I am baptized in the name of Jesus because I have decided to follow Jesus

                                                     

“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 16:24

Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

We follow His death by denying ourself and taking up our cross. We do this by repentance. When we repent, we turn from the world and its pleasures of sin and lust and turn our life to living for Jesus. (1John 2:15-16).

We follow Jesus by “crucifying” our sinful nature.

Jesus died one time. Not every day.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” – Romans 6:1-2

"Knowing this, that our old man is [old sinful selves were] 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

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24 [Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.]

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

“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

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

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

"And that ye put on the new man [the new self], which after God is created [created to be like God – truly righteous and holy] in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:24 KJV