Why should we be baptised?
It was universally practised by the Early Church and is commanded within the Bible. It is always linked to the process of being saved, receiving forgiveness of sins, and becoming a new member of God’s church.
Consider the first day of the church, Pentecost AD33, when Peter preached the first ever gospel message. The people listening asked what they should do in response.
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.Acts 2:37-42 (NIV)
They were asked to only do two things, repent (ie. turn to God) and to be baptised (ie. immersed in water). Three thousand people were baptised, despite the logistical nightmare this must have been. It was clearly seen as being essential.
A clear example of its salvation importance is also given in the gospel of Mark below.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.Mark 16:15-16 (NIV)
We once again see this same salvation link in the first letter of Peter.
….to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.
In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.
It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand —with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
1 Peter 3:20-22 (NIV)
Does the water wash away our sins? Not literally, but this removal is clearly symbolized by the water. This baptism now saves us.
Every conversion we see in the book of Acts is linked with baptism.
Consider Acts 8:12, Acts 8:37-38, Acts 9:18, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:14-15, Acts 16:30-33, Acts 18:8, Acts 19:4-5, Acts 22:16
We can nobody in the New Testament who was not baptised as soon as they accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It was always performed with the greatest urgency. The longest delay was the apostle Paul who waited three days (Acts 22:16)
Consider the Ethiopian Eunuch, a very important Treasury Official, who was baptised in the first desert pool he could find. He did not wait to return to Ethiopia, or consider it below his dignity. He saw its immediate and essential need.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?”And he gave orders to stop the chariot.
Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him.
Acts 8:36-38 (NIV)
The same with the Philippian jailer who performed it in the middle of the night!
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved —you and your household.”
Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.Acts 16:29-33 (NIV)
The question is more why would you not do it, and why would you choose to delay?
Why not today?
Simply Christian 