What is Baptism For?

Baptism is For the Remission/Forgiveness of Sins. “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:28; cf. Heb. 9:22). “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46-47). “Then Peter said unto them, 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).

Baptism is How We Received the Blood of Jesus Christ.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “…For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7; cf. Ex. 12:5-8,13). “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). “…Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Rev. 1:5). “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and BE BAPTIZED, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Baptism is How We Imitate the Death of Jesus Christ.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). “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” (Rom. 6:3-5; Col. 2:12).

Richard Stevens III