. . . having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
■ This verse describes the process of entering a new relationship with God:
• Saved By Grace (the power of God)
• Saved Through Faith (Your acceptance, belief and commitment to the gospel)
• Saved At Baptism (You meet God at the appointed place)
Saved By Grace, Through Faith, at Baptism
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
■ Baptism AND . . . Calling on the name of the Lord.
We hear this phrase a lot. According to this verse, the time and the place to call on the name of the Lord is right here and now - at the time of baptism. That phrase is not talking primarily about any set of words you say, or a crying out. It’s about accepting Jesus’ name to be stamped on you for ownership. The best way to do that is not through words, but through actions – the actions commanded in scriptures.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...
■ Baptism AND . . .Becoming a Disciple. Baptism is part of becoming a disciple: Someone who follows Jesus, studies Jesus, learns what Jesus wants you to be, wants you to do. Less like punching a passport to heaven; More like enrolling in school to become an apprentice.
He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
■ Baptism AND… Belief! Being dunked into water is not what saves you! Baptism and Belief in Jesus Christ!! Without belief, the baptism is just a bath. But if you believe in Jesus, who has the power to save you, AND are baptized, you will be SAVED!
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, 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.
■ BAPTISM AND . . . Repentance. Baptism alone doesn't save anyone. Repent AND be baptized. Repentance = godly sorrow over the things you’ve done, changing your mind, changing your heart, resolve to change your way of living. You repentant heart leads you into that water, where the Lord will make that change of life a reality.
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
■ BAPTISM AND ….Acceptance. They accepted his message and so they were baptized. When I take my car to the mechanic, I accept, I believe that they know how to fix my car, that they know more about my car than I ever will. And so I hand them the keys and leave the car with them. By being Baptized, you are saying, I accept, I believe that Jesus knows more about me than I will ever know, and that He can fix what’s wrong with me. And as you go down into the water, you are handing over to him the keys to your life.
Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.
■ Baptism is part of the process of surrendering to Jesus. At this point Paul has
• Been visited powerfully by Jesus in a way that knocked him to his feet;
• Actually spoken to Jesus and received a direct commission from Him;
• Repented greatly over his past life as a persecutor;
• Changed his mind completely about who Jesus is and accepted him as the Son of God;
• Prayed for hours and days, both by himself and with Ananias;
• was healed from the blindness that Jesus had given him
AND STILL, there is something more he needs to do: He got up and was baptized.
When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
■ Baptism as EVIDENCE. Lydia was already “a worshipper of God”, and yet she heard the gospel message from the apostles and knew she needed to do more than just worship God. She needed to be baptized. And THEN, the apostles knew that she was a believer, and they fellowshipped with her as such. Baptism was a verifiable point in the process of committing to living as a believer and apprentice of Christ.
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
■ Baptism without Waiting. Paul and Silas were in jail; singing praise at midnight, when an earthquake set everyone free. But they did not leave the Jailer alone. He immediately asked. "What must I do to be saved?" I'm not sure this is a spiritual question just yet. He may have been afraid for his life. But Paul tells him, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." The jailer took them home to care for them, and then…. IMMEDIATELY he was baptized. Don’t wait! Why put it off? This is the way things are done in the New Testament records. Belief is followed as immediately as possible by baptism.
Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.
■ Baptism is worth sharing. This happens in more than one record in the New Testament. Crispus and his entire household believed and were baptized. This is a life-changing experience that you will want to share with your family, your friends, everyone you know. It is contagious! “Your entire household” means your house and home, but also your workplace, neighborhood, your gym, your grocery store, and more. YOU now have the awesome responsibility of letting your entire household see how this has changed you. You not only are a new person, you have a new job - telling others about it.
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
■ Baptism is highly important, just as are the other things listed there. But Paul says to MOVE ON from those important things. Stop resting on your laurels, on what you’ve gotten right, on your grasp of doctrines. MOVE ON to maturity, MOVE ON to growing in being like Christ, in serving others like Christ, in sharing what you know and what you have experienced with others. This is only the beginning.
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