The Study Watchtower, "Article 10", Week of May 1 to 7, 2023, Why be baptized?, Answers.

The Study Watchtower, "Article 10", May 1-7-2023, Why be baptized?, Answers.

"Let each one of you be baptized" (ACTS 2:38).

1, 2. a) In general, what happens when someone is baptized?

When someone is baptized, we hear voices full of conviction, both from family and friends, the reason is that they cannot contain their joy. And when the candidates come out of the water, we see their faces beaming with happiness. And due to the decision they have made, applause is heard from all those present.

1, 2. b) What will we see in this article?

In this article we will look at three of the many reasons we have for serving Jehovah. And also for those of us who are already baptized, this article will reinforce our desire to serve our God forever. 

HIS LOVE FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE

3. Why do Jehovah's servants love truth and justice? (Psalm 119:128, 163).

Although it is true as they mention the texts of Zechariah 8:19 where it says that it is a command of Jehovah. And Psalm 119 verse 163, that: We must hate and detest falsehood, which means that we must love his law. However, we love the truth because we want so badly to do what is right, good, and clean from God's point of view. 

4. How has Jehovah shown that he is “the God of truth”? (See also image).

Seeing the image corresponding to this paragraph we can see that because Satan has stained the name of Jehovah by deceiving Eve, Jehovah has shown that he is the God of truth, opening our eyes and freeing us from the devil's lies. And he does it, teaching each one of his servants to be honest and act fairly, because if we do, we will have inner peace.

ILLUSTRATION

Satan uses a snake to talk to Eve. Satan has been staining Jehovah's holy name for thousands of years. (See paragraphs 3 and 4)

5. What can you do to stand up for truth and justice?

Our actions and what we do with our lives will show that we reject Satan. For example: we stand for truth and justice, we do promise Jehovah in prayer that we will serve them forever. Also by being baptized publicly we will show that we have decided to dedicate ourselves to him and that we stand on his side, in that way we can defend the truth and justice of Jehovah.

HIS LOVE FOR JESUS ​​CHRIST

6. According to Psalm 45:4, what reasons do we have to love Jesus Christ?

One of the reasons is found in Psalm 45:9 where he mentions that Jesus defends and promotes the truth, and not only that, but also humility and justice. If we love these important qualities highlighted in the text, then we will also come to love Jesus who perfectly demonstrated, defended and promoted these qualities.

Another reason we have to love Jesus Christ is the courage with which Jesus defended truth and justice, as mentioned in John 18:37. Since despite being in charge of a person who had a lot of authority, he never allowed the fear of man to prevent him from defending the truth and justice of God.

7. What strikes you most about the humility of Jesus?

It caught my attention that Jesus not only told us that we must be humble, but he demonstrated it with his words and actions. Proof of this is the text of Mark 10:17 18, where he mentions that a man who came running, called him a good Teacher in order to flatter him or praise him in an exaggerated and interested way to get a favor or win his will. In response to this, Jesus asked him why he called him good and he stressed that no one is good, thus emphasizing that only the only Good is his father. What Jesus did is an example that if we are humble, we will give Jehovah the recognition that only He deserves. 

8. Why do we love that Jesus is our King?

Jesus is the ideal ruler, that is why we love that he is our King, and another reason why we love it is that Jehovah himself trained him, that is why we have confidence that Jesus will be the best king that can be exist both on earth and in heaven. 

In addition, we also love that he is our King because of the selfless love that Jesus showed towards others.

9. How is the baptism of Jesus similar to that of Christians?

Something similar that the baptism of Jesus has with the baptism of his disciples, is that both Jesus and his disciples appear before Jehovah to do his will. Since both, by being baptized, publicly demonstrate that they have dedicated themselves to Jehovah and that from that moment on the most important thing in their lives is to do God's will and not theirs, in this way we follow the example of Jesus when we decide to take this very important decision.

Differences between the baptism of Jesus and that of his followers

The baptism of Jesus:

He did not have to dedicate himself to Jehovah because he was born into a nation that was already dedicated to God (Ex. 19:4-8).

He did not have to repent of any sin or ask God for a good conscience because he was perfect (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22).

Baptism of followers of Christ:

Today, there is no race or nation dedicated to Jehovah, as was ancient Israel (Acts 10:34, 35). Today, followers of Jesus dedicate our lives to Jehovah before being baptized.

In order to be baptized, human beings, who are imperfect, must first repent of the sins committed and ask God for a good conscience (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet. 3:21).

10. What reasons do you have for loving Jesus, and what should that love motivate you to do?

Well, some of the reasons we have to love Jesus and that motivate us to do so, first of all is his humility, the way in which he imitated his father's personality, and all this led him to help a lot when he was on earth. to the people. For example, he fed the hungry, comforted the discouraged, and even healed the sick. And this should motivate us to take that step of dedicating ourselves to Jehovah and getting baptized. 

HIS LOVE FOR JEHOVAH

11. What is the main reason for being baptized, and why?

The main reason for getting baptized is that it is a very important commandment, and that commandment comes from God. And we will make this decision because we love Jehovah God with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our minds, and with all our strength, just as Mark 12:30 mentions.

ILLUSTRATION

Images of some gifts that show Jehovah's love. 1. An assortment of fresh foods. 2. A family enjoys a cookout. 3. Jesus on the torture stake. All the good things you have and will have in the future are a gift from Jehovah. (See paragraphs 12 and 13).

12. Why do you love Jehovah? (See also pictures).

Jehovah, being the source of life, He is the only one who can give us good gifts and perfect gifts as mentioned in Psalm 36:9 and James 1:17. By giving us good things, Jehovah shows us that he is generous and loves us very much.

Good because we have learned that he is the source of life and that he loves all human beings, he gives us all things, as can be seen in the image, he has given us an infinity of food, he has given us a better future through ransom. As we can also see in the image, the rescue of his son gives all human beings that possibility in the future to enjoy life in paradise. 

13. Why is the ransom such a special gift?

The ransom is a special gift, since Jehovah gave up what he loved most, the life of his son. So we can think about how heartbreaking that moment became for Jehovah, allowing his son to suffer and die. So it's a special gift because in that way Jehovah also showed love for humanity that he gave his beloved son as a sacrifice so that all people can live forever.

14. What is the best decision you can make in life?

The best decision we can make in our life is through our words and through our actions. That way we can rejoice the heart of Jehovah, that is why leading a life that pleases Jehovah is the best decision we can make.

15. In what way can you show your love for Jehovah?

First we must make a special prayer to tell him that we are willing to dedicate to him, the only true god. Then he must be baptized to make public that dedication that he has made in private.

16. As indicated by Psalm 41:12, what reward will Jehovah give to those who use their lives to serve him?

Well, it will give us the most exciting, rewarding, and happy life we ​​could possibly have. And we see that this is only the beginning of the path that begins with baptism, it does not have to end, since we can serve our beloved father Jehovah forever. 

17. What is something that Jehovah does not have that you can give him?

Loyalty and an integral service, there is nothing better that we can do with our lives than to show Jehovah through our loyalty and our unconditional service our love for Jehovah, since it is the most powerful reason to be baptized. 

ARE YOU READY TO BE BAPTIZED?

18. What questions can you ask yourself?

First, we can ask ourselves about our love for truth and justice. Let's ask ourselves: “Do I want to see the day when everyone tells the truth and does the right thing?” Second, because of our love for Jesus Christ. Let us ask ourselves: "Do I want the Son of God to be my King and do I want to follow in his footsteps?" And, third and most important, our love for Jehovah. Let us ask ourselves: “Do I want to serve Jehovah and thus make his heart glad?”

19. Why shouldn't you hesitate to get baptized? Give an example (John 4:34).

Jehovah does not ask us to do things that hurt us, well, God's will is that we be baptized. We should not hesitate to get baptized because it is God's will, Jehovah is not asking us for something that will cause us harm. Rather, he wants us to do his will and not baptize. And an example of this is if you were served the most delicious food in the world, would you not hesitate to eat it? So let's not hesitate to get baptized either. 

20. What will we see in the next article?

If we have decided to be baptized, the next article will help us be ready to take that step.

WHAT WOULD YOU ANSWER?

Why does love for truth and justice prompt us to be baptized?

Because we really want to live a life governed by truth and justice, it is not for everyone, not everyone likes truth or justice, but what we do with our lives shows others that we reject lies and and the injustices that we see around us, and we show that the creator Jehovah is our ruler, that is why we promise him in a prayer that we will serve him forever, then we have to be baptized to publicly demonstrate that decision.

Why does love for Jesus Christ prompt us to be baptized?

Love for him Christ compels us, not in a bad sense, compels us to endure to move on. When we feel like we can't anymore, that we want to give up this ministry, so to speak, this lifestyle. Then we turn to see Jesus Christ who endured. The example of the legacy that he left drives us, renews us, motivates us to endure with joy what happens around us and one way to demonstrate it is by following his example and obeying the commandment to be baptized.

Why does love for Jehovah prompt us to be baptized?

Because it is one of the commandments: To love the creator with all the heart, with all the soul, all the mind and all the strength, what one decides to do with his life, shows if he really loves Jehovah. 

There are people who first say my career as a businessman, my career at the university and then we will see if there is any time left for God, first my career as an actor, as an athlete. But many die before achieving those goals and there it was, they didn't even finish that race. So they did not achieve materially and much less spiritually, leading a life that pleases Jehovah is the best decision someone can make.