When someone trusts Jesus to be their Savior and Lord, the church celebrates with them and welcomes them into the family of faith through baptism. While it might seem strange to dip a person under water and bring them back up again, it actually makes perfect sense as an act that illustrates a person’s changed life through Christian faith.
Throughout the history of the church, different views have formed around baptism. It’s important, then, to consider what the Bible says (and doesn’t say) about baptism.
What does baptism mean?
What is baptism? The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word baptizo, which means “to dip, plunge, or immerse.” From the beginning of the church’s existence, new believers were baptized in water to show they identified with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead” Colossians 2.12 NLT.
Who should be baptized?
Who can be baptized? Because baptism is the outward declaration of faith in Jesus, it should be reserved for people who have repented of their sin and believed in Jesus for salvation. There aren’t any accounts in the Bible of someone being baptized before they trusted Jesus. “Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins’” Acts 2.38 NLT.
What does the Bible show us about baptism?
How should a person be baptized? The biblical accounts of baptism indicate that it was done by lowering the new convert under water and bringing him up again. This is a process known as immersion. While different churches have adopted different methods of baptism, it’s clear that immersion most clearly symbolizes Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Mark 1.10 NLT says, “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.”
Why does baptism matter?
Why should a person be baptized? In the Great Commission, Jesus commanded his followers to be baptized (Matthew 28.19). So, the first reason why a person should be baptized is out of obedience to Jesus. That’s why baptism is sometimes referred to as the “first step of obedience” for a new believer.
Beyond that, a person should be baptized because they want to make a public declaration of their new association with Jesus.
A picture of a changed life
While baptism isn’t required for salvation, it is a wonderful picture and celebration of what Jesus has done in a person’s life (Titus 3.4-6).
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Walk With God.
