Buy essay on BAPTISM IS ESSENTIAL

The subject of water baptism has long been called a great topic, and no doubt has been made such by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its significance or the necessity of being baptized.
Does it make any difference what the Bible says about water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ? Opinions are numerous. Almost everyone has some thought to contribute when an a discussion of Christian baptism occurs.
Some dispute pro and some argue cons on questions of whether candidates should be sprinkled or immersed and whether they ought to be baptized in the titles of Father, Son and Holy Ghost or in the name of Jesus Christ. Quite a few have recently raised the questions, “Does it actually make a difference?”
Our opinions are in fact worthless; one person’s idea is as good as another one’s. The only principal in determining the truth is God’s Word – the Bible.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM

Christian baptism has its roots in Jewish practices through the pre-Christian era. Converts to Judaism were baptized to convey their faith in Jehovah God. When John the Baptist came upon the scene to prepare the hearts of the Jews to receive their Messiah, he required repentance, confession of sin, and baptism in water. He declared, “I indeed baptize you with unto repentance; be he that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).
Jesus Himself was baptized of by John (Matthew 3:16). After this, He and His disciples baptized large numbers of believers (John 3:22; 4:1-2. He included baptism as a vital part of the installation of a convert into the church He established (Mark 16:16).
After His resurrection, He taught His apostles to “Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). Just before His ascension, He met with His apostles and opened their understanding, that they might grasp the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins must be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:45-47).
Therefore, the liability of continuing His ministry, propagating the gospel, and establishing and extending the New Testament church fell upon the relatively few disciples. Having their understanding opened to the will of God concerning the plan of redemption, they were filled with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, which further enlightened their minds. When a an inquisitive multitude gathered to witness this historical event in Jerusalem, after Peter preached a sermon that brought them under deep conviction for their sins. They asked the apostles, “What shall we do?” (Acts2:37).
Peter’s answer was unmistakably simple: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Through the spiritual understanding that Peter had received, he was able to understand that the new birth consisted of water and Spirit baptism (John 3:5), that God had chosen the combination of the name and the water for remission of sins, and that the Lord certainly intended for His name to be called in the act of baptism. Likewise, Ananias instructed Paul, “Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Christian baptism is a decree instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not essential in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow follow up by saying,” Be baptized every one of you,” and by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized. We must consider two points about the importance of water baptism. First, whatever Christ definitely instituted and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles demonstrated the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked countless miles to be baptized, though He was without sin, saying, “For thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (See Matthew 3:13-16).
It is factual that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, “Baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7”30, “the Pharisees and lawyers denied the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized”.
The form or method of water baptism is undeniably immersion. The very term “baptize” has for its root the Greek word “baptize” (βάπτισμα), which means “to dip, plunge, submerge and immerse”. All scriptural occurrences of baptism support this position. Let us note these three: “John also was baptizing in Aenon because there was much water there” (John 3.23).
When Jesus was baptized by John, He “went up straightway out of the water” (Matthew 3:16). And the Ethiopian eunuch and Phillip “went down both into the water and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38). “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). A corpse is not covered by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil in it, but by covering it completely.
According to the World Book of Encyclopedia, ‘At first all baptism was by total “immersion”’ (vol.1, p.651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, “In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools, and baptisteries” (vol. 2, p. 263). Immersion was not suitable after the Catholic Church instituted infant baptism; thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed., vol.3, pp. 365-66).
Repentance identifies us with the death of Christ, and baptism identifies us with His burial. Coming forth from the watery grave of baptism and receiving new life in the Holy Ghost identifies us with His resurrection.