BAPTISM?

          It happened several years ago.  The phone rang.  The voice on the line was that of a man who had been a member of this church in times past.  He said, “I want to talk to you about my baptism.”  (I assumed that through the years he had learned more about baptism and thus was beginning to question whether his knowledge had been sufficient at the time he was immersed into Christ).  "I suppose you are questioning your baptism  because you know more about the subject than when you were baptized?”  “No, I’m questioning my repentance.  For some time now, I have been making a study of the kingdom of God, and I see that repentance is always linked to entering the kingdom.  I don’t think I ever repented.  When I was baptized, I didn't change my life.  I kept on doing all of the things I had done before.”

          I wonder how many people think that there is something magical in baptism.  In truth, baptism done by rote is meaningless.  Repentance and baptism go together like love and marriage.  One without the other isn’t sufficient.  On the day of Pentecost people were convicted of their sin in crucifying Christ.  They cried out, “Brethren, what shall we do?  Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you…" (Acts 2:38).  Repentance and baptism.  They go together.

          John the baptizer knew that mere washing without repentance would avail nothing.  In fact, he even refused baptism to a group of religious leaders.  Instead of baptizing them, he said, “You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit that befits repent-ance" (Mt.3:7-8).  In the words of John Stott, "The faith which receives Christ must be accomplished by the repentance which rejects sins.”  What is baptism but a mere washing away of the filth of the flesh unless it accompanied by repentance?  I will tell you.  It is nothing. 

                                                                 John Gipson / Windsong Church of Christ (North Little Rock, Arkansas)