We learn about baptism in the Bible; you can learn more about the Bible by going to our Bible quiz page.
Baptism opens the door to the kingdom of God. Jesus was an example and was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15). We are baptized for four main reasons:
- First, we are baptized to receive a remission of our sins. By being baptized, our sins are washed away and we can start a new life. To be prepared for baptism, we have faith in Jesus Christ and repent.
- The second purpose of baptism is to open the door to the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:2-5). Jesus went on to explain that a man had to be born of water (through baptism).
- Third, we are baptized to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ.
- The fourth purpose of baptism is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. When the apostle Paul was at Corinth, he was talking to certain disciples and said, "Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them;" (Acts 19:1-6).
If we were baptized and did not receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, our baptism was not done properly. As the scriptures say, there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5).
Learn more about what happens to babies when they die without baptism.
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