MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE JEHOVAH FOREVER

BAPTISM-WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU 

According to Jesus, all those who become his disciples must be baptized.  (Matthew 28:19, 20) Why is this necessary after you have made a dedication to God?  Since you have dedicated yourself to Jehovah, he knows that you love him.  But no doubt you will want to take further action in order to let others know about your love for God.  Well, baptism affords you an opportunity to make your dedication to Jehovah known publicly. -Romans 10:9, 10.

Baptism is rich in symbolic meaning. As you are submerged, or "buried," beneath the water, it is as though you have died to your former course of life.  When you come up out of water, it is as if you are emerging to a new life, one that is governed by God's will and not your own. Of course, that does not mean that you will make no more mistakes, for all of us are imperfect and therefore sin daily.  However, as a dedicated, baptized servant of Jehovah, you will have entered into a special relationship with him. Because of your repentance and your humble submission to baptism, Jehovah is willing to forgive your sins on the basis of Jesus' ransom sacrifice. Baptism leads to a clean conscience before God. -1 Peter 3:21. 

Jesus commanded his follower to baptize new disciples  "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit." (Matthew 28:19) what did Jesus mean?  Baptism "in the name of the Father" indicates that the person being baptized wholeheartedly accepts Jehovah God as the Creator and the rightful Sovereign of the universe.  (Psalm 36:9; 83:18; Ecclesiastes 12:1) Being baptized 'in the name of the Son' means that the individual acknowledges Jesus Christ-and particularly His ransom sacrifice-as the only means of salvation provided by God. (Acts 4:12)  Baptism 'in the name of the holy spirit' signifies that the baptismal candidate recognizes Jehovah's holy spirit, or active force, as God's instrument for carry out His righteous will in association with His spirit-directed organization. -Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:21.  

Next time: MAKE IT YOUR AIM TO SERVE JEHOVAH FOREVER/ARE YOU READY FOR BAPTISM?

From the book: KNOWLEDGE That Leads to Everlasting Life