Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

                                                                                                         Luke 3:21-22 

Today: Read Luke 3

For Christians, baptism marks not the end of our spiritual journey rather the beginning. It matters not where the baptism takes place. For Jesus it was in the Jordan River. I personally have performed baptism in a river, a swimming pool, and the traditional baptistery found in most churches. For Christ, baptism was obviously not for sin, He had none. I believe that by undergoing baptism, Jesus was setting an example for the rest of His followers. The entirety of Jesus’ earthly ministry serves as an example for us. I believe that His baptism is no exception.

The word baptism comes from the Greek word baptizo. This word can be defined “to immerse” or “to submerge.” This lowering of one into the waters of baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality. As we are placed under the water, we are symbolically displaying our dying to ourselves and as we reemerge from the water, we are demonstrating the new life that we are raised to walk in from that point forward. Baptism is always to follow receiving the gospel message. It is quite possible for someone to be placed under the waters of baptism without receiving salvation by faith, but that would be an empty and meaningless activity since it is not accompanied by authentic salvation. That is why receiving salvation by faith is a prerequisite for Christian baptism. Consider the example of the early church:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

                                                                                                       Acts 2:38, 41 

When we reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, we disqualify ourselves from baptism. Likewise, as we gladly receive this gift of grace, we can then publically testify to our redemption through baptism. As we read through the recorded church history in Acts, we see that receiving salvation by faith and baptism always went hand in hand. Consider the following examples:

But when they (men and women) believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized… 

                                                                                                            Acts 8:12 

Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip…

                                                                                                                           Acts 8:13 

The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.

                                                                                                     Acts 8:34-35, 38 

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized…

                                                                                                       Acts 9:17-18 

All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

                                                                                                       Acts 10:45-48 

Simon, Paul, an Ethiopian eunuch, men and women alike, even those from the Gentile nations, all of them who heard and received the gospel were baptized.

Have you received salvation by believing in the gospel? Are you a born again Christian? Has Jesus changed you by His amazing grace and forgiveness? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then have you been baptized as a public declaration of your faith in Christ? If not, why not now? I would like to encourage you to speak to someone you trust about this important confession of your faith!

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

                                                                                                                  Matthew 28:19-20