Why We Baptize in Jesus Name :: essays research papers

Why We Baptize in deliverer NameIntroduction The subject of water baptism has long been called a great issue and no doubt has been made such by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its importance, or the necessity of being baptized.The Importance of Water Baptism Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 2819? And why did Peter follow up by saying, "Be baptized every one of you," and by supreme the Gentiles to be baptized (Acts 238 1048)? We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First, whatever Christ definitely pinpointd and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked many miles to be baptized, though He was without sin, saying, "For thus it becometh us t o fulfill all righteousness" (See Matthew 313-16.) It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, "Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a grave conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 321). fit to Luke 730, "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized."The Mode of Baptism According to the Scriptures, the proper mode of baptism is immersion. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 316). "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him" (Acts 838). "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 64). A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and calumny a little soil on it, but by covering it comple tely. According to the World Book Encyclopedia, "At first all baptism was by complete immersion" (vol. 1, p.651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools, and baptisteries" (vol. 2, p.263). Immersion was not convenient after the Catholic church instituted infant baptism thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed.