February 16

Baptism

John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. — Luke 3:16 BSB

Baptism with water is right and good. It is one of God’s commands, and He does not require anything that is useless. Some people claim that baptism is unnecessary, but in doing so, they make themselves wiser than Christ, who commanded it. Baptism carries deep meaning and should never be dismissed. It is a picture, first showing that we are unclean and need to be washed, and then portraying the deep work of grace by which our hearts are cleansed.

We should not lightly esteem a rite that has such solemn divine sanction. But while water baptism is important, it does not wash away sin or save our souls. We must not think that being baptized automatically makes us Christians. There must be a change within us. We must be converted, “born again.” No amount of water can bring about this transformation. Christ must baptize us with the Holy Spirit.

There is a danger that many people are satisfied with the outward baptism of water and do not seek the inward regeneration. It is a common pitfall of all religious forms—trusting in the ritual while neglecting the reality of Christ. A few drops of water on the forehead won’t change the heart, and it is only when we receive the baptism symbolized by the water, through faith, that the true blessing comes.

When Jesus was baptized, He prayed, and the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. Likewise, when we approach the symbol of baptism with faith and prayer, God will give us the grace that the water symbolizes. The same principle applies to the Lord’s Supper and other divine ordinances. When received in faith and with prayer, these outward signs bring the inner grace they represent.