WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM?

By NiteOwlDave
niteowldave@gmail.com

Does the Bible teach that baptism removes our sins? No. This has been taught since the Dark Ages, and is still being taught and practiced by many church organizations today.

The Roman Catholic Church wrongly teaches that inherited sins are removed from babies at baptism. Other churches say that to qualify for Heaven, we much ask Jesus to remove our sins and be baptized too. Wrong again.

It is the shed blood of Jesus Christ that washes away all of our sin. That occurs when we repent of our sin and asking the Lord Jesus Christ to save us.

Water baptism is certainly encouraged in the Bible. However, we must understand that baptism is an only an outer manifestation – and an option – of our new linkage to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

How dare I suggest that baptism is not a necessary part of a God’s salvation “package?”
The forgiven sinner who died on the cross next to Jesus was not baptized before he died.

It’s not recorded that Jesus baptized anyone even though He was baptized in the Jordan River at age 30 by his brother-in-the-law, John the Baptist.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:17, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel..."
It takes more than water to wash away sin.

1 John 1:7 says, "...and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Romans 6:3 says, "...without the shedding of blood there is no remission."
Every born again believer is said to have been baptized into the death of Christ.

The substance then of baptism is the "death, burial, and resurrection" of Christ. It cannot be by an additional “water burial.”

If we have never accepted this completed gift of Christ by faith, all the water in the world won't help us.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him," says John 3:36.

Again, this comes by faith, not by water.