The Importance of Baptism

How important is it for believers to be immersed? Jesus admonished Nicodemus, “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). According to Jesus, “being born of water and the Spirit” is essential for those who wish to enter heaven.

Jesus gives only one exception. The thief on the cross was “born of the Spirit,” even though it was impossible for him to leave the cross and be immersed in water as a sign of his change of heart. Jesus promised him that he would be with Him in the kingdom (Luke 23:42, 43). For the thief, being “born of water and of the Spirit” represents the cleansing blood of Jesus which at that very moment was being spilt to cleanse the thief from his sins. Augustine observed, “There is one case of deathbed repentance recorded, that of the penitent thief, that none should despair; and only one, that none should presume.”

Jesus Himself gave this solemn warning:

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe [and therefore is not baptized] will be condemned.”
—Mark 16:16.

By dying in our place at Calvary, Jesus made a public demonstration of His love for us. We need to respond with a public demonstration of our own, an unashamed confession of our commitment to Christ through baptism. Have you begun a new life in Christ? Have you been baptized? If not, why not prepare for baptism in the near future?