“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” – Luke 12:49-51 NKJV

Jesus took our sins upon Himself for the purpose of taking our eternal death of separation from God for us. In the baptism of His death and burial, followed by His rising again as Victor over sin and death, He gave us opportunity to enter into His baptism and rise again to newness of life.

Do not take the baptismal waters lightly, as commonplace. This is the sin of the Pharisees who ritually washed without thought of its importance. When you enter those waters, do so in full understanding of its meaning, as this is a vital step in the experience of the saving grace of Christ. It is not a ritual. It is a commitment, requiring full understanding of its importance as a first act of obedience for righteousness sake. This, too, follows the example Christ gives (Matthew 3:13-15 NKJV).

Entering the baptismal waters is the reality we enter into in Christ when we surrender ourselves to walk in the newness of life Jesus provides for us. As we enter those waters, we enter His death. Recognize that as you step into that glorious bath. Your old life is over. Leave it behind and let it die.

In being lowered in submersion to those waters, we are buried with Him. If you want the full experience of this, let those waters be cold. It takes your breath away so in rising again, you inhale deeply, as taking the first breath of life – a life made new in Christ. The slate of your past is wiped clean.

As you step out of those waters, fully realizing the reality of entering the baptism Jesus took for you, do so with a heart determined to write on the slate of your life the good God desires to write through You, following the example of the Christ with every subsequent breath.

This is the meaning of “There is also an ANTITYPE which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21 NKJV).

Anyone can say the right words and get dunked under those waters. But God, who knows the heart of every person, sees the sincerity of the commitment we make when we enter the baptism of Christ in this first step of obedience. It is vital we understand the heart of the action, and do not take these steps lightly.