For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (1 Corinthians 1:17) Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)
But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the Word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:8-10)
Abraham believed in God and it was credited to him as righteousness. So then he was not justified by works but by his faith (belief) in God who then credit it to him as righteousness. As a man work, his wages is an obligation but the bible says that “to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” So then no man can boast. The bible says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith─and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God─ not by works, so that no one can boast. (Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)
Why Should we be baptized?
1. To fulfill All Righteousness. (Matthew 3:15)
2. It pleases God, The Father. (Matthew 3:17)
"and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also —not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God." (1 Peter 3:21)
3. To Signify Our Unity unto the death of Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:3)
In particular, being baptized into Jesus Christ, we were baptized into his death, v. 3. We were baptized eis Christon —unto Christ, as 1Cor 10:2,eis Moµseµn—unto Moses. Baptism binds us to Christ, it binds us apprentice to Christ as our teacher, it is our allegiance to Christ as our sovereign. Baptism is externa ansa Christi— the external handle of Christ, by which Christ lays hold on men, and men offer themselves to Christ. Particularly, we were baptized into his death, into a participation of the privileges purchased by his death, and into an obligation both to comply with the design of his death, which was to redeem us from all iniquity, and to conform to the pattern of his death, that, as Christ died for sin, so we should die to sin. This was the profession and promise of our baptism, and we do not do well if we do not answer this profession, and make good this promise.– Matthew Henry
4. To know Christ and the power of his resurrection. There is power in His Resurrection! (Philippians 3:9-11)
5. We demonstrate the covenant God has made with us. (Romans 6:5; Colossians 2:12, Revelation 20:6，Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 3:21)
6. To show our love for Christ and the determination of abiding in him. (Galatians 2:20)
7. An public act of acknowledging Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. (Matthew 10:32)
8. To be baptize into the body of Christ, that is the church. For we were all baptized by - one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1 Corinthians 12：13,14; Romans 12:5)
9. It fulfills the great commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)
Christianity is a relationship that each and every one of us can have with God. Christianity carries with it one very special type of faith whereby no man can boast of his self greatness. Where no one is saved by the works of his hands and where the secret to the heart of God is made plain to all men. ..
in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.. (1 Peter 3:21-22) Faith and Work by Bible NetOne
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. ..." -Isaiah 65:17 Simply Jesus.
