Baptize in Water – The baptism.

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3 :11

Baptize in water

John  was sent to baptize with water and to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. His call was familiar to all “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John called people to repent and to be baptized with water.to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life”.

Acts 3:38 Then Peter said to them,”Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This is a direct instruction to us to baptize in water. The instruction comes with a condition . The condition is that we should repent. John also carried the same condition in his call that we should comply with prior to him being able to baptize in water.  Repent!

What is it to repent? The Mirriam webster dictionary says ”

We are to first make the decision to turn away from our sinful past . We are then to dedicate ourself to the correction of our life. So in other words we have to make that decision ourselves to turn away from sin and to correct our future.

In Acts 3 : 38 there was an instruction, a condition and a reward! The instruction is to be baptized in water. the condition is to repent. What is the reward? “Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” The reward is the remission of sins, but what is the remission of sins mean? One dictionary says “forgiveness or pardon, as of sins or crimes. Cancellation of or release from a debt”. Another definition is the tearing out of that sinful nature.

When we are baptized in water, we get released from the debt of our sins from our past! These sins are forcefully removed from us and we no longer are subject to them.