Is Immersion Really that Big a Deal?

We have many denominations within the church of Jesus Christ that do not typically immerse people. The Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Methodist deonominations are some of the largest of these groups. Each of these groups has made significant contributions to the proclamation of Christ and the advancement of the kingdom of God. I believe it is a good thing to dedicate our infant children to the Lord and commit, as both parents and congregation of Christ, to disciple them as they grow. All Christians, however, would acknowledge that not all of these babies grow up into faith in Christ. Some reject Him. Some receive Him. John the apostle says that:

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12)

Jesus said that it is important for all of us to publicly confess Him:
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32)

So is immersion the way God has chosen for us to publicly confess our commitment to God? Should children of believing parents be immersed once they have received Christ?

Jesus Himself, though he was dedicated as a baby to God in the temple, was immersed.

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were immersed by him [John the immerser] in the Jordan, confessing their sins. . . . And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be immersed by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.
(Matthew 3:5-6, 14-15)

Jesus thought it was important enough to submit to it even though He was without sin.

In fact, Jesus tied personal faith to public immersion:

He who believes and is immersed will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

It should therefore not surprise us that His apostles tied personal faith to public immersion:

Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

And he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. (Acts 10:48)

Or do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Christ Jesus were immersed into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through immersion into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Romans 6:3-5)

There is also an antitype which now saves us—immersion (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21)

Personal repentance and faith in Christ is excercised when we call upon the name of the Lord to save us, but public confession in the waters of immersion has been an important declaration of the Christ follower for over 2,000 years.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Hebrews 10:22)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.