Baptism is the outward testimony of the believer’s inward faith. A sinner is saved the moment he places his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Baptism is a visible testimony to that faith. Water baptism is the ordinance representing the identification of the Christian with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3-5
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.

You are “crucified” (standing in water), you are “buried” (immersed into the water), and you are “resurrected into life” (raised out of the water) Romans. 6:3-5

We are not saved by baptism, but by faith in Jesus Christ (1 John 1:7) (Col 1:14).

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:14

Jesus did not die for his own sins; He had none. Instead, by a transaction that we may never fully understand, He died for the sins of the world. When we commit our lives to Christ and thus identify ourselves with Him, His death becomes ours. He has paid the penalty for our sins, and His blood has purified us.

Baptism is established by God (John 1:33).

I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:33-34

It is an example shown by our Lord (Mathew 3:16).

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17

It is the last commandment (Mathew 28:18-20).

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

It is the decision by God (Luke 7:30).

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. Luke 7:30

It is a doctrine (Acts 2:38).

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

It is good conscious to the Lord (1Pet 3:21).

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:21

It is the righteousness of God (Mathew 3:15)

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. Matthew 3:15

Christian water baptism pictures at least four important things:

1. Baptism pictures and declares the believer’s death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12
2. Baptism pictures and declares the death of our old life to sin, and our resurrection to walk in newness of life. “As Christ was raised up from the dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
3. Baptism pictures and declares our faith in the Trinity of the Godhead. “Baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
4. Baptism pictures and declares our “putting on” of Christ. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26,27

So then, water baptism is a picture of what transpired when you placed your faith and trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins (Romans 6:3-5).

Who should be baptized?

1. Those who repented their sins (Acts 2:38).

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

2. Those who received the word (Acts 2:41).

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Acts 2:41

3. Those who believed (Acts 8:12, 36-37).

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. Acts 8:12

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Acts 16:31-33

When the Philippian jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved….” (Acts 16:30-34). His baptism came after his believing. Who then should be baptized? Only those who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

When should we be baptized?

The Bible teaches that water baptism follows after the new birth. Read the example of Paul (Acts 9:18), Cornelius (Acts 10:43-48), the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:33) and a man of Ethiopia Acts 8:35-37).

How should we be baptized?

The word baptizes means to immerse, to engulf or to dip. How is a believer to be baptized? by Immersion in water, in Matthew 3:16 and in Mark 1:9-10, John 3:23 we find that John the Baptist needed “much water” for baptism.

In Acts 8:38-39 we are taught baptism by immersion.

So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:38-39

In Romans 6:3-6 we see that baptism must fulfill three types: death, burial and resurrection. It is not difficult to see that the only mode of baptism which fulfills all these pictures is the immersion of the believer in water. Furthermore, scriptural expressions such as “much water” (John 3:23), and “down both into the water” (Acts 8:38) are very conclusive evidence that water baptism is by immersion.

Baptism was a sign of identification with Christ and with the Christian community. Although there were no witnesses besides Philip, it was still important for the eunuch to take this step. Jesus commanded us to baptize (Mathew 28:18-19) in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (i.e. the authority of). The word Trinity does not occur in Scripture, but it well describes the three-in-one nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The disciples were to baptize people because baptism unites a believer with Jesus Christ in his or her death to sin and resurrection to new life. Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God’s way, and identification with God’s covenant people.

Why should we be baptized?

Water baptism is the Christian’s identification with Christ (Colossians 2:12).

buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. Colossians 2:12

When Jesus was baptized, God the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). When we follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, we certainly please the Father. Baptism parallels the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and it also portrays the death and burial of our sinful old way of life followed by resurrection to new life in Christ. Remembering that our old sinful life is dead and buried with Christ gives us a powerful motive to resist sin.

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