Bible Question: Hello! I've been a Christian since 07/24/04, and I have never been water baptized. Am I required to be water baptized? |
Bible Answer: hello jesus1km, Consider the following account of Jesus' own baptism: Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. The way I see it, Jesus not only commanded that we should be baptized, as another responder has already pointed out, but He, Himself was baptized. It is my current opinion that He did this as an example to us, that we should do the same. However, regardless of His motivation for being baptized, it seems clear that we are not better than our Lord - notice that John tells Jesus that "I have need to be baptized by You, and yet You come to me?" - and if He was baptized to fullfill all righteousness, then the least we can do is follow His command, and His example. bless you, halroy |