What are the benefits of the baptism?

As we have seen in the lecture "What does it mean to be born again?",
spiritual regeneration does not come at the moment of baptism. Rather,
it happens when we acknowledge and accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ,
and personally submit to the will of God (1 Peter 4:2). Faith brings
regeneration by the Holy Spirit and also causes the Holy Spirit to
indwell us.

"Of his own will He begot us with the word of truth, that we should be
a kind of firstfruits of his creations." - James 1:18

"That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
- Galatians 3:14

I haven't found anything in the Bible, that allows the interpretation
that we are regenerated through the sacrament of baptism in itself. It
is true that immediately after the Lord Jesus was baptised, the Holy
Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:16). It seems
clear that it had to be a sign of the Father's favour to those who saw
it, since surely our Lord as both God and man had to have the Spirit in
Him even before baptism. We read in the Gospel according to Luke that he
was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:31-35).

Also it is believed by many sacramental/liturgical churches and others,
that infant baptism brings salvation from the Original Sin. The Holy
Scriptures say however, that the blood of Christ gives salvation from
sin, original and personal (Revelation 1:5), not the baptism.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from
all sin." - 1 John 1:7

Baptism means to ask a pure conscience from God (1 Peter 3:21), that is
its' "sacramental" dimension. But the actual baptism is more of an
outward sign of the salvation already achieved through the Holy Spirit
as a gift from God which comes to us by faith (Ephesians 2:8).
Accordingly then, baptism is an act of obedience to God. As a person
becomes a child of God, he or she will have the desire to keep God's
commandments out of love and appreciation (John 14:15).
It is written:

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous." - 1 John 5:3

It is a clear commandment of the Lord Jesus, that we baptise believers:

"Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." - Matthew 28:19-20

So it seems obvious that the person who takes Jesus as his or her
personal saviour, ought to have an appreciative and obedient heart, by
the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus one will seek to do the Lord's will.
As we read in the Scriptures, baptism is one such commandment directly
from the Lord. Even though baptism itself does not bring the salvation,
it is neverthless taught by the Lord that we should be baptised and so
the actual baptism is a sign and testimony of our salvation, both to
ourselves and to the world and even to the powers of darkness (Mark 16:16)!

It is promised that doing God's will brings also His blessing
(Revelation 22:14). And to the born again son or daughter of God, it is
natural to want to please our heavenly Father. Obedience itself is the
most valuable blessing.


To summarize some of the fundamental benefits of baptism, they are:

- Pure conscience which God gives us (through the faith in Jesus, which
includes keeping his commandments, baptism being one of them) (1 Peter 3:21)
- Joy which is given by the Holy Spirit for following God's ordinaces
(Romans 15:13)
- Knowledge that we are saved which thus becomes more affirmed, since it
is written so (Mark 16:16)


Let us then briefly examine some of the "symbolism" in baptism.
Simultaneously it raises the question of the form of the baptism - is it
by sprinkling or pouring or rather by immersion.

It is written in the Scriptures about the meaning of baptism:

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so
we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through
the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead." -
Colossians 2:12

It is clear from the above Scriptures, that this symbolism can be
properly achieved only by immersion in water - symbolizing our old self
buried in Christ's death - and raising from the water - symbolizing
regeneration in the new life in Christ and promise of the resurrection
to immortality. Also, it is interesting to note, that all the baptisms
of the New Testament were done in the water, not only with the water.

"And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was
much water there: and they came, and were baptized." - John 3:23 (Note:
why baptize there, if only a mug full of water would be sufficient?)

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the
water..." - Matthew 3:16a (Note: Jesus came out of the water, it was no
pouring or sprinkling)

"And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? - -
And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
caught away Philip..." - Acts 8:36,39a (Note: they came to the spot of
natural water, a pond perhaps. They *came out of the water*)

There are also ample evidences that the original Greek word used in the
New Testament for baptism, that is "baptizoo", means "to dip in", "to
immerse". It is easy to find more information about the exegesis and
linguistic evidence, if you do not find this sufficient evidence.


Should we then baptize infant children? Scripture says about baptism:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the
kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women." - Acts 8:12 (Note: the people heard and obviously
understood the Gospel of the Kingdom, and then they were baptized.
Little children do not yet understand the Gospel)

"He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes
not shall be damned." - Mark 16:16 (Note: this Scripture shows us that
faith has to precede the baptism. Also we see that baptism gives us the
assurance of salvation)

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day
there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41
(Note: Is an infant child gladly receiving the word?)

Infants are saved by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is
sufficient to save the world from the punisment due to the Original Sin
(Revelation 1:5). Also, little children have not yet commited any
personal sins which need to be reconciled with God.

"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and
his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he
was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to
come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." -
Mark 10:13-14

More so, as Christians we can have even greater assurance that our
little children are saved through our faith, since it written:

"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children
unclean; but now are they holy." - 1 Corinthians 7:14


Dear brother or sister in Christ. If you have been "Christened" as a
child, please consider the Scriptures given above and search your Bible
about the topic. Read the Acts of the Apostles with a pure heart and
then say you do not need to be immersed, have a Biblical baptism.
Yes, you are right, salvation does not come from works; not by our act
of baptism or that we should "play" God by "saving" children by baptism.
The writer of this lecture has had many spiritual benefits and Joy of
the Spirit after having Biblical baptism by immersion, after first
becoming a child of God, adopted to the household of God, family of
kings and priests of our God. Examine this issue from your Bible and ask
the Lord that He may enlighten your path. If you become aware of the
true joy which comes from obedience, you will be glad to get baptized!

(If you wish to be baptized you may contact me and I can baptize you
without forcing you to join any church, sect or denomination, or I will
help you to find such Born Again, Bible-believing brother who will
perform this for you. For free of course)