Why I am baptized in Jesus name - Part 12

I am baptized in Jesus name because I have decided to follow Jesus.

"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. ... Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:21, 24 KJV

What did Jesus mean when He said, “If any man will come after me”?

If we want to be a disciple of Jesus, we must follow Him. Jesus suffered, died on a cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

How do we follow Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection?

Jesus said, “let him deny himself…”

Another translation says, “you must turn from your selfish ways…”

This is a good description of repentance.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says for the word deny: “to forget oneself, lose sight of oneself and one's own interests: Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23

Jesus then said a person must, “take up his cross…”

The Bible says we are to put our old sinful selves, our “old man” on the cross.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." - Romans 6:6-7 KJV

Jesus said we were to take up our cross and follow Him. After Jesus died on the cross, He was buried.

We follow His burial by being buried with Jesus by water baptism. Water baptism is like going into a grave of water. Our “old man,” our old sinful nature, and all our sins are buried in that grave of water. When the name of Jesus is called over us, His blood is applied to our life and our sins are washed away.

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death..." - Romans 6:3-4 KJV

Because I, too, want to follow Jesus, I am buried with Him by being baptized in water in Jesus name.

Hallelujah, Jesus didn’t stay on the cross, and He didn’t stay in the grave. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead.

We follow His resurrection by being filled with His Spirit to walk in newness of life.

"…That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:4 KJV

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:24 KJV

"…Wherein also ye are risen with him [to new life] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead." - Colossians 2:12 KJV

"And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:27 KJV

I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back!

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:62 KJV (see: Luke 9:57-62)