Over several decades time, Roy Weece led a Mizzou Christian Campus House ministry team to do prison ministry at a Missouri state prison for women. Periodically the team would conduct baptism services for the women who signed up to be baptized. Sometimes this would involve as many as thirty to forty women linin g up to be baptized.
Before each woman came to be baptized, Roy would read the next person's name off the list and say, "Come to Jesus."
He would then quote a scripture and briefly summarize its teaching on the subject of baptism.
When Roy left his work with the Christian Campus House, I became the coordinator of the prison ministry and inherited the list of baptism verses from Roy. What follows here and in the next few blog posts is the list I compiled, combining Roy's list and comments with my own.
Why be Baptized?
Matthew 3:13-15
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.
■ Why be baptized? To fulfill all righteousness
Righteousness = the character of God and everything worthy of his character. Submit to baptism because you want to please God, want to take on his character, his righteousness.
■ Why be baptized? God wants you to be baptized/
There are many things you can grow to know and learn about baptism, but this truth is at the base of it all: God wants you to be baptized.
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.
■ Why be baptized? Every believer needs to be baptized.
Baptism is NOT optional; Peter says “Every one of You” need to do this, in order to receive the blessings as promised. This is not something that you can pass up and still be forgiven! Every one of you!
■ Why be baptized? For the forgiveness of your sins.
Two actions/Two results – Repent AND be Baptized. The first result: Forgiveness of sins. You are about to experience something more wonderful than the parole board. You are about to receive a FULL PARDON from God. Your slate will be clean, your record will be clear.
■ Why be baptized? To receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The second result: The gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is none other than God Himself, Jesus Himself, coming to take up permanent residence in your heart. From now on, everywhere you go, God goes with you. Everything you do, Jesus is along for the ride. Everything you need in order to make that drastic change in your way of life, the Holy Spirit is always in there, providing the direction and the power for the new direction you’re taking.
Acts 8:36
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?"
■ Why be baptized? Because it's part of the Gospel.
Philip told the Ethiopian eunuch the good news – the gospel – about Jesus. The eunuch’s response: he asked to be baptized. The gospel message includes everything about Jesus. He is God sent as a man. He lived and showed us God’s character. He died, was buried, was raised, and ascended. And the gospel is also about how to be reconciled to God through Jesus: By Grace, through Faith, at Baptism.
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