BAPTISM

1 Corinthians 1:15-17 (NKJV)
Lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

I once had a conversation with a man who was trying to convince me that water baptism was not necessary for Christians. His said that when Jesus told His disciples to preach and baptize, He was not referring to water baptism but to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. That is not true because we see in the Bible that all who believed were baptized in water.

In mentioning the principles of the doctrine of Christ, Hebrews 6:2 mentions baptisms and not baptism because the believer does not just have one baptism.

Most people who claim that water baptism is not necessary usually quote today’s verses and say that if water baptism was necessary, why didn’t God instruct Paul to baptize as well?

My answer has always been: because God sent other people to baptize and disciple the people Paul preached to. That’s why Paul said: ‘I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase’ (1 Cor 3:16). After Apostle Paul preached to a group of people, he would move on to another group, while leaving people with them who would baptize, disciple and pastor them.

Does this mean that if a person is not baptized he will go to hell? No, escaping hell is not the only reason for which we are saved. Through baptism, we die to our old life of sin and are resurrected to the new life of Christ (see Rom 6:3-4).

Go into today knowing that the baptisms were given by God to empower us to live the victorious life that brings Him glory and garners us eternal rewards.