Water Baptism

In the Bible baptism by immersion in water is commanded by God as the second part of his great salvation plan for all his people (Acts 2:37-38). It is inextricably linked to repentance and faith, and ideally it should follow immediately after our confession of Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9). As with everything else, Jesus Christ is our example: he himself was baptised (Matthew 3:13-17). In doing so he established a pattern for all who follow him as his disciples. Baptism clearly is only for believers (Mark 16:15-16); there is no evidence at all in the Bible for the sprinkling of babies. Baptism is done by total immersion in water (John 3:23, Acts 8:38-39). The Greeks used the word baptizo to describe the dyeing of a garment by submerging it in water, or the drawing of water by dipping one vessel into another. Its strongest meaning is to 'submerge' or 'plunge'. Baptism is very much a biblical command for all Christians, it is not an optional extra that we can decide to take or leave (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-39; 10:48).

What happens in Baptism?

Baptism is a funeral with a difference! It is just like a death and burial, but unlike a normal funeral there is also a resurrection! (Romans 6:3-9). Baptism involves a personal declaration of our repentance from sin and of faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour (Acts 2:38). It is the beginning of a new life of discipleship (Matthew 28:19-20). In baptism we surrender to Jesus as the Lord of our life. We are baptised 'in the name of', which literally means 'under the authority of'. Baptism is the challenge to us whether our claim to repentance and faith is genuine. It is the death and burial of our old life with all its sinful nature and is our resurrection to a brand new life (Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16). In baptism we are 'clothed with Christ' (Galatians 3:27). We are now able to live the risen life of Jesus Christ himself in the power of the Holy Spirit. In baptism we receive a good conscience towards God and the renewing of our minds (1Peter 3:20-21; 1Timothy 1:5, 19; Titus:1:1). We are also baptised into Christ's body on earth - the church (Acts 2:41, Galatians 3:27, 1Corinthians 12:13).

Our baptism not only has a 'vertical affect' toward God; it also has a real 'horizontal affect' towards all other Christians. We are not only baptised into Christ but also into his people, the church. This means that we are no longer to live sinful, selfish, independent lives. We are now part of a corporate body with all its privileges and responsibilities. We now belong to a new family ­ the people of God (1Peter 2:9-10). Baptism means things will never be the same again for us; the old has gone and the new has come (2Corinthians 5:17).