Blessings of Baptism
As we continue our discussion, here are a few more elements relative to baptism.
Forgiveness of sins
Peter was encouraging people in the very early days of the church to accept Christ, and be baptized.
Ac 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Paul, in his own defense, relays his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, and how Ananias explained the event to Paul. As a part of that explanation, Ananias instructed Paul to be baptized in order to wash his sins away.
Ac 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
Union with Christ
Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Baptism signifies a transforming identification with Christ. Paul refers to it here. Paul is not suggesting people are saved through baptism. No one is saved by baptism. Baptism provides an outward sign of the union that already exists through faith.
To be "clothed with Christ" means to become like Christ.
Receiving the Holy Spirit
Ac 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(Remember – We mentioned in the post on November 11, 2009 that there are cases recorded in Acts where people received the Holy Spirit before baptism – Acts 10:44.)
Membership in the body of Christ – the church
1Co 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
In this letter to the people of the church in Corinth, Paul is speaking of the church, referring to the church as the body of Christ. He states that we were all baptized into that one body/church.
Many wonderful elements of our faith are connected to baptism.
Next time—we will talk about the importance of the local church in helping you in your walk with Jesus.
Bendiciones,
Larry | 
