What’s the ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism?

“Why are you ‘Church of Christers’ the only ones who

really stress it?”

Three quick initial points:1) While others may do so,

please don’t refer to yourself as a ‘Church of Christer’!

2) There are other religious groups that do stress “baptism”- or at least their version of it.

3) Try not to put yourself in the position of speaking for other religious organizations or groups.

The ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism: The Easy Answers

It is featured prominently in the N.T. – nearly every book speaks of baptism, Acts 2:38,41.

It comprises half of the requirements Jesus stressed for salvation in the Great Commission, Mark 16:16.

It is how we are “born again,” John 3:3-5.

It not only typifies Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, but it signifies our own, Rom.6:1-7.

The ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism: The ‘Not Hard’ but perhaps ‘Less

Obvious’ Answers

Spiritual Baptism mirrors the beginning and progression of Physical Life (plant and animal): Seed is planted, Jas.1:18 (note the

comparison to the “birth” of sin, vv.13-15)- the seed is the word of God, Luke 8:11.

Gestation is required, Acts 2:22-36; gestation is the period of fetal development prior to birth; these men had seen, heard, and crucified Jesus while the seed He planted was gestating!

The ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism: The ‘Not Hard’ but perhaps ‘Less

Obvious’ AnswersSpiritual Baptism mirrors the beginning and progression of Physical Life (plant and animal): Then, when gestation is complete,

the Miracle of Birth follows, 1Pet.1:23-25. The wonderful departure of the spiritual from the natural is that the spiritual seed never perishes! It may gestate for years before birth occurs.

Growth, Maturation, and Reproduction naturally follow, 2Pet.1:5-11; unless something hinders the process, Matt.13:19-23.

The even bigger ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism:

Jesus said you cannot “see” or “enter” the kingdom of God without it, John 3:3,5. Why? Everything physically alive must be

“born” from living seed of some type.

But for humans, who have been given a soul, sin- which is transgression of God’s law, causes death (physical and spiritual), Gen.2:16-17; Rom.5:12.

And all of an accountable age have sinned, Rom.3:23; and therefore have died spiritually.

The even bigger ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism:

Jesus said you cannot “see” or “enter” the kingdom of God without it, John 3:3,5. Why? Therefore, we must be reborn

spiritually in order to live eternally with Him.

This spiritual rebirth is accomplished after the similitude physical birth: Seed is planted, Gestation produces fetal

development, and then Rebirth by the waters of baptism

produces a new creature in Christ, cf. John 3:5-7; 2Cor.5:17!

The ‘Big Deal’ about Baptism

Now the questions: Has the good seed of the Word of

God been planted in your heart? Has it fully gestated (developed) to

produce: Knowledge of your sin; Need of your salvation; and Understanding of how and why

baptism is a “big deal” to you? If so, then are you ready to be born

again?