Baptism - What's it for? (Part 3)

In the last two articles, we have identified two main purposes of baptism. First, baptism is for the forgivingness of sins (Acts 2:38). If a person is not baptized, they can’t have forgiveness of sins. Second, baptism is for entrance into the Lord’s church (Acts 2:41). If a person is not baptized, they can’t be a member of Christ’s church. In this article we will identify one more purpose of baptism - to receive the Holy Spirit. Notice a couple of verses:

  1. Acts 2:38 — “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

  2. 1 Corinthians 12:13 — “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

  3. Ephesians 1:13 — “In Him, you also after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation — having also believed , you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise...”

    What these verses identify is a receiving of the Holy Spirit at the time

of conversion. When a person puts their faith in Christ and is baptized, they receive the Holy Spirit. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

When a person is baptized many things happen. They are being forgiven of their sins (Acts 2:38). They are being added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:41). They are being given God’s Holy Spirit to dwell within them (Acts 2:38). When you consider the alternative to these things it is eye opening. If a person is not baptized they have not been forgiven. If a person is not baptized they have not been added to the church. If a person is not baptized they have not received God’s Holy Spirit. If a person has not been baptized surely they cannot be a Christian because they don’t have any of these other things!

What about you? Have you been baptized? Do you understand the purpose of baptism? You can become a Christian today by being baptized. You can be forgiven of your sins today by being baptized. You can be added to the Lord’s church today by being baptized. You can receive the Holy Spirit today by being baptized. Will you come to the Lord and put Christ on in baptism?

— Kolton Ballance