Why was Jesus Baptised? When should I be baptised?

You may be wondering when someone should be baptised, and why Jesus was baptised, when he was sinless. Here we cover baptism, in both a video sermon by Dan Rogers, and a transcript from a Speaking of Life by Joseph Tkach.

Baptism is not a sign of something about us. It is a sign of something about God.

A video message by Dan Rogers, GCI Pastor in Las Vegas, Nevada about Baptism

Joseph Tkach also spoke about baptism in a previous Speaking of Life episode. Here is what he had to say:

When should a person be baptised?

A lot of people see baptism as something you do when you get your life straightened out. Others see it as the thing to do when you are ready to fully commit yourself to straightening out and flying right. But that’s not really what

baptism’s all about!

Baptism, as a sacrament is often called a visible sign of an invisible reality. But what is the “invisible reality”? Many think the invisible reality is their devotion and commitment to Christ. In other words, they think they cannot be baptized until they are ready to publically show their commitment to follow Christ. They think baptism is a sign of something about them.

But baptism is not a sign of something about us. It is a sign of something about God.

The Grace Communion International Statement of Beliefs says this about baptism:

“The sacrament of baptism proclaims that we are saved by Christ alone and not through our own repentance and faith. It is a participation in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in which our old selves have been crucified and renounced in Christ and we have been freed from the shackles of the past and given new being through his resurrection. Baptism proclaims the good news that Christ has made us his own, and that it is only in him that our new life of faith and obedience emerges.”

In other words, baptism signifies our union with Christ in his life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. That is a

union that already exists though what Christ has done on our behalf 2000 years ago.

It is not a declaration about how committed to Christ we are; it is a declaration of how committed Christ is to us. We don’t have to worry about whether we are ready; Christ is the one who is ready. We don’t have to be righteous enough; Christ is the one who is righteous for us.

If you are waiting until you are totally sure and ready, or committed enough, how long are you going to wait? When are any of us ever “ready” enough or “committed” enough?

Like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:36, maybe it’s time to ask, “Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”

Baptism is not about how ready we are or how committed we are to God; it is a testament to how committed God already is to us. So what are you waiting for?