Many times, children are baptised while naming them but the act of baptism needs to be done when someone is old enough in spirit to know the value it comes with because it has a deep meaning that needs one to accept willingly. Although you were baptised at an early age, you can still accept Christ and be baptised after knowing what it means and why you need to be baptised. Baptism is the Christian spiritual rite of sprinkling water on to a person’s forehead or of immersing them in water; this act symbolises purification or renewal and admission in to the Christian Church. Baptism is a symbol of our commitment to God. Are you baptized yet? If not, here is what you should know about baptism. It is through baptism that our sins (like theft, jealousy, murder, lying, and many more) are washed away and we are forgiven by God. 1Peter 3:21 states, “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “ Through baptism, our relationship with God is renewed since we are baptized in the name of the Father, son and the Holy Spirit. Acts 22:16 says, “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” How, therefore, can we say that we belong to Jesus if we are not baptised in His name? Baptism connects us to Jesus Christ, this can be seen in Galatians 3:27 that says, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” However much you pray and fast daily yet you are not baptized, you are still a sinner unless you take a step of getting committed to God through baptism. It is written in the book of Mark 16:16, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In this scripture, Jesus ordered his disciples to go and baptize all those who are not yet baptized because he had promised to be with them. We ought to preach the gospel of baptism to the nations so that many souls are won to the kingdom of God. Baptism is a sign of devotion with God, when you are baptised, you are made one with your father in Heaven just as a husband gets married to his wife and they become one. Ephesians 4:4-6 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” When we are baptized, it is a symbol of cleansing our bodies before God for example, In the Old Testament God obligated the priests to ritually bathe themselves before presenting their sacrifices. Exodus 30:17-20 explains, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord.” James 2:19-21 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?” We therefore have to do deeds of righteousness and baptism is one of them because we cannot claim that God is our Father yet we do the opposite from what he called us to do. Let us wash ourselves pure through baptism. Acts 2:38 says, “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This scripture encourages us that when we are baptized, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit and he becomes part of us. When we have the Holy Spirit, our chains are broken and our burdens are taken away. In the book of Romans, Paul refers to baptism as a newness of life, Romans 6:3-5 states, “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Through baptism, we rise with Jesus from the dead. When we are baptized, God is delighted and that is why he calls us his beloved. Matthew 3:16-17 says, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” The Bible says that when we are baptised, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of our tribes, gender or professions, Galatians 3:26-29 explains, “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” We ought to draw near to God through obedience and faith, we should get baptized and start a new life in Him. Ephesians 2:8-10 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
