Baptism

The wonderful truth of baptism is that baptism is a symbol God has chosen to reveal what He has performed by His Grace. Communion is much the same. When you think about these things, you will notice that baptism and the taking of communion are two clear instructions Jesus left for the Church. You will also notice that each have material elements in them as they are performed. Baptism is, of course, in water. Communion is bread and juice.

These elements involved in baptism and communion do not do anything to us; they simply explain something for us. And that something is what Christ alone has performed to secure our salvation. Our salvation, at its core, is this: Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead are given on our behalf as a payment for our sins. Therefore, our participation in these instructions simply declare that we have come to Christ in repentance and by faith, and both by His grace.

Baptism is secondary; it is outward and visible. Baptism points to what is primary, the work of God’s grace, which is inward and invisible. In your participation in baptism, the reality of who you are (a Christian) is displayed, but it is not dispensed.

One last thing, in our being baptized, we are saying that we are now part of the Body of Christ – His Church. That we identify now with all Christians universal and local. We stand together as one in Christ.