Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matt 28:19) Are you saved? Then, have you been baptized? If not, why not? You need to be baptized. Being saved but not being baptized is not following through on Jesus’ command to be baptized. Now being baptized does not save you. It’s only a ritual, but a ritual that Jesus instituted for His followers, a ritual that He deems very important. Hey, even Jesus Himself, sinless and holy, was baptized. If our Lord was baptized, what makes you think your sinful self doesn’t need to be?
Baptism is an ordiance showing obedience to Jesus, and it demonstrates to the world that you have been saved; part of your public profession of faith. Can you be a Christian and not be baptized? Yes, but you just won’t be an obedient Christian. Now there may be cases where a person just can’t be baptized due to medical or physical issues and such. The repentant thief on the cross, for example, couldn’t get baptized, yet Jesus promised he would be in paradise with Him that day. But unless you have some bona fide issue that restricts you from being baptized, then as a follower of Christ, you need to follow His example--and command--and be baptized.
Happy Thanksgiving!
