Step Up the Ladder

Today I would like to attempt to answer a question which is often asked but goes either unanswered or unsatisfactorily answered.

Why do most adult water-baptized believers not exhibit any significant character changes?

Sadly the question is relevant today as ever. The Word of God says that if anyone is in Christ then the old man is dead and he is a new creation. (2 Cor 5.17) Surely the Word of God cannot lie, so then, what is the reason for this anomaly?

Let us first look at what Jesus had to say about being ‘born-again’. In John 3.5 Jesus said for a man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, he must be born again of water and of the Spirit.

In the Bible, the Word of God is compared to water. The Word of God is said to have the same cleansing property water has. Ref. John 15.3; Eph 5.26 So, for a person to have the new birth experience, according to Jesus, he must be first born of the Word of God.

To be born of the Word, one should hear the Word of God. Faith is generated through the hearing of this Word of God (Rom 10.17) The Word cleanses us from all worldly prejudices and impurities.

The Bible reminds us that we are all spiritually dead. Nevertheless, when the cleansing action of the Word takes place within a person, the Holy Spirit simultaneously brings life to the human spirit and the person becomes a new creation. Thus when a man is born anew of the Word and of the Spirit, he is said to have had a rebirth or new birth experience.

Such a person will exhibit noticeable character changes in line with his spiritual transformation. Such a born-again believer submits to water baptism, as an outward act of obedience to his Lord and Master. Mat 28.19 However, most often, people come to a non-denominational church and are urged to take water baptism as their first sign of accepting the Lord Jesus. So the church may have a great number of baptized members, but the world sees no difference between themselves and the churchgoer. This defeats the whole purpose of water baptism which is the first step to a life of discipleship to Christ Jesus. In such cases, baptism often acts as a hindrance to the further growth of the Christian, instead of being a step up.

For some, the born-again experience is a gradual process while many others come to the realization and acknowledgment of Jesus as their Lord and savior at a specific moment. What is important is that you are born of the water and of the Spirit. If you are already born anew in Christ Jesus, I encourage you to continue to read the Word of God daily and forsake not the gathering of fellow believers. However, if you are still wondering, remember the Word of God says ‘Today is the day of Salvation’ (Heb 3.7, 13, 15; 4.7) for you cannot be certain you may be given another day (Lk 12.20).

I will leave you with this verse from Psalm 2

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”