Baptism does not secure our salvation but reveals it has taken place, by picturing Jesus DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION in water. It also shows our old person dead to sin and buried from that old way of life but raised to walk in the new life in Christ. Only baptism by full immersion in water pictures this. Sprinkling does not. Being baptized as an infant does not. It is a full conscious decision of a believer in Jesus Christ to be baptized.
* Jesus gave the example by being baptized by John.
* It is Scriptural and defined in many passages.
* It pleased God when Jesus was baptized. Mark 1:8-9
* Jesus came up out of the water, thus immersed.
* It was done publicly at a river. It is a celebration.
* Most who trusted Christ, soon after were baptized.
Come see me if you have questions. We will be baptizing several that morning.
-Bro. Larry Sparks Blackburn Chapel Baptist Church