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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Baptism and Your Relationship With God How is Christian baptism performed? What steps do you need to take to qualify for baptism? How does a person make a dedication to God? What is the special reason for getting baptized? Why did an Ethiopian court official request baptism? “LOOK! A body of water; what prevents me from getting baptized?” That question was asked by an Ethiopian court official in the first century. A Christian named Philip had proved to him that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Touched to the heart by what he had learned from the Scriptures, the Ethiopian man took action. He showed that he wanted to be baptized! Why should you think seriously about baptism? 2 If you have carefully studied the earlier chapters of this book with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you may feel ready to ask, ‘What prevents me from getting baptized?’ By now you have learned about the Bible’s promise of everlasting life in Paradise. (Luke 23:43; Revelation 21:3, 4) You have also learned about the true condition of the dead and the resurrection hope. (Ecclesiastes 9:5; John 5:28, 29) You have probably been associating with Jehovah’s Witnesses at their congregation meetings and have seen for yourself how they practice the true religion. (John 13:35) Most important, you have likely begun to develop a personal relationship with Jehovah God. (a) What command did Jesus give his followers? (b) How is water baptism performed? 3 How can you show that you want to serve God? Jesus told his followers: “Go . and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” (Matthew 28:19) Jesus himself set the example by being baptized in water. He was not sprinkled with water, and he did not just have some water poured over his head. (Matthew 3:16) The word “baptize” comes from a Greek term meaning “dip.” Christian baptism therefore means being fully dipped, or immersed, in water. What does water baptism indicate? 4 Water baptism is a requirement for all who want to have a relationship with Jehovah God. Baptism publicly indicates your desire to serve God. It shows that you are delighted to do Jehovah’s will. (Psalm 40:7, 8) To qualify for baptism, however, you must take definite steps. KNOWLEDGE AND FAITH NEEDED (a) What is the first step in qualifying for baptism? (b) Why are Christian meetings important? 5 You have already begun to take the first step. How? By taking in knowledge of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, perhaps by means of a systematic study of the Bible. (John 17:3) But there is more to learn. Christians want to be “filled with the accurate knowledge of [God’s] will.” (Colossians 1:9) Attending the congregation meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses is a big help in this regard. It is important to attend such meetings. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) Regular meeting attendance will help you increase your knowledge of God. How much Bible knowledge must you have in order to qualify for baptism? 6 Of course, you do not need to know everything in the Bible in order to qualify for baptism. The Ethiopian court official had some knowledge, but he needed help to understand certain parts of the Scriptures. (Acts 8:30, 31) Likewise, you still have much to learn. In fact, you will never stop learning about God. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Before you can be baptized, however, you need to know and accept at least the basic Bible teachings. (Hebrews 5:12) Such teachings include the truth about the condition of the dead and the importance of God’s name and his Kingdom. What effect should a study of the Bible have on you? 7 Knowledge alone is not enough, though, for “without faith it is impossible to please [God] well.” (Hebrews 11:6) The Bible tells us that when some people in the ancient city of Corinth heard the Christian message, they “began to believe and be baptized.” (Acts 18:8) In a similar way, a study of the Bible should fill you with faith that it is the inspired Word of God. Bible study should help you to have faith in God’s promises and in the saving power of Jesus’ sacrifice. SHARING BIBLE TRUTH WITH OTHERS What will move you to share with others what you have learned? 8 As faith grows in your heart, you will find it hard to keep what you have learned to yourself. (Jeremiah 20:9) You will be strongly motivated to speak to others about God and his purposes. (a) With whom might you begin sharing Bible truth? (b) What should you do if you want to share in the organized preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses? 9 You might begin to share Bible truth with others by tactfully speaking about it to your relatives, friends, neighbors, and workmates. In time, you will want to share in the organized preaching work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At that point, feel free to talk things over with the Witness who is teaching you the Bible. If it appears that you qualify for the public ministry, arrangements will be made for you and your teacher to meet with two of the congregation elders. 10 This will enable you to get better acquainted with some Christian elders, who shepherd the flock of God. (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2, 3) If these elders see that you understand and believe basic Bible teachings, are living in harmony with God’s principles, and truly want to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they will let you know that you qualify to share in the public ministry as an unbaptized publisher of the good news. What changes might some have to make before they qualify for the public ministry? 11 On the other hand, you may need to make some changes in your life-style and habits in order to qualify for the public ministry. This may include stopping some practices that have been kept secret from others. Hence, before you ask about becoming an unbaptized publisher, you need to be free of serious sins, such as sexual immorality, drunkenness, and drug abuse. REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION Why is repentance necessary? 12 Some other steps must be taken before you qualify for baptism. The apostle Peter said: “Repent . and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out.” (Acts 3:19) To repent is to feel sincere regret over something you have done. Repentance is clearly fitting if a person has lived an immoral life, but it is also necessary even if one has lived a relatively clean life morally. Why? Because all humans are sinners and need God’s forgiveness. (Romans 3:23; 5:12) Before studying the Bible, you did not know what God’s will was. So how could you have lived in full harmony with his will? Therefore, repentance is necessary. What is conversion? 13 Repentance must be followed by conversion, or ‘turning around.’ You must do more than feel regret. You need to reject your former way of life and be firmly determined that you will do what is right from now on. Repentance and conversion are steps that you must take before being baptized. MAKING A PERSONAL DEDICATION What important step must you take before being baptized? 14 There is another important step to take before being baptized. You must dedicate yourself to Jehovah God. What does it mean to dedicate yourself to God, and what moves a person to do this? 15 When you dedicate yourself to Jehovah God in earnest prayer, you promise to give him your exclusive devotion forever. (Deuteronomy 6:15) Why, though, would someone want to do that? Well, suppose a man has begun to court a woman. The more he learns about her and sees that she has fine qualities, the more he finds himself drawn to her. In time, it is natural that he would ask her to marry him. True, getting married will mean taking on additional responsibilities. But love will move him to take that important step. 16 When you come to know and love Jehovah, you are moved to serve him without holding anything back or setting any limits in worshiping him. Anyone who wants to follow God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has to “disown himself.” (Mark 8:34) We disown ourselves by making sure that personal desires and goals do not stand in the way of our complete obedience to God. Before you can be baptized, then, doing Jehovah God’s will must be your main purpose in life. OVERCOMING FEAR OF FAILURE Why might some hold back from making a dedication to God? 17 Some hold back from making a dedication to Jehovah because they are somewhat afraid of taking such a serious step. They may fear being accountable to God as a dedicated Christian. Being afraid that they may fail and disappoint Jehovah, they think that it is best not to make a dedication to him. What can move you to make a dedication to Jehovah? 18 As you learn to love Jehovah, you will be moved to make a dedication to him and to do your best to live up to it. (Ecclesiastes 5:4) After making a dedication, surely you will want to “walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him.” (Colossians 1:10) Because of your love for God, you will not think it is too hard to do his will. No doubt you will agree with the apostle John, who wrote: “This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.” Why do you not need to fear making a dedication to God? 19 You do not have to be perfect to make a dedication to God. Jehovah knows your limitations and never expects you to do more than you are able to do. (Psalm 103:14) He wants you to succeed and will support and help you. (Isaiah 41:10) You can be sure that if you trust in Jehovah with all your heart, he “will make your paths straight.” SYMBOLIZING YOUR DEDICATION BY GETTING BAPTIZED Why can dedication to Jehovah not remain a private matter? 20 Thinking about the things we have just discussed may help you to make a personal dedication to Jehovah in prayer. Everyone who really loves God must also ‘make public declaration for salvation.’ (Romans 10:10) How do you go about doing that? How can you make “public declaration” of your faith? 21 Let the coordinator of the body of elders of your congregation know that you want to get baptized. He will arrange for some elders to review with you a number of questions that cover the Bible’s basic teachings. If these elders agree that you qualify, they will tell you that you can be baptized at the next opportunity. * A talk reviewing the meaning of baptism is usually given on such occasions. The speaker then invites all baptism candidates to answer two simple questions as one way to make a verbal “public declaration” of their faith. 22 It is the baptism itself that publicly identifies you as a person who has made a dedication to God and is now one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Baptism candidates are fully immersed in water to show publicly that they have made a dedication to Jehovah. THE MEANING OF YOUR BAPTISM What does it mean to be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit”? 23 Jesus said that his disciples would be baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) This means that a baptism candidate recognizes the authority of Jehovah God and of Jesus Christ. (Psalm 83:18; Matthew 28:18) He also recognizes the function and activity of God’s holy spirit, or active force. (a) What does baptism symbolize? (b) What question needs to be answered? 24 However, baptism is not a mere bath. It is a symbol of something very important. Going beneath the water symbolizes that you have died to your former life course. Being raised up out of the water indicates that you are now alive to do the will of God. Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization. Your dedication and baptism are the beginning of a very close friendship with God 25 Baptism does not guarantee salvation. The apostle Paul wrote: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) Baptism is only a beginning. The question is, How can you remain in God’s love? Our final chapter will provide the answer. ^ par. 21 Baptisms are a regular feature of annual assemblies and conventions held by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
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OSAMNAESTO POGLAVLJE Krštenje i tvoj odnos s Bogom Kako izgleda krštenje pravih kršćana? Koje korake trebaš poduzeti da bi se mogao krstiti? Kako se izvršava predanje Bogu? Iz kojeg se posebnog razloga trebamo krstiti? Zašto se etiopski dvoranin želio krstiti? “EVO vode! Što me sprečava da se krstim?” To je pitanje u prvom stoljeću postavio etiopski dvoranin. Kršćanin imenom Filip dokazao mu je da je Isus obećani Mesija. Ono što je taj Etiopljanin saznao iz Pisma toliko ga je dirnulo da je odlučio nešto poduzeti. Rekao je da se želi krstiti (Djela apostolska 8:26-36). Zašto trebaš ozbiljno razmisliti o krštenju? 2 Ako si temeljito proučio prijašnja poglavlja ove knjige s nekim Jehovinim svjedokom, možda smatraš da je vrijeme da i ti postaviš pitanje: ‘Što mene sprečava da se krstim?’ Do sada si već saznao za biblijsko obećanje o vječnom životu u raju (Luka 23:43; Otkrivenje 21:3, 4). Saznao si i za pravo stanje mrtvih te za nadu u uskrsnuće (Propovjednik 9:5; Ivan 5:28, 29). Po svoj prilici, ideš na skupštinske sastanke Jehovinih svjedoka i vidio si na koji način žive u skladu s pravom religijom (Ivan 13:35). Što je još važnije, vjerojatno si počeo razvijati odnos s Jehovom Bogom. (a) Koju je zapovijed Isus dao svojim sljedbenicima? (b) Kako se obavlja krštenje u vodi? 3 Kako možeš pokazati da želiš služiti Bogu? Isus je svojim sljedbenicima rekao: ‘Idite i načinite učenike od ljudi iz svih naroda, krsteći ih’ (Matej 28:19). Sam Isus dao je primjer u tome tako što se krstio u vodi. Nisu ga poškropili vodom niti su mu samo polili glavu (Matej 3:16). Riječ “krstiti” dolazi od grčkog izraza koji znači “uroniti”. Stoga da bi se netko krstio kao pravi kršćanin, on mora biti potpuno uronjen, odnosno podronjen pod vodu. Što se pokazuje krštenjem u vodi? 4 Svi koji žele razviti odnos s Jehovom Bogom moraju se krstiti u vodi. Krštenjem javno pokazuješ da želiš služiti Bogu. Ono je dokaz da ti je užitak vršiti Jehovinu volju (Psalam 40:7, 8). Međutim, da bi se mogao krstiti, najprije moraš poduzeti određene korake. STJECANJE ZNANJA I VJERE (a) Koji prvi korak moraš poduzeti da bi se mogao krstiti? (b) Zašto su kršćanski sastanci važni? 5 Prvi korak si već učinio. Kako? Tako što si počeo upoznavati Jehovu Boga i Isusa Krista, možda putem sistematskog proučavanja Biblije (Ivan 17:3). No ima još mnogo toga što trebaš naučiti. Kršćani trebaju biti ‘ispunjeni dobrim poznavanjem Božje volje’ (Kološanima 1:9). Posjećivanje skupštinskih sastanaka Jehovinih svjedoka velika je pomoć u tome. Važno je ići na te sastanke (Hebrejima 10:24, 25). Redovito posjećivanje tih sastanaka pomoći će ti da još bolje upoznaš Boga. Koliko moraš poznavati Bibliju da bi se mogao krstiti? 6 Naravno, ne moraš poznavati cijelu Bibliju da bi se mogao krstiti. Etiopski dvoranin imao je određenu mjeru znanja, ali svejedno je trebao pomoć da bi mogao razumjeti neke dijelove Pisama (Djela apostolska 8:30, 31). Slično tome, i ti trebaš naučiti još mnogo toga. Ustvari, nikada nećeš prestati učiti o Bogu (Propovjednik 3:11). Međutim, da bi se mogao krstiti, moraš znati barem osnovna biblijska učenja i vjerovati u njih (Hebrejima 5:12). To je, naprimjer, istina o stanju mrtvih te važnost Božjeg imena i njegovog Kraljevstva. Kako proučavanje Biblije treba utjecati na tebe? 7 No ni samo znanje nije dovoljno jer ‘bez vjere je nemoguće ugoditi Bogu’ (Hebrejima 11:6). Biblija nam kaže da su neki ljudi u drevnom Korintu čuli poruku koju su propovijedali kršćani te ‘povjerovali i krstili se’ (Djela apostolska 18:8). Slično tome, proučavajući Bibliju trebaš steći vjeru u to da je ona nadahnuta Božja Riječ. Proučavanje Biblije treba ti pomoći da vjeruješ u Božja obećanja i u Isusovu žrtvu zahvaljujući kojoj dobivaš spasenje (Jošua 23:14; Djela apostolska 4:12; 2. PRENOŠENJE BIBLIJSKE ISTINE DRUGIMA Što će te potaknuti da govoriš drugima o onome što si naučio? 8 Kako vjera u tvom srcu bude rasla, tako će ti biti sve teže zadržati za sebe ono što si naučio (Jeremija 20:9). Osjetit ćeš snažnu želju da govoriš drugima o Bogu i njegovim naumima (2. Korinćanima 4:13). (a) Kome možeš početi prenositi biblijsku istinu? (b) Što trebaš činiti ako želiš sudjelovati u organiziranom propovijedanju Jehovinih svjedoka? 9 Biblijsku bi istinu mogao početi prenositi drugima tako da o njoj taktično govoriš svojoj obitelji i rodbini, prijateljima, susjedima i kolegama na poslu. S vremenom ćeš poželjeti sudjelovati u organiziranom propovijedanju Jehovinih svjedoka. Tada to slobodno reci osobi koja te poučava o Bibliji. Ako udovoljavaš preduvjetima za sudjelovanje u službi propovijedanja, ti i osoba koja te poučava sastat ćete se s dvojicom skupštinskih starješina. To će ti omogućiti da se bolje upoznaš s nekima od starješina, koji se brinu za Božje stado (Djela apostolska 20:28; 1. Petrova 5:2, 3). Ako vide da razumiješ temeljna biblijska učenja i vjeruješ u njih, da živiš u skladu s Božjim načelima te da doista želiš postati Jehovin svjedok, reći će ti da možeš početi sudjelovati u službi propovijedanja kao nekršteni objavitelj dobre vijesti. Koje promjene neki moraju napraviti da bi mogli ići u službu propovijedanja? S druge strane, možda moraš učiniti neke promjene u svom životu i navikama da bi mogao ići u službu propovijedanja. To može značiti da trebaš prestati s postupcima koje si dosad tajio pred drugima. Stoga prije nego izraziš svoju želju da postaneš nekršteni objavitelj, trebaš prestati činiti ozbiljne grijehe kao što su spolni nemoral, opijanje i zloupotreba droge (1. Korinćanima 6:9, 10; Galaćanima 5:19-21). POKAJANJE I OBRAĆENJE Zašto je pokajanje neophodno? Prije krštenja moraš učiniti još neke korake. Apostol Petar je rekao: ‘Pokajte se i obratite da se izbrišu grijesi vaši’ (Djela apostolska 3:19). Pokajati se znači osjećati iskreno žaljenje zbog nečeg što si učinio. Pokajanje je, dakako, potrebno ako je netko živio nemoralnim životom, ali potrebno je i ako je vodio relativno čestit život. Zašto? Zato što su svi ljudi grešni i trebaju Božje oproštenje (Rimljanima 3:23; 5:12). Prije nego što si počeo proučavati Bibliju nisi poznavao Božju volju. Zar si onda mogao živjeti u skladu s tom voljom? Dakle, pokajanje je neophodno. Što je obraćenje? Pokajanje mora biti popraćeno obraćenjem. Nije dovoljno da ti samo bude žao zbog onog što si činio. Moraš napustiti svoj prijašnji način života i čvrsto odlučiti da ćeš ubuduće činiti ono što je ispravno. Pokajanje i obraćenje koraci su koje moraš poduzeti prije krštenja. PREDANJE BOGU Koji važan korak moraš poduzeti prije krštenja? Postoji još jedan važan korak koji se poduzima prije krštenja. Moraš se predati Jehovi Bogu. Što znači predati se Bogu, i što osobu potiče na to? Kad se predaš Jehovi Bogu u usrdnoj molitvi, obećavaš mu da ćeš zauvijek biti odan isključivo njemu (5. Mojsijeva 6:15). A zašto bi to učinio? Zamisli čovjeka koji se počne udvarati nekoj ženi. Što je bolje upoznaje i uočava njene dobre osobine, postaje mu sve draža. Sasvim je prirodno da će je s vremenom zaprositi. Istina, stupiti u brak znači preuzeti na sebe dodatne odgovornosti. No ljubav će ga potaknuti da učini taj važan korak. Kad upoznaš i zavoliš Jehovu, želiš mu služiti potpuno i bezrezervno. Tko god želi slijediti Božjeg Sina, Isusa Krista, mora se ‘odreći sebe’ (Marko 8:34). Mi se odričemo sebe time što nam osobne želje i ciljevi nisu važniji od potpune poslušnosti Bogu. Stoga prije nego se krstiš, vršenje volje Jehove Boga mora ti postati smisao života (1. Petrova 4:2). NEMOJ SE BOJATI DA ĆEŠ ZAKAZATI Zašto neki oklijevaju predati se Bogu? Neki oklijevaju predati se Jehovi jer se boje učiniti takav ozbiljan korak. Možda se boje da će kao predani kršćani morati polagati račun Bogu. Boje se da će zakazati i razočarati Jehovu, pa misle da je najbolje da mu se ne predaju. Što te može potaknuti da se predaš Jehovi? Kako tvoja ljubav prema Jehovi bude rasla, tako ćeš sve više željeti predati mu se i svojski se truditi živjeti u skladu s tim predanjem (Propovjednik 5:4). Nakon predanja sigurno ćeš željeti ‘živjeti životom dostojnim Jehove i tako mu potpuno ugoditi’ (Kološanima 1:10). Budući da ljubiš Boga, nećeš smatrati da je preteško vršiti njegovu volju. Nesumnjivo ćeš se složiti s apostolom Ivanom, koji je napisao: “Ljubiti Boga znači držati zapovijedi njegove, a zapovijedi njegove nisu teške” (1. Ivanova 5:3). Zašto se ne trebaš bojati predanja Bogu? Ne moraš biti savršen da bi se predao Bogu. Jehova zna tvoja ograničenja i nikad od tebe ne očekuje više nego što možeš učiniti (Psalam 103:14). On želi da uspiješ, pa će te podupirati i pomagat će ti (Izaija 41:10). Možeš biti siguran da će Jehova, ako se uzdaš u njega svim svojim srcem, “ispraviti staze tvoje” (Mudre izreke 3:5, 6). KRŠTENJE — DOKAZ TVOG PREDANJA Zašto predanje Jehovi ne može ostati privatna stvar? Razmišljanje o onom što smo upravo razmatrali može ti pomoći da odlučiš predati se Jehovi u molitvi. Svatko tko uistinu ljubi Boga mora obznanjivati svoju vjeru kako bi postigao spasenje (Rimljanima 10:10). Kako to možeš učiniti? Kako možeš obznaniti svoju vjeru? Reci koordinatoru starješinstva svoje skupštine da se želiš krstiti. On će se dogovoriti s nekoliko starješina da s tobom razmotre niz pitanja kojima se obrađuju temeljna biblijska učenja. Ako se slože da se možeš krstiti, obavijestit će te da to možeš učiniti prvom prilikom. * Prilikom krštenja obično se održi govor o značenju tog čina. Govornik potom pozove sve kandidate za krštenje da odgovore na dva jednostavna pitanja i tako obznane svoju vjeru. Krštenje je javni dokaz da si se predao Bogu i postao Jehovin svjedok. Kandidate za krštenje potpuno se uranja u vodu kako bi svi znali da su se predali Jehovi. ZNAČENJE KRŠTENJA Što znači krstiti se “u ime Oca i Sina i svetog duha”? Isus je rekao da će se njegovi učenici krstiti “u ime Oca i Sina i svetog duha” (Matej 28:19). To znači da kandidat za krštenje priznaje vlast Jehove Boga i Isusa Krista (Psalam 83:18; Matej 28:18). On također priznaje ulogu i djelovanje Božjeg svetog duha, sile kojom se On služi (Galaćanima 5:22, 23; 2. Petrova 1:21). (a) Što krštenje predočava? (b) Na koje pitanje trebamo odgovoriti? Međutim, krštenje nije tek neko pranje tijela u vodi. Ono predočava nešto jako važno. Uranjanje u vodu predočava kraj tvog dotadašnjeg načina života, a ustajanje iz vode predočava početak novog života posvećenog vršenju Božje volje. Važno je da upamtiš i to da si se predao samom Jehovi Bogu, a ne nekom djelu, ideji, ljudima ili organizaciji. Tvoje predanje i krštenje početak su vrlo bliskog prijateljstva s Bogom — prisnog odnosa s njim (Psalam 25:14). Krštenje nije jamstvo za spasenje. Apostol Pavao je napisao: “Radite na svojem spasenju sa strahom i drhtanjem” (Filipljanima 2:12). Krštenje je tek početak. Stoga se postavlja pitanje: Kako se možeš održati u Božjoj ljubavi? Odgovor na to pitanje nalazi se u zadnjem poglavlju. ^ odl. 21 Krštenje je istaknuto obilježje godišnjih sastanaka pokrajine i kongresa Jehovinih svjedoka.