“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins….” —Acts 2:38

In the early 1500s, the flames of reformation were kindled and spread rapidly through Europe as God began to restore the knowledge of Biblical truths. The world had been in relative spiritual night from the dark, papal reign of the Roman Catholic church who had apostatized the truth of the early morning church. The Protestant Reformation, beginning in Germany with Martin Luther in 1517, grew as people began to see the fallacy of Catholicism. Many of the reformers, while not seeing all the light, were getting pockets and rays of truth on various doctrines and practices. Read more

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

It would have been wonderful to have beheld these three thousand souls being baptized on the Day of Pentecost so many years ago. Imagine the long lines of new converts waiting in anticipation for their turn to enter the water. See the smiles and hear the rejoicing and singing. Hear the shouts of praise and watch the hands in the air raised in adoration to Jesus Christ. What a profound impact that sight must have had on the people looking on who had rejected Christ.Read more

Scripture Reading: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. —Matthew 28:19

Summary: Believers in Jesus Christ are commanded to be baptized by water. This obedient act of immersion under water symbolizes death, resurrection and the changed spiritual life that occurs through the actual cleansing of the blood of Jesus.

Definition of Baptism: From the Greek word baptizo which means to dip, to immerse, to submerge, to overwhelm.Read more

Jesus Set an Example

John the Baptist plunged Jesus under the water in baptism. As Jesus broke the surface of the water coming up, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ like a dove. A voice spoke from Heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:15-17). Some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples were instructions to go and teach all nations and to baptize the believers (Matthew 28:19-20).

Baptism is an Ordinance

There are very few outward rituals or ceremonies to be observed in the New Testament. Baptism is symbolic in nature and was commanded and exemplified by Christ. It is therefore one of three ordinances that Christians are instructed to observe in this dispensation.Read more

Can people go to Heaven if they have not been baptized?

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). People will go to Heaven who have been born again and saved by the grace of God. We are not saved by works or by outward observances but by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Therefore, we are not saved by the physical act of baptism. There will be people in Heaven who have not been baptized by water, but they will have been forgiven of their sins by the blood of Jesus. Read more