So far we have learned that those who had repented and believed were baptized by burial in water picturing a death, burial, and resurrection.

Now we would like to look at the purpose of baptism, that is, why those who repent and believe are to be baptized.

BAPTISM IS A PUBLIC CONFESSION OF REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN CHRIST

Throughout the New Testament those who repented and believed made a public confession of this fact by submitting to baptism. Sinners would publicly show their repentance and faith by submission to baptism.

Those who repented and believed the message of John, Christ, the disciples, etc. demonstrated this by baptism.

We have already established that only those who had repented and believed were baptized. Baptism was a public confession of this fact.

The New Testament preachers called sinners to repentance and faith and sinners answered this call by submitting to baptism. This was the way they publicly identified themselves with the redeemed.

BAPTISM IS A PICTURE OF THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

By baptism the sinner publicly confesses his faith in the gospel story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a picture of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and exhibits the sinner's faith in that Christ as Saviour.

Let us look again at the sixth chapter of Romans.

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: 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.

"For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." -Rom. 6:4, 5.

Baptism is "like as Christ was raised up from the dead.'-‘ Baptism is the "‘likeness of his death" and the "likeness of his resurrection."

The gospel is the good news It-hat Christ died for or our sins and was buried and arose. (I Cor. 15:1-4.) When the sinner hears the gospel story of the death, burial and resurrection, repents of his sin, and believes, he demonstrates this publicly by baptism.

BAPTISM IS A PICTURE OF THE CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE SINNER AT THE TIME OF SALVATION

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, BUT ALIVE UNTO GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord." -Rom. 6:11.

"Dead indeed unto sin . . . alive unto God." This is what happens when a sinner is saved.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live..." --Gal. 2:20.

In salvation the old sinner is reckoned dead, crucified with Christ, and the believer has been made alive unto God. He has been made a new creature (II Cor. 5:17).

Baptism pictures this salvation that has occurred in the believer.

The old, condemned, sinner is dead ... crucified with Christ. This is pictured by being "buried with him by baptism." (Rom. 6:4.)

The believer is ‘""alive unto God" and is a new creature. This is pictured in baptism, "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." (Rom. 6:4.)

The believer is baptized to picture the salvation he already has, not to get salvation.

BY BURIAL IN WATER THE BELIEVER PUBLICLY CONFESSES HIS FAITH IN CHRIST WHO DIED FOR HIS SINS, WAS BURIED, AND AROSE AND THE BELIEVER DEMONSTRATES THAT HE HAS DIED TO THE OLD LIFE AND HAS BEEN RAISED TO WALK IN THE NEWNESS OF LIFE.