Vivifications of Baptism

Baptism is more than a ceremony it rich with symbolism, baptism is one of the most significant turning points in Christian life. Baptism is both an end and a beginning! The Greek word for the verb “to baptize” is BAPTIZO. The ancients used this Greek word in a variety of ways. For example, the word had the meaning “to dip, to immerse, to bathe, to drown, to sink, to perish, and to go under.” One significant usage of the word was a reference to a ship “sinking.” It referred to dipping into water. Due to disagreements about the method of baptism, the King James Version Bible did not give us the meaning of the verb BAPTIZO but transliterated it, or converted each Greek word to an English word in order to avoid controversy.The definition of the word, BAPTISMA, baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip).BAPTIZO, to baptize, primarily a frequentative form of bapto, to dip, was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc.

I would like to use the example of a wedding because a wedding is also a covenant of union. When two people get married they enter into a covenant of union with one another. When you enter into baptism you enter into a covenant of union with Christ.

1.       Baptism is Righteousness of God Matthew 3:15

2.      Baptism is Purpose of God Luke 7:30

3.      Baptism is Commandment of God Matthew 28:19

4.      Baptism is a Salvation of God Luke 16:16

5.      Baptism is Justice of God Luke 7:29

6.      Baptism is the removal of dirt from the body 1Peter 3:21

7.      Baptism is a burial with Jesus Colossians 2:12

8.      Baptism is clothing yourselves with Jesus Galatians 3:26,27

9.      Baptism is forgiveness for sins Acts 2:38-41

10.   Baptism is reflection of our love towards God John 14:15

11.    Baptism is set out on a new life Romans 6:4

12.   Baptism is prerequisite to Heaven John 3:5

“We were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13); let us allow God’s Spirit to make something new among us. Let us put away divisiveness, and let us affirm our oneness in Christ. The Purpose of Baptism:Water Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead – Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.  Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer. It should be preceded by repentance, which simply means “change.” It is turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past and all of our possessions before the Lord. It is giving the control of our lives over to Him. Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord. Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual truth: Death and Resurrection.