“Things Baptism Does”
Jarrod M. Jacobs
Last week, we spent time studying various things that baptism does not do (It does not: Make a minor an adult; Make an unscriptural marriage scriptural; Eliminate all problems; Guarantee earthly riches; Add you to a denominational body; or Take temptation away). In this article, I’d like us to study some things baptism does.
Baptism Remits Sins
One point that is clear in the New Testament is that baptism remits (forgives) men of sins. Upon obeying the Lord’s plan of salvation, which includes baptism, one’s sins are blotted out and his soul is clean! When Jesus told His apostles to go preach the gospel to all nations, He also told them, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mk. 16:16). After hearing the Lord’s command, the apostle Peter preached “repentance and remission of sins” in Jerusalem (Lk. 24:47) on the day of Pentecost. Peter told the Jews: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). This same apostle later wrote a letter to Christians where he stated, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Pet. 3:21). Yes, baptism saves us from our sins. To deny this point is to deny plain Bible teaching.
Through Baptism, One Is Added To The Church.
Simultaneous with the forgiveness of sins, we also find that those who are baptized are added to the Lord’s church. This fact is stated in Acts 2:47. It reads, “praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.” This is why I began the article by proving that baptism saves us. Those who were baptized were saved, and those saved were added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:47)!
Understanding this truth is crucial because many today have completely separated salvation from the Lord’s church. They claim they can be saved one day and added to a church on another day. Some claim to have been “church members” for years but only “saved” in recent times. This view of the church and salvation is foreign to the Scriptures!
The church is composed of saved people, not unsaved people! It is the church (saved people) who are called the body of Christ (Rom. 12:5; I Cor. 12:12-14). This group of saved people (the church) will one day be gathered and delivered up to God (I Cor. 15:24).
Understanding this simple truth should help us appreciate what it means to be a part of the Lord’s church. May we also thank God for allowing us to be in this great fellowship. Truly, we would have none of this if it were not for God and the sacrifice of His Son (Jn. 3:16).
Baptism Makes You A Christian.
The name “Christian” is special. It is not a mere label. It is a badge of honor. It fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy (Isa. 56:5, 62:2, 65:15). In Acts 11:26, we read, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
Note the end of this verse, which says, “the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” The phrase “were called” in English comes from a single Greek word, “chrematizo,” meaning they were divinely called. In other words, God called the disciples “Christians” first in Antioch! Who are the “disciples”? They are called “the church” earlier in the verse. They are the followers of Christ. Now we ask, “How did they become disciples, or how did they become a part of the church?” When they submitted to the Lord’s plan for salvation, which means they were baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, 47)! In so doing, these people (disciples) were called Christians by God, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.
Therefore, when folks today do the same thing that these folks did, we know that God also considers them Christians. The question we must ask is, “Would God consider you a Christian?” Have you been baptized for the remission of sins? This is not a ritual; it is the first step in your journey of faith.
Baptism Makes You A Child Of God.
The Bible teaches that if one wishes to belong to God, he must be “born again.” Peter said we are “born again … by the word of God” (I Pet. 1:23). In other words, through the teaching and obedience to the word taught, we are born again, or we become God’s children. Jesus stated that unless we are “born again” or are “born of water and the spirit,” we cannot “see the kingdom of God” (Jn. 3:3, 5). Therefore, to be “born again” means to be “born of water and the spirit” and vice versa. Jesus is not describing a baby being born initially of his mother but an adult being born again spiritually. Jesus said such action results in him entering the kingdom of Heaven. Such obedience results in a soul becoming a child of God!
In this context, we read of the Romans, who, having been baptized into Christ (Rom. 6:3-6, 16-18), were called “the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:16-17). Yes, baptism makes us children of God.
When we heed the word of God (I Pet. 1:23; Rom. 1:16) and are “born of water and the spirit” (Jn. 3:5), we can be Christians. We can be children of God, looking forward to that blessed inheritance awaiting the faithful when this life ends (I Pet. 1:3-4).
Conclusion
May we thank God for His simple and beautiful plan of salvation. May we rejoice at what this does for us when we lovingly accept God’s gracious plan and follow it by faith. Spiritual blessings can be ours, and Heaven can be our eternity if we do as He says!