how water changes my condition before God -- that would make it water salvation." The problem is that men try to use human reasoning and logic to understand what God requires. It is not the water that saves us; it is our obedience to His command. Mankind tries to see in baptism something that God never placed there. It reminds me of the story of Naaman. Do you remember what his servant said when Naaman refused to go to the river Jordan and dip seven times? "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, wash and be clean" (2 Kings 5:13). The servant gave his master excellent advice, and thankfully, he took it.
Why not just trust God on this one? Since every converted person in Acts was baptized, Jesus was baptized "to fulfill all righteousness," and the Bible tells us baptism is the only way to contact Christ's blood, let's just do what He told us to do! God has never led me to do the wrong thing.