Baptism is
the act of being immersed in water
(or having water applied)
as a public sign of
identification with Jesus Christ
in His death, burial, and resurrection.
It is an ordinance commanded by Jesus
and practiced by the early church
as the initiatory rite for
those who respond to the gospel
in repentance and faith.
Jesus commanded baptism as part of the Great Commission:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
On the day of Pentecost, Peter declared:
“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.” (Acts 2:38)
Throughout the book of Acts, those who believed the gospel were baptized (Acts 8:12, 36-38; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8).
Baptism is rich in spiritual meaning:
Baptism does not itself save; it is the response of a heart that has already received salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is an act of obedience and public witness.
In the New Testament pattern:
While different Christian traditions vary on the mode and the proper subjects of baptism, the New Testament consistently links baptism with personal faith in Christ.
Baptism is a beautiful and important ordinance of the church. It is not a requirement for salvation, but it is a command of Christ and a vital first step of obedience for every new believer. Through baptism, a Christian publicly identifies with Jesus and with His people, declaring that the old life has been buried and a new life in Christ has begun.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.