Water baptism is not a suggestion in the Bible—it's a command. It's not optional for believers but essential in the life of every follower of Christ. Baptism represents that moment when our belief becomes bold and our faith steps out of the shadows to go public. It's not just a ritual; it's a REVEAL of who you are and WHOSE you are.
Jesus gave His followers two ordinances to observe: communion and water baptism. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands: "Therefore, go make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." You could say that baptism is just as important as the Great Commission because it is part of the Great Commission. The Word of God clearly teaches that after deciding to receive Jesus as Savior, we need to get baptized.
If this was His command, why do people who love God hesitate to get baptized? Here is what I see:
- They don’t understand the importance. Some churches rarely emphasize baptism, perhaps baptizing only one or two people a year. But baptism is a big deal in Scripture—it's something every believer should experience and enter into with expectation that God has something special for them in their walk with Christ.
- They have a strong commitment to the tradition of their church. Some people were baptized as infants according to their family's religious tradition. While we do honor traditions, biblical baptism is always a response to personal belief. Baby dedication or infant baptism is what your parents did FOR you, but getting baptized as a believer is what YOU do before God.
Additionally, infant baptism and sprinkling aren't found in the Bible. Until the Middle Ages, even the Roman Catholic Church baptized by immersion. Various denominations developed different traditions around infant baptism, but none of these practices are found in Scripture.
If you were not baptized by immersion following your personal decision to follow Christ, you should consider being baptized according to the New Testament pattern.
- Some have personal issues - maybe pride, maybe nervousness or anxiety.
- "I'm too old now; I should have done it when I was younger."
- "I don't want to admit I've never been baptized."
- "I don't want everyone to see me wet."
- "I'm an introvert and don't want to be up in public."
Jesus wasn't ashamed to die on a cross publicly for you. Don't be ashamed to get baptized publicly for Him. It's not a stage moment—it's a spiritual milestone.
- I also believe some ignore this command and do not step into obedience because they are not really saved. They're not truly following Christ. Jesus said, "If you love me, you'll keep my commandments." If you have no desire to obey this command of Christ, are you really a Christian? To be a Christian means to be Christ-like, and Christ took this step of faith and was baptized.
What Exactly Is Baptism?
Baptism is a ceremony in which a person is immersed or submerged in water. The Greek word "baptizo," used 77 times in the New Testament, means "to dip completely" or "to submerge."
Mark 1:4-5 describes John the Baptist preaching that people should be baptized to show they have repented of their sins and turned to God. When people confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River—not by sprinkling but by fully immersing them.
Baptism serves multiple purposes:
- It's a public declaration of your faith and identity with Christ.
- It's an illustration of what happens to you in Christ—a physical picture of a spiritual reality.
- It symbolizes Jesus' death and resurrection and your identification with this work.
Colossians 2:12 explains: "For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. With him you were raised to life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." When you go under the water, it illustrates your old self being buried. When you come up, it represents resurrection to new life in Christ. Baptism is both a funeral and a resurrection—where your past gets buried and your future gets born.
Baptism doesn't save you, but it does separate you. It marks the end of who you were and the beginning of who you're becoming. We're saved by grace through faith—nothing more, nothing less. Mark 16:16 says, "Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned." The operative word is "believe." If you believe, you're saved; if you don't believe, you're condemned.
The relationship between baptism and salvation is similar to the relationship between obedience and salvation. If you're saved, you want to obey Christ. Baptism is the first act of obedience after salvation.
In the early church, baptism was immediately linked to salvation. In Acts 2, Peter preaches, 3,000 people believe, and 3,000 people get baptized. This being highlighted, you should be baptized as soon as possible after accepting Christ. In Acts 16, we read about the Philippian jailer who, after believing in Jesus, was baptized with his entire household in the middle of the night—immediately after his conversion.
Baptism is a powerful step of obedience that opens the heavens over your life. Just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus when He was baptized, and the Father's voice declared His pleasure, your baptism can be a moment when you experience God's presence and pleasure in a new way.
If you've never been baptized as a believer, what's holding you back? Are you allowing pride, fear, or tradition to keep you from obeying Christ's command? Take a bold step of faith. If you've accepted Christ but haven't been baptized, make plans to follow through with this act of obedience as soon as possible.
If you've already been baptized, share the importance of baptism with someone else who might need encouragement to take this step. Remember, baptism isn't just about getting wet—it's about declaring your allegiance to Christ and experiencing the Father's pleasure as you walk in obedience to Him.
