In the past few years I’ve become aware of a tragedy in the modern Christian church and the tragedy is this – men, women, boys and girls profess Christ yet neglect the first command of the Lord after their repentance: baptism. This devotion is for those professing believers who have neglected God’s privilege and command of baptism.
Think of a royal prince being crowned at a large celebration in the castle. There is a massive feast, barrels and barrels of wine, and elegant music. There are multitudes of people attending in the honor of one person. The young man is elated to be seen by his countrymen in this position of honor. Who wouldn’t? Imagine the honor of being born into royalty! To be the child of a king with so much power, so many servants, and such a large kingdom must be amazing. Yet this is exactly what we are as Christians – children of the Lord God, the King of Kings. And baptism is our “crowning” ceremony. Any believer should be thrilled to receive such an honor.
Unlike so many in modern churches today, the scriptures show examples of men and women who actually realized the honor they were receiving. In Acts there are multiple instances of people repenting and RUNNING to water. It’s amazing that no man could keep them from running to water after they’d found the joy of the Lord:
“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” - (Act 10:47)
“And as they passed along the way, they came on some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water, what hinders me from being baptized?” - (Act 8:36)
These people were so eager to be baptized that you couldn’t stop them! This is the way it should be. These men and women knew the honor and the privilege and they wanted to do something about it. Their desire was so strong that it could not wait. This day and age we have so much trouble even waiting 30 seconds for a microwave to cook our food, and still put off baptism for years on end! Where is the same eagerness? Where is the enthusiasm, and zeal of the men and women of the New Testament?!
Here’s the usual argument: “Why do I need to be baptized? Baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. The thief on the cross was never baptized, but the Lord promised that he would be in paradise!” Ah yes, a very astute observation! Then answer me this question: if the thief got off that cross and lived as you live now, would he have gotten baptized then? If you are so much like the repentant thief then why continue to neglect the command? Is your situation so much like his?
If you have not repented, then it is not your duty to get baptized. You don’t need to worry about it. If you have not repented, then you are not a Christian anyhow. But if you have repented, then it is your duty as soon as you get the opportunity! The thief on the cross did not have the opportunity. If you do not have the opportunity because of persecution, or disability then it is not your obligation. Our Lord is not some evil policeman eager to cast people to Hell when they have no control over their means to get baptized. But if you do have the opportunity, then you have the obligation. If you have the means to be baptized, you have the command!
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.” - (Mar 16:16)
“Then Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added about three thousand souls.” - (Act 2:38, 41)
Beware of using intellectual reasoning when deciding whether you need to be baptized or not. Baptism does not make sense to the natural man. Satan tries to infuse into the minds of believers intellectual questions like, “What’s so important about being dunked in some water? What logic is behind it?” The important thing about it is that God says it’s important. If God says that that something has value, then you’d better treasure it like your life!
“Whatever God institutes and commands cannot be useless but must be an altogether precious matter, even if it were worth less than a straw in appearance.” – Martin Luther
If God says a single piece of straw is important, then we must cherish that piece of straw. We do not decide what truth is with our lofty logic and our impressive intellect.
“Beware of arguing with scripture. OBEY IT” – A.W. Tozer
Reasoning must be set aside. Yes, baptism is a visible declaration of our allegiance to the Lord. It represents our being dead to ourselves and alive in Christ. It shows our washed pure with the blood of Christ and rising anew. It shows death and resurrection. Baptism is all these things. But don’t forget that it is also a privilege and a command. If you are one of those ones who have neglected God’s first command, show your Lord that you die and rise with Him, show Him that you love Him and want to celebrate this “wedding” with Him, show Him that He is not only your Savior but also your Lord. Show Him this by getting baptized in His name.