John the Baptist baptized people in the Jordan River for repentance of their sins.

  After Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected and ascended into heaven, people were then baptized because they believed what Jesus had done for them…saved them from their sins…when He died on the cross.

  His death in your place and mine was accepted by God the Father.  [How do we know this is a fact?  Jesus Christ was resurrected…a complete physical resurrection from death.  He then ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God and interceding for us, He was fully accepted by God.  (Romans 8:34)]

  Baptism: a public announcement and identification with Christ in His death and His resurrection life within.  (The water is important.  It signifies one’s death to the old way before receiving Christ as Savior and being raised out of the water as Christ’s resurrection from the grave.  Followers of Christ are given the life of Christ – His resurrection life in our inner most being…it is a mystery of God but ‘tis so!)

Baptism is an acknowledgement that we need a Savior – and that Savior is Jesus Christ alone.  There is no one else who can save us from our sins before the Almighty, Majestic God…no one!

Does anyone have to be baptized in order to go to heaven?  Think about the thief on the cross as Jesus was also being crucified.  That thief was accepted because he believed Jesus to be Messiah, the Anointed One of God.  Jesus promised him that he would be with Jesus that day!  (Luke 23:39-43)

Baptism is an important part of the sacraments of the church.  Jesus was baptized and many in the New Testament were baptized when they recognized that they needed Jesus to be their Savior…have you so recognized Jesus?  If so, have you declared in a public place that He has saved you from your sins…baptism is certainly one way to do that.

For some, baptism may seem to be a ceremony without substance…a mere formality quickly done and done without thought.

But baptism is to be an outer ceremony of the inward reality of Christ in you because you believe that He has saved you from your sins.

**Baptism will not be an automatic ticket into heaven.

(NIV) Romans 10:9-11 “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  11 As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Baptism is to be an outer ceremony of the inward reality of Christ in you!