“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart [with remorse and anxiety], and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what are we to do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself.” And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with many more words, saying, “Be saved from this crooked and unjust generation!” So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers]. They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles, and to fellowship, to eating meals together and to prayers.” (Acts 3:37-42 The Amplified Bible)
If you are ever asked if there are any strings attached to being baptized, the passages above and below will reveal to the person that is a prospect for becoming a new disciple of Christ that there are strings attached. The water does not save you. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism is done in complying with Jesus’ Great Commission below. Baptism takes place when one confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus, believing in their hearts that God raised Him from the dead.” Baptism is symbolic of dying to the old nature and rising up to walk in the newness of life. Ceremonial dedications of babies and toddlers who have not yet been taught one word about God’s plan of salvation, not one word about God’s sent Son, and not one word about the good news in the scriptures, well, that’s not baptism, really. Those who come to be baptized, but have not truly accepted Christ, but do it more for a show or thinking in error that they will get to heaven. Well, they are mistaken. They must come to know Christ, and then continue to know Him better.
And after baptism, an important act ordained by Jesus, we become one of His disciples with much work to do. Yes, one becomes subjected to the commands in the Great Commission in the closing verse. One must pick up their cross and follow Jesus, daily. Yes, as I have said on many occasions, two specific truths, (1) We must go beyond our comfort zone. (2) We were not saved to sit! Yes! There are strings attached, not for our saving from the penalty of sin, but for our sanctification and for the hope of salvation for those who need to escape the just wages of sin, which is death. Once again, without any further elaboration, “There are strings attached.” Live well and live in recognition of this reality. Be blessed!
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 English Standard Version)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King