Why Do People Get Baptized

By Rachael Gutierrez


The question why do people get baptized has many answers. Most of them are centered on the bible and the teachings that can be drawn from these scriptures. Baptism is a sign of obedience to the word of God as it is written in the bible. This is a commandment that was given by Jesus to anyone who wanted to follow Him and become a Christian.

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.

Jesus Christ began his mission after being baptized at River Jordan by John the Baptist. This added even more significance to the act of baptism in the life of Christians. The events of that moment including the opening of skies and the resulting voice indicate that God approved such an act. The same path must be followed by all Christians.

Matthew 28 records that Jesus sent his Disciples to the entire world to preach the good news. Beyond this, they were supposed to baptize anyone who believed in the gospel and chose to follow. The disciples were supposed to invoke the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit during baptism. By performing baptism, the person showed that he had moved into the flock of Christ and was ready to follow a new path.

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.

Believers in original sin take baptism as a chance to get cleansing. This sin is passed to every person during birth and can only be removed through baptism. This explains why children are baptized in some churches including the Catholic Church. The aim is to cleanse the new born of original sin.

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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