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Water Baptism is a public declaration or confession of an inward manifestation; being born-again. One identifies with Jesus Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Water Baptism is one of two church ordinances; the second, communion instructed to all believers in Jesus Christ.
Water Baptism illustrates the spiritual cleansing one experiences when getting saved. It is a declaration that we now have identity in Christ Jesus through Baptism. We are therefore buried with him and raised to new life with him. (Romans 6:3-4)
Water Baptism symbolizes the believer’s trust in, and total reliance on the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as a commitment to live obediently to and for Him. It also expresses unity with all the saints (Ephesians 2:19) that is, with every person in every nation on earth who is a member of the Body of Christ (Galatians 3:27–28). Water Baptism does not save us. Instead, we are saved by grace through faith, apart from works (Ephesians 2:8–9). We are baptized because our Lord commanded it: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Water Baptism is for all believers in Jesus Christ. Before we are Baptized, we must come to believe that we are sinners in need of salvation (Romans 3:23). We must also believe that Christ died on the cross for us to pay for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was resurrected to assure our place in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). When we turn to Jesus, asking Him to forgive our sins and be our Savior, we are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our eternal salvation is guaranteed, and we begin to die to ourselves and live for Christ (1 Peter 1:3–5). At that time, we are scripturally qualified to be Baptized.
Water Baptism is a picture of what Jesus has done for us in the victory of the cross. When one is completely immersed in the water, it symbolizes burial with Jesus; we are Baptized into His death on the cross and are no longer slaves to self or sin (Romans 6:3–7). When we are raised out of the water, we are symbolically resurrected; raised to new life in Christ to be with Him forever. Now born into the family of our loving God (Romans 8:16).
Water has been symbolic throughout biblical history. The ordinance of Baptism is not found in the Old Testament, however there are biblical events that represented a type of Baptism, and those events pointed to and eventually found fulfillment in the New Testament practice commanded by Christ. Noah and his family were saved from destruction through the waters of the flood; the Israelites under Moses gained their freedom from slavery through the water of the Red Sea; the Israelites under Joshua entered the Promised Land through the water of the Jordan River; Elisha began his ministry after the rapture of Elijah by passing through the waters of the Jordan; John the Baptist called for repentance to be shown through Baptism in water. Today, every Christian since Jesus’ ascension must be baptized in water to show their repentance from sin and faith in Christ.
Mark 16:15
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:4-6
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
