Why do we baptize people? Because Jesus commanded us to. That's the simple answer. Baptism signifies a solemn admission into the visible church – Christ's Body. And it is a sign and a seal confirming the Lord's promises to us in the covenant of grace. It's not an automatic guarantee of salvation, but it does represent the fact that our sins have been dealt with and washed away if we have faith in Jesus Christ. It represents our being born again and becoming a part of God's family – "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). |
