More on Baptism

Why did Jacen get baptized? First, let me try and answer a different question: what is NOT the reason why he got baptized? He didn't get baptized as a means to God's grace. That is, baptism has nothing to do with establishing a right relationship with God. You might recall that last February Jacen accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. That step of accepting God's grace only through faith is the ONLY thing Jacen needed to have a right relationship with God. So if baptism does not confer God's grace, why bother? Jacen gave two reasons in his testimony video, which was shown to the church. He said first he wanted to follow Jesus' example. Recall that John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the river Jordan. Why did Jesus get baptized? Did He need grace from God? No! He is God. He did it out of obedience to His Father and to set an example for those who follow Him. So Jacen was simply following Jesus' example. Jacen said second he wanted to be baptized because God said to. Jacen was referring to a portion of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." Those who are disciples of Jesus should be baptized and should be taught. Jesus Himself commanded that His followers be baptized, so Jacen was simply being obedient to His Lord. These are great reasons for being baptized, and I'm very proud of my son.