The Blessings of Baptism

A Word of Truth #176  

Jesus has given us the commission to “make disciples of all nations.” One of he ways Jesus has provided to accomplish this is to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). Because of the power of God’s Word that is used with water, Baptism has the power to forgive sins. Peter told the crowd gathered on Pentecost, “…let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins”(Acts 2:38).

When our sins are forgiven we are also rescued from eternal death and from the power the Devil, and given eternal life. For this reason, Peter wrote, “Baptism saves” (1 Peter 3:21). Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16); and the apostle Paul wrote, “You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).

The Power of Baptism

A Word of Truth #177  

The apostle Paul once wrote to a young pastor named Titus and said: “According to His mercy, He (God) saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). That “washing of regeneration” of which Paul speaks is the sacrament of baptism. But where does baptism get its power to save? The power does not lie in the water used in baptism, for that water is just plain water. The power in baptism comes from the words and promises of God attached to the water. The precious benefits of baptism—forgiveness, spiritual life, and salvation—are received only when faith in the heart trusts those words and promises of God. Only then does baptism becomes a gracious water of life and a washing of rebirth through the Holy Spirit.