Why Do I Need to be Baptized?

If there is anything that makes the seekers of our generation so scared of moving out of their dead religion into a relationship with Jesus, it’s the thought of needing to undergo Water Baptism. For most of us, it’s a sign of allegiance to the “religion.” What we do not understand is that it is actually essential to our salvation.

Circumcision was the mark of the covenant that God had with the Jews of old. With circumcision, God had put His mark on His people, setting them apart for holiness, and in return, giving them access to the promises He had for them.

When Jesus came, He brought a different kind of circumcision. He cut off our sins, and gave us the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who enables us to live a changed life. To prepare the people for the Holy Spirit, John the Baptist had come before Jesus, to compel the people to repent of their sin, and to baptize them in water.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

(Colossians 2:11, New Living Translation)

Taking a bath cleans our bodies of dirt. Water baptism is a process by which Jesus can cleanse us of our own sins. We can then come to God the Father with a clear conscience, because by our water baptism, an outward demonstration of our faith in Jesus’ having cleansed our selves of sin, we signify leaving our old, sinful lives, in order to embrace the new life Jesus has prepared for us.

As we use water to clean everything possible, water is also necessary for Jesus to cleanse us of sin. And guess what, He is also called the Living Water.

In the Bible, rebirth and new beginnings have happened when the Israelites/Jews have gone through water.

• Noah and the remnant of Adam’s seed were enabled to start anew after the flood.
• The Israelites/Jews had passed through the Red Sea, as parted by Moses, before they came into the Promised Land.

Jesus’ deity was confirmed by God after He was baptized too.

As we take up our Cross and walk after Him, let us follow the example He set for us: get baptized, wash our bloodied clothes in His living waters, and walk a blameless life in Grace, where our sins are constantly washed by His blood.

How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City.

(Revelation 22:14, The Message Bible)

References:

Acts 2:38, 2:41
Romans 6:1-4
1 Corinthians 10:1-2
Colossians 2:11-12
1 Peter 3:20-21