Why Be Baptized?
Jesus said, after his resurrection:
"All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:18,19.)
"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall Abe condemned." (Mark 16:15,16.)
So certain is it that if they were to "make disciples," just so certain is it, that they were to "baptize." In the face of this command, of Jesus, there are some preachers who declare it is not necessary to baptize any one, nor necessary for any one to be baptized. True, all declare that it is necessary for one to hear the gospel, and to believe the gospel and though Jesus said "baptize," those made "disciples," it is affirmed by many that you may suit your convenience about being baptized — that you will go to heaven if you are never baptized!
The command was to baptize the ones made "disciples." Baptize "them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Do you know that in this command is the only place where one is to enter the "Name of the Father and of the 'Son and of the Holy Spirit"? Have you been baptized into the "Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"? Are you neglecting that which Christ commanded? "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments." (John 14:14.) "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me, If a man love me, he will keep my word." (John 14:21,23)
When Christ gave the "Great Commission," (quoted in the foregoing) he bade his disciples not to begin their preaching, under it, till they were given "power from on high." "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, (Jerusalem) until ye be clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:45-49.) "Ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you." (Acts 1:8.) "And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all gathered in one place, and suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:14.) "Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven." There also were present "proselytes" (proselytes were nationally Gentiles who had accepted the Jews' religion).
"Peter standing up with the eleven" began to preach. He quoted from the prophets, which the Jews believed, and convinced numbers of them that they were sinners, that they had killed the promised Messiah, but that Jehovah had raised him from the dead; that he had ascended to heaven and had been sealed on the throne of David. When they heard this the cry came: "What shall we do?" Do for what: The reply contains the answer: "Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins." (Acts 3:37, 38.)
After reading the scriptures cited do you ask: "Why be baptized?"
"Teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt. 28:18,19.)
"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:15,16.)
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38.)
"If a man love me, he will keep my word." (John 14:23.)
Think soberly do you love Jesus? Are you keeping his word?