why did Jesus command baptism?
Immersion in the Holy Spirit (baptism) is the means by which we are joined to Christ and made fellow-heirs. It is when God marks us as His own.
Water baptism is also important. Its value is in sanctification - separation from the world.
Some examples, not exhaustive:
Mark 1: 8 - 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10: “45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
where does the Bible say baptism is symbolic?
That it is nothing more than a symbol? Nowhere. That it involves symbolism?
“3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” - Romans 10
1 Cor 10: “10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.”
where does the Bible teach baptism is to be done as a first act of obedience?
It doesn’t, explicitly. However, it is obviously an act of obedience, and it obviously was done very promptly - unlike in the modern day:
“30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.” - Acts 16
where does the Bible teach baptism is an outward sign of what has happened inwardly already?
Apart from the indwelling Holy Spirit, there is no reason to baptize. First comes faith, then immersion (baptism) in the Holy Spirit, and then water baptism follows. But it is the inward act that gives water baptism its value:
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” - Ephesians 1
Gal 3: “2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.”
1 Cor 12: “12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
Ephesians 4: “4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
1 Peter 3: “...in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...”
There is no case in scripture of a non-believer being baptized. Nor is there any reason to do so. If baptism brought regeneration, we ought to forcibly baptize everyone in water, giving them life and repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit. But you can sprinkle away until someone drowns without giving them faith or life...
I would pose the additional question: Why was Jesus baptized?
Good point...
Here are not only 2 separate baptisms, but the same people getting baptized twice...
I wonder if these types of verses are blacked out in Catholic bibles...
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
thank you for your response:
1. why did Jesus command baptism?
your response indicates you believe in two seperate baptisms, which of course is unscriptural. also, you introduce the concept of “water baptism” and say it’s value is in sanctification, but provide no Scripture for this belief. I am not aware of any verse in the NT that teaches that.
2. where does the Bible teach two baptisms?
you responded wth Mark 1:8, which was the baptism of John. we know by the Book of Acts that Christian baptism is the only baptism in effect once Jesus went to the cross and John’s baptism was no longer to be practiced. Ephesians 4 teaches there is only one baptism, not two as your first answer indicated.
3. where does the Bible teach Baptism is symbolic?
we agree, the answer is nowhere. you quote Romans 6:3 as say it shows baptism involves symbolism. i reject this notion totally. since in baptism we are put into Christ, we were also baptized into his death. this is not symbolic, we are either in Christ in reality or we are not.
4. where does the Bible teach baptism is a first act of obedience?
we agree again, it doesn’t. i don’t know why i hear this over and over, no one was ever told this in the Scriptures. the Scriptures teach we are baptized to receive remission of our sins, receive the Holy Spirit and to be placed in Christ.
5. where does the Bible teach baptism is an outward sign of what has happened inwardly already?
you didn’t answer with any verses that say this, so you must agree with me that the answer is nowhere.
you do deny baptism brings regeneration, maybe we can continue this dialogue by looking at Paul and see just how and when he was regenerated.
the Scriptures are very clear that Paul was told by Ananius in Acts 22:16 to “rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name”. this of course is entirely consistent with Acts 2:38, Titus 3:5,Ephesians 5:26, 1 Peter 3:21 just to name a few verses all of which teach baptismal regeneration. how and when do you feel Paul was regenerated from the Scriptures?