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WATER BAPTISM

Water Baptism

WHAT DID JESUS CHRIST SAY AND THINK ABOUT WATER BAPTISM?

1. Jesus Himself Was Water-Baptised

Matthew 3:13–17

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him…
‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’”

What this tells us

  • Jesus affirmed water baptism by submitting to it Himself.

  • Not for repentance (He had no sin), but to identify, inaugurate, and model obedience.

  • The act is public, visible, covenantal.

📌 If water baptism were optional or obsolete, Jesus would not have insisted on it.

2. Jesus Explicitly Commanded Water Baptism

Matthew 28:18–20 (The Great Commission)

“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.”

Key observations

  • Baptising is a direct imperative tied to disciple-making.

  • The command is:

    1. Go

    2. Make disciples

    3. Baptize

    4. Teach obedience

Baptism is not presented as optional symbolism—it is part of the normal entry into discipleship.

3. Jesus Linked Baptism With Faith (but did not replace faith)

Mark 16:16

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

Important clarity

  • Condemnation is tied to unbelief, not lack of baptism.

  • Baptism is presented as the expected response of belief, not a competing requirement.

👉 Faith saves.
👉 Baptism is faith expressed in obedience.

4. Jesus Connected Water With Entrance Into the Kingdom

John 3:5

“Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Jewish context matters because this is who Jesus was addressing 

  • First-century Jews already associated water with:

    • Ritual cleansing (mikveh)

    • Repentance

    • Covenant transition

  • Jesus does not dismiss water—He pairs it with the Spirit, not against Him.

Most historically grounded interpretations (early church included) see:

  • Water → baptism

  • Spirit → regeneration

Not two births, but one unified new-birth reality.

5. Jesus Re-Defined John’s Baptism — He Did Not Abolish Water

Matthew 21:25

“The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

Jesus affirmed:

  • John’s baptism was from heaven

  • Yet He later expanded baptism to:

    • All nations

    • Full discipleship

    • Trinitarian revelation (Matt 28)

➡️ John’s baptism = preparation
➡️ Jesus’ baptism = covenant initiation

6. What Jesus Did Not Say (Important Guardrails)

Jesus NEVER said:

  • “Water baptism saves you apart from faith”

  • “Water baptism replaces the Spirit”

  • “Water baptism is unnecessary”

  • “Water baptism is merely symbolic and optional”

Instead, He consistently:

  • Practiced it

  • Commanded it

  • Integrated it into discipleship

  • Linked it with repentance, faith, and obedience

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Jesus taught that water baptism is the obedient, public, covenant response of faith—commanded, modelled, and integrated with life in the Spirit, but never detached from belief.

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