Answers To The Question Why Do People Get Baptized

By Rachael Gutierrez


The question that is usually on the minds of many is why do people get baptized. This is a question whose answers are buried in the verses and chapters of the bible. The reasons are either directly given or implied through words and actions. The basic reason is in obedience to the will of God just as Christ did at River Jordan. This means that every Christian should follow His example.

The baptism of an individual is a message that he has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. This symbolic ceremony points at a life that has changed. Friends, relatives and the congregation begin to view such a person in a different light. It shows that the person is making progress in a different path in life. This is exemplified by the Philippians jailer, as accounts of Acts 16 read, who requested that his family receive baptism because they had accepted the God whom Paul served.

In the book of First John chapter 1 and verse 19, the bible records that Christians must confess their sins and be ready to be purified. The act of baptism shows what God has done in the lives of Christians. The person asks Jesus to cleanse him by willingly submitting to His teachings. Water is used to cleanse the person and as a symbol of washing the sins away.

The mission of Christ began when he was baptized by John the Baptist at the shores of River Jordan. For every Christian who seeks to follow Him, this is one thing that he must also do. The voice of God that came from heaven to affirm the acceptance of Christ by God and the decent of the Holy Spirit are expectations when baptism takes place.

When Jesus was sending disciples to go out and evangelize in Matthew 28, he ordered them to go beyond preaching. They were supposed to baptize those who agreed to convert in the name of the father, son and Holy Spirit. This meant a symbolic gesture that one has crossed over and is no longer the old sinner. Baptism affirmed that the word of God was taken and that the person is ready to follow what it says.

There is a symbolic aspect in baptism that must also be understood. The dipping into water is a sign of death in Christ Jesus. When one emerges after being dipped, it signifies that the person has risen and is no longer the same. The moment in water signifies burial and the time that Christ spent in the tomb. It is preparation for new life.

The concept of original sin as subscribed to by several churches is another genesis of baptism. Adam and Eve are said to pass the sin to every child at birth. This sin can only be wiped during baptism. It is common practice among Catholics to have infants undergo baptism.

Why do people get baptized is a question that continues to baffle many. The decision is personal and the desire must be communicated to the baptizing pastor. It is a decision to change ways and keep in the path of Christ. Each church has unique requirements and procedures for their faithful.




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