Be baptized, and wash away your sins

These words were spoken to Paul after he had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus and after he had fasted for three days.

Paul, who was originally called Saul, was a prominent leader in the Jewish nation. He did not believe in Jesus. He thought Christians were disobeying the law of Moses.

"As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison" (Acts 8:3).

But something amazing happens.

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' And the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.' And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:1-9).

Many years later, Paul explained what happened after that: "Then one, Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord'" (Acts 22:12-16).

We will closely examine this last verse: "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).

Ananias first asked Paul, "And now why are you waiting?"

Paul had seen the Lord. He had fasted. He believed in Jesus and realized that he was wrong. It was time for action.

Years later, Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Many people believe in Christ and are sorry for their sins, but they put off being baptized, even though they know it is a command of the Lord. When you read the book of Acts, which gives many examples of conversion, you will notice that people were baptized immediately, as soon as they believed in the Lord. They did this because they knew that baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38) and to be joined to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and if you want to dedicate your life to God and be saved, "Why are you waiting?"

"Arise and be baptized!"

The word "baptize" is a transliteration of the Greek word "BAPTIDZO" which means to immerse or dip. Bible baptism is an immersion in water. Churches that sprinkle or pour a little water on people are not following the Bible. What they do is not baptism, it is not immersion. In reality they do not baptize people at all. Someone who has only been "sprinkled" or "poured" has not been "baptized". He has not obeyed the Lord.

Notice also that it says: "Arise." A valid baptism must result from a personal decision to repent of sin and follow Jesus. Peter told the crowd in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

To repent means to turn away from sin and dedicate your life to God. A young child has not sinned, so cannot repent. He is innocent. He is not yet lost. How can he be baptized for the remission of sins?

When well-meaning parents have their babies "christened," and think they are having them baptized, they are being deceived by false traditions that are contrary to the Word of God. No one can decide this for you. You yourself must "arise" and be baptized. You must make this important decision yourself.

The Ethiopian eunuch, after hearing the gospel, asked Philip: "'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him" (Acts 8:36-38).

One may be baptized only if he believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and if he is willing to confess his faith. "For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation" (Romans 10:10). "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized."

"And wash away your sins!"

Even though Paul saw the Lord on the road to Damascus and believed in Him, even though he had fasted for three days, his sins had not yet been washed away. That only happens when we are baptized into the death of Christ.

This is explained by Paul in Romans 6:3,4. "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Our sins are washed away by the blood of Christ. Through baptism we gain access to His blood. Baptism, immersion, represents the burial and resurrection of Christ. We are baptized, we are immersed, into His death. Then we rise from the water in newness of life, having been reborn by the power of God's Spirit.

"Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." The substance, water, has no magic power to wash away sins. The power is from God. Thus, when we are baptized, we must call on the name of the Lord for salvation. That is why we are commanded: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Notice also that calling on the name of the Lord is something we must do ourselves. Our parents cannot do this for us.

Baptism is not a cleansing of the body, but a cleansing of the conscience through the resurrection of Christ. After mentioning Noah's salvation through water, Peter explains: "There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 3:21).

Baptism is not a meritorious work, but a gift of God to be received, the "washing of regeneration" that cleanses us and saves us by the blood of Christ: "For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 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, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:3-7).

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Roy Davison


Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)