Water Baptism
Water baptism is a powerful and visible expression of an inward transformation that occurs when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ. Though baptism itself does not save us, it symbolizes our total trust in Jesus, our unity with fellow believers, and our commitment to live obediently under His lordship.
i. Immersion
The Biblical Mode of Baptism
The word baptize (Greek baptizō) literally means to immerse. Immersion best represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
“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 )
ii. A symbol of Faith and obedience
Baptism Is a Symbol of Trust and Commitment
Baptism serves as a public declaration of our faith in Jesus Christ. It reflects our reliance on His death, burial, and resurrection for our salvation.
“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” ( Romans 6: 4 )
It shows that we have died to our old, sinful way of life and have been raised to walk in newness of life with Christ.
Baptism Expresses Unity with the Body of Christ
Through baptism, we express our spiritual union with all believers—those from every nation and background—who have trusted in Christ.
“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” ( Ephesians 2: 19 )
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” ( Galatians 3: 27 –28 )
Baptism Is Not a Means of Salvation
While baptism is important, it is not the act that brings salvation. Scripture is clear that we are saved by grace through faith—not by works or religious rituals.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” ( Ephesians 28 –9 )
Baptism follows salvation as an act of obedience, not a requirement for it.
Baptism Is Commanded by Jesus
Jesus gave His followers the clear instruction to baptize those who become His disciples.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing the min the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” ( Matthew 28: 19 )
Obeying this command is a step of discipleship and submission to Christ’s authority.
Baptism Is for Believers Only
Before baptism, a person must come to understand and believe that they are a sinner in need of salvation through Christ.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” ( Romans 3: 23 )
The gospel we respond to is clear and powerful:
“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” ( 1 Corinthians 15: 3 –4 )
Baptism Follows New Birth in Christ
When a person repents, places their faith in Christ, and receives Him as Savior, they are born again. Baptism then becomes the next step in publicly declaring that new life.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. ( 1 Peter 1: 3 –5 )
iii. The symbolism of Water Baptism:
Water baptism is more than just a ritual—it is a profound and visible expression of what Christ has done in and for us. Each element of baptism—immersion, burial, and rising—mirrors the central truths of the gospel: Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
1. Burial and Resurrection with Christ
When a believer is immersed in water, it symbolizes being buried with Christ, dying to the old self and the power of sin.
“Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” ( Romans 6: 3 –4 )
Rising from the water illustrates being spiritually resurrected—given new life through Christ, never to be enslaved by sin again.
“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.” ( Romans 6: 6 –7 )
2. Adoption into God’s Family
Baptism not only pictures new life but also celebrates our adoption in to God’s family.
“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.”( Romans 8: 16 )
It’s a reminder that believers belong to a spiritual household that spans the globe and eternity.
3. Spiritual Cleansing by the Holy Spirit
Though water can clean the body, baptism represents a deeper spiritual cleansing—the washing away of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit when we place our faith in Jesus.
“He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” ( Titus 3: 5 )
4. Salvation Without Baptism:
The clearest biblical example that baptism is not required for salvation is the thief on the cross.
“Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come in to your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise. ( Luke 23: 42 –43 )
This man had no chance to be baptized, yet Jesus assured him of eternal life because of his faith and repentance.
5. Spiritual Baptism into Christ
While the thief was not baptized in water, he was spiritually united with Christ at the moment of his faith—what the Bible calls being baptized in to Christ’s death.
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” ( Galatians 3: 27 )
6. Baptism as Obedience and Love for Christ
Water baptism is a command from Jesus and a declaration of our love and obedience to Him.
“If you love me, obey my commandments.” ( John 14: 15 )
To follow Him in baptism is to say, “Jesus, I am yours—completely and publicly.”
Water baptism is a powerful and meaningful act that symbolizes the inner transformation that occurs when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ. While baptism does not save us, it is a public declaration of our trust in Christ’s death and resurrection, our commitment to follow Him, and our unity with the global body of believers. Rooted in Scripture, baptism reflects obedience to Jesus’ command and illustrates key spiritual truths—dying to sin, rising to new life, being cleansed by the Holy Spirit, and being adopted into God’s family. It is an outward expression of an inward reality, a visible testimony of the grace we’ve received