The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Thursday, February 3, 2022

THE WATER BAPTISM IS A SIGN

Water baptism is a command of Jesus and is the initial action taken upon believing. Mark's statement could be rendered, 'He who believes with saving faith (i.e. faith that produces actions) will be saved.' In this sense, water baptism is very important. It is an opportunity to act on your new profession of faith. Anyone who refuses to follow Jesus' command to receive water baptism, may be suspected of not really believing. However, there are scriptural examples of people being born again before they were baptized in water. Cornelius and his friends were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues before they were baptized in water (Acts 10:44-48). John 14:17 records Jesus saying that an unbeliever cannot receive the Holy Ghost, so Cornelius and his friends must have been born again before their water baptism.

Water baptism is the sign of the new covenant in the same way that circumcision was the sign of the old covenant. The apostle Paul made it clear in Romans 4, that although Abraham was circumcised, his circumcision was only a sign. Abraham was justified in the sight of God before his circumcision. Paul goes on to state in Galatians 5:1-6, that anyone who trusts in circumcision has fallen from grace; Christ will profit him nothing.

It is faith in the redemptive work of Christ that produces salvation - not our actions. However, James writes that faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:20).

Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone; it must be acted upon. Decide to act on your faith if you haven’t been baptized by immersion in the forthcoming water baptism it is a public identification that you stand with Christ Jesus. Baptism is a symbol. It’s meant to show the world that that you love, trust, and have put your hope in Christ. It’s like a wedding ring

Prayer

Thank You Lord for the gift of water baptism, thank you that I am baptized (or yet to be baptized) thank you that my old life is put away, and now I am the righteous of God in Christ Jesus! Amen…

Further Reading 

1 Peter 3:21 “And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Galatians 3:27 “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”

Read through the Bible in 1 year: Exodus 17:8-19:15 Matthew 22:34-23:12 Psalm 27:7-14 Proverbs 6:27-35

Read through the Bible in 2 years: Exodus 5.1-6.27 & Psalm 34