Water baptism is a symbol of our identification with Christ in His burial and resurrection.
After we have said the prayer to receive eternal life, the next step is to be water baptized because Christ commanded it. Jesus said “Go then, to all people everywhere and make them my disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and then teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20.
Repent and be baptized means changing your life, making a u-turn, making a 180 degree turn, changing my mind, changing my direction and doing it God’s way.
Making this a public confession is for both encouragement and accountability.
It means that I’m dead to my old life and I’m resurrected to a new life. We may not be where we want to be but we’re not where we used to be. We’re not sinless, but we strive to sin less. The old person, the old addictions, the old cravings die.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” We begin to live a new life with new ideas, new dreams and new passions. I can rise. I don’t have to stay defeated. I don’t have to stay addicted, I don’t have to stay in a rubble and mess. It means by the power of God I can rise in the name of Jesus. I can rise in the regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5
So who should be water baptized? All Christians are admonished to be water baptized. God promises to do a great work in your life if you are obedient to His commands. Why not receive everything God has for us? “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” Isaiah 1:19
~Lorraine Martinez
