Every Christian should get baptized, and the Bible gives three major reasons why.
#1: Obedience
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Jesus tells us to get baptized. He commands that as we tell people about Jesus, once they believe in him they should get baptized.
#2: Identification
Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
In baptism, we identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are baptized “into” Christ Jesus (verse 3). As Christ-followers, we are now “in Christ” – united with him. At baptism, we publicly announce this identification, telling everyone who sees the baptism that we are now his followers. We are now identified with him.
#3: Symbolism
Romans also points to baptism as a picture of what happens to us as we are identified with Jesus. When we go down into the water, it symbolizes our identification with Jesus’ death. When we come up again, it’s a visual picture of our union with his resurrection. Baptism also paints a picture of our own death to sin and our being raised to a new kind of life.
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- List out the three reasons for getting baptized. Do you have any questions about them?
- If you are planning to get baptized, what is your motivation?
- If you have been baptized, what was the experience like for you?
- Baptism is a simple matter of obedience. Make a list of some of the other things Christ calls us to do as Christians. Which ones are especially difficult for you? Where does baptism rank, and why?
- Read Romans 6:3-4. How are we identifying with Christ when we get baptized?
- Baptism is symbolic, much like a wedding ring. Explain.
- Does baptism save a person? Why or why not?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
