Online Bible Study - Foundations of Faith

Baptism

In the Philippines, a mother sat in the shallow water of a river. Beside her in a basin was a large stack of dirty clothing. Before her was a flat rock. She worked hard in the hot sun to scrub the clothing between her hands, and beat the material on the top of the flat rock. The soapsuds would fly and the dirt came out. Her small child came and asked her, "Mama, can I play that game too?" The mother responded, "This is not a game. I have to get the dirt out of our clothing." The child again asked, "Why don't you just shake it out?" "You can't get the dirt out unless you wash it out," the mother said. This simple story, in an earthly way, reflects our need for baptism.

All mankind, each and every person since the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, has sinned against God. The sins in the lives of Adam and Eve and every person on earth since that time, have dirtied the perfection that man had after God's perfect creation. By the suffering, punishment, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Savior, the price for all the dirt of sin was paid.

Baptism was instituted by God and commanded by Jesus Christ to "wash away the dirt" of sin. Faith, water, the Word do that job perfectly.

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