Why Baptism Matters: By Lizzie Ducking: Baptism for Christians is like circumcision for the Jewish nation. It is our covenant with God. It represents the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord.

When we are baptized, the old Person is dead and we are resurrected as a new Person in Christ Jesus. We have a new beginning and all our sins are washed away.

Baptism is our alliance with God and shows the World that we are no longer part of it; We belong to the Kingdom of God. We are in the World but we are not of the World.

Can a Person be saved without being baptized? Yes they can because Romans 10:9-10 says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Because with the heart one believes for justice, and with the mouth one confesses for salvation. Being baptized is not mentioned in those scriptures so that we can be saved without being baptized. An example of this is found in Luke 23:39-42, then one of the malefactors who were hanged blasphemed him saying if you are the Christ save yourself and us, but the other answered and rebuked him saying you don’t even fear God seeing that you are under the same condemnation? And we, indeed, justly receive due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come to your Kingdom and Jesus said to him, I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise. This man did not come down from the cross to be baptized but Jesus saved him.

The scriptures talk a lot about being baptized, so it is important that we do it, but God covers all the bases for us to be saved, His only condition for our salvation is that we believe in Jesus. There have been People who have been sinners all their lives but at the end of it they received Jesus as their Savior. There was no time left for them to be baptized but Jesus accepted them just as he did the thief on the cross. I think the only time we are not baptized is when there is no time. Otherwise, it must be done.

In Mark 16:16 it says, whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe, he will be condemned. Notice that this is Jesus speaking and He could not set aside our covenant with God and that is why He said and is baptized but also said that he who does not believe (he left out baptized) will be damned. Therefore, our salvation depends on our belief, not on baptism.

There are some controversies among some about the way we are baptized. Some say that we must be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is based on Matthew 28:19. The question is what is the name? Acts 2:38 tells us the name. Then Peter told them to repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

I was baptized twice; the first time it was in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit but not long after the Lord told me you would be baptized in the name of Jesus. I said yes and I did.

Baptism is our covenant with the Lord and He does not break His covenant or alter the things that come from His lips. We are on the right standard with Him when we are baptized.