Answers To The Question Why Do People Get Baptized

By Rachael Gutierrez


The question that is usually on the minds of many is why do people get baptized. This is a question whose answers are buried in the verses and chapters of the bible. The reasons are either directly given or implied through words and actions. The basic reason is in obedience to the will of God just as Christ did at River Jordan. This means that every Christian should follow His example.

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 chapter 28 quotes Jesus sending his disciples to go all over the world and make everyone his follower. To mark their transformation, they were to baptize them in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. This means that, preaching was not the final act in conversion. It had to be followed by baptism. This implies that a person who heard the word of God had to affirm the understanding through baptism.

There is a lot of symbolism during baptism that explains why the trend is not about to die. A person is dipped in water to signify when Christ died. The minutes spent submerged in water point at the days Christ spent in the tomb. When the person emerges, it implies that new life has begun and the sins have been cleansed.

The concept of original sin as subscribed to by several churches is another genesis of baptism. Adam and Eve are said to pass the sin to every child at birth. This sin can only be wiped during baptism. It is common practice among Catholics to have infants undergo baptism.

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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