1. Baptism Illustrated Baptism is illustrated in various ways in the scripture. Each illustration shows a different aspect of baptismal benefits. Interesting enough is the fact that nothing else in scripture attributes the same benefits by following any other teaching or command by God. I believe that much can be learned just by investigating these various illustrations and the benefits that each will teach us. These would be: Burial, Rebirth, Cleansing.

2. A Burial I have been to many burials in my life. I believe it would be a horrible thing to be buried alive, yet many are buried alive spiritually. Every burial I have attended was regarding a body that was dead…meaning the spirit had left the body. BAPTISM is called a burial. Romans 6:3-4 ties our burial to the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, our sacrifice. Dead to the man who lived by his own will a life of sin. Alive to live the new life. This burial is a water burial. We find every example through Acts involving burial in water, when illustrated.

3. Born Again Baptism is also illustrated as the new birth, John 3. Jesus describes it as a birth of “water and spirit”. In life, there are many times a person wishes they could do something over again. In golf, that is called a mulligan. It is usually taken because the first time, was not a good as you wanted. After birth, we are a child of God. God’s expectations are that we live faithful to Him. BUT, when I sin, I have failed in meeting those expectations. The result: We need a do over! The Spirit convicts me of my failings as I study God’s Word. By repentance I my change my direction in life, but my sin is still present in God’s face. Through the death, just mentioned, being dead to sin, I now have the opportunity to be “Born Again” in Christ, who grants forgiveness through His sacrifice.

4. A Cleansing 1 Pet. 3:21 likens baptism to a cleansing. It declares this is not a physical body cleansing but the spirit’s cleansing. The blood of Christ is the soap of this bath. Water is the agent. I have known people that seemed to be allergic to bathing. They didn’t bathe. They stunk to be around them with their body odor. They would try to cover the stinch with various items. But the stench was still there for folks to deal with. Think about your spiritual stench in God’s nose, and the attempts we make to cover that stench. Nothing will cover, but the blood of Christ, and nothing else but baptism will wash those sins away. Acts 22:16. Similarly, those who fear bathing, will have continued poor health. Those who fear baptism, will continue dying in their sins, and are spiritually dead. Their result is condemnation in God’s judgment.

5. Conclusion I find most who have a problem following God’s Word concerning baptism, are concerned more with their self, rather that God. It can’t be that they fear water, for most do bathe. It can’t be that they haven’t lived in sin, and don’t know there is a need. But I don’t believe they realize how terrible they stink before God. Sin is an abomination before God. Duet. 25:16: Prov. 6:16; Jer. 8:12. Sacrifices were a sweet smelling savor, and Christ’s must’ve been the sweetest of all. Lev. 16:12-13. This cleansing makes us without spot, without blemish, Eph. 5:27; 1 Pet. 1:18-19. How long will you go around smelling?