Are You Read to Get Baptized? - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEDICATION AND BAPTISM

What is dedication?  Before you can get baptized, you must make a dedication. When you make a dedication you approach Jehovah in earnest prayer and tell him that you will use your life to serve him forever.  When you dedicate yourself  to God, you "disown" yourself. (Read Matthew 16"24) You now belong to Jehovah, which is great privilege.  (Romans 14:8)  You are telling him that from now on, you will be focused on serving him and not on pleasing yourself.  Your dedication is a vow-a solemn promise made to God.  Jehovah  does not force us to make such a vow. But when we do, he expects us to fulfill it. - PSALM 116:12, 14.

How is dedication related to baptism?  Your dedication is personal and private; it is between you and Jehovah. Baptism is public; it takes place in front of others, usually at an assembly or a convention. When you get baptized, you show others that you have already dedicated yourself to Jehovah.  So your baptism lets others know that you love Jehovah your God with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength  and that you are determined to serve him forever. - MARK  12:30.

Is it really necessary to get baptized? Consider the words found at 1 Peter 3:18-22. Just as the ark was visible proof Noah's faith, your baptism is discernible evidence of your dedication to Jehovah. But is baptism really necessary?  Yes it is. Peter commented on the reason why.  First, it is "saving you."  Baptism can save us if we have take the necessary steps to show that we have faith in Jesus and believe  that he died for us, and was raised to heaven,and is now "at God's right hand." 

Second, baptism leads to "a good conscience." When we dedicate ourselves to God and get baptized, we enter into a special relationship with him. Because of our sincere repentance and our faith in the ransom, God forgives our sins.  We can thus have  a good conscience before him.

Next time: Are You Ready to Get Baptized? - WHAT T YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DEDICATION AND BAPTISM

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