March 28, 2012
Today’s Text: Matthew 28:18-20
Today’s Key Thought: Baptism is a beautiful and necessary part of making disciples.
Jesus describes what it looks like to make disciples beyond just being “born again”. Part of the imperative He gave to the disciples was the ordinance of baptism.
Notice what the apostle Paul said in Romans 6:3-5 about baptism:
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection…”
When some get saved they have passed from spiritual death to spiritual life. Paul says that baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality. When someone is put under the water it is a picture of Christ’s death on the cross for sin, and His burial. When someone is pulled back out of the water it is a picture of Christ’s resurrection.
Application:
We will be held accountable for our own obedience in being baptized since it is a first step of obedience after someone has decided to follow Christ. Has this happened in your life? Take a few moments to reflect on what Christ has done for you!
Study the Scriptures with Ben Jennings 
Although baptism does not save a person, we should treat it importantly. It is about being obedient, and an acknowledging outwardly what Christ did for us. I remember how nervous I was about getting baptized. Why you ask? Because we got baptized in a backyard canal. I was so worried about alligators! I remember the feeling I had that day and am glad I was obedient. When I think about what my baptism represented, I am grateful.
I’m with Laura.baptizim doesn’t save someone but it definitely should be treated right.i like how baptizim represents Jesus going on the cross when we go under water and when we come up, it represents Jesus’ resurrection.its soo cool!!! Sorry I wasn’t there tonite 😦 my mom was sick and we spent time with my dad cuz we haven’t seen him.see u soon!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Like Laura said baptism does not save a person but it shows your obedients to God it’s a really cool thing and i’m really glad that I got baptised.
What we who have been saved and baptized know about the experience, is that it is (or should be) the first and easiest step of obedience in our walk “in the newness of life”. Sometimes newly saved people will be hindered to complete this first step, because they feel “like everyone will be looking at me”. We can encourage them that when a new believer is baptized, the church looks at Jesus, and gets to celebrate again that He lets us participate in His great plan of salvation, one soul at a time! It may be a relief to them (to “get it over with”) when they complete that first step, but as they are Christians longer, they will get to understand the excitement of seeing other new Christians take their first step! (Even if it’s a lot tamer than the “gator canal” that Laura and I were baptized in!!)