Baptism into the Kingdom

In the New Testament, Baptism is not a dead ritual that is performed after a person is saved. It is a very important command of God for salvation (Mk. 16:16). Notice a major purpose of baptism in the New Testament.

One of the purposes for baptism in the New Testament is to enter the kingdom of God. In John 3:1-8, Nicodemus comes to Jesus to compliment and flatter the Savior for His marvelous works. However, Jesus does not even respond to Nicodemus’ flattery but looks deeper into his spiritual condition. Jesus tells Nicodemus that he cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit. What exactly could the Savior have meant by being born of water and Spirit? Without a doubt, this was the thought of Nicodemus. Nicodemus responded by saying, “Can a man be born again?” Nicodemus, like some today, thought that a person had to be physically born into the Kingdom of God (a popular view among Jews today). However, Jesus tells him that he must not be born again physically, but spiritually. To be born of water means to be baptized into God’s kingdom. After one becomes a child of God, he is in many ways like a baby (Rom. 6:4, I Pet. 2:2). In fact, the Apostle Paul said, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature” (2 Cor. 5:17). Baptism is the point in one’s spiritual search where he becomes clean, and undefiled by the world’s allurement’s, washed in the blood of Christ (Rev. 1:5), and is adopted into a new family (Col. 3:1ff, Acts 22:16, Gal. 4:4-7). Sounds pretty much like a birth to me! In addition, one might note that to be born of the Spirit means to be born by the word of God, the tool of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). The best commentary on John 3:5 is the words of the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:23. Peter said, “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…” (1 Pet. 1:23).

Dear friend, have you been baptized into God’s kingdom for the remission of your sins. Please realize this does not happen by accident. A person must know the truth and then the truth makes her free (John 8:32). If you have not become a child of God and are searching for the truth, please contact us at the McLish Ave. church of Christ. We would love to study with you and help you in any way. You can contact the church office at 223-3289 or you may visit our website and email us at www.mclishchurchofchrist.com.