The senior pastor of the House of Miracles Evangelical Church, Pastor Akin Obafemi, has delivered a stirring sermon titled “Why Water Baptism Matters,” insisting that every believer must undergo water baptism as a divine ordinance, not an optional ritual.
Preaching from Mark 16:16, Pastor Obafemi declared that while salvation is the first step, baptism is the immediate next command for every Christian. “He who has believed and is baptised will be saved,” he quoted, stressing that Jesus Himself walked 60 miles from Galilee to the River Jordan to be baptised by John “to fulfil all righteousness.”
The pastor outlined four ordinances given by Jesus: love one another, the Lord’s Supper, healing the sick, and making disciples through baptism. Calling baptism “non‑negotiable,” he referenced Matthew 28:19‑20, where Jesus commands His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
Obafemi also cited Acts 2:38‑41, where Peter told the crowd to “repent and be baptised” for the forgiveness of sins, and 3,000 people were baptised that day. He explained that baptism symbolises death to the old self, burial with Christ, and resurrection to a new life. “Going under the water means death to your old life. When you rise, you are resurrected into a new life in Christ,” he said.
The pastor emphasised that baptism is a public declaration of faith, separating believers from the power of darkness and renewing their commitment to holiness. “It is not for your children alone. If you have given your life to Jesus and have not been baptised, you must do it,” he urged.
Pastor Obafemi described the ceremony as a “big day,” celebrated by heaven itself, and called on all believers to obey this divine decree.
