The Meaning of Baptism

The Meaning of Baptism

Baptism, along with the Lord’s Supper, is a ceremony Jesus commands his followers to perform. Some have believed that the act of baptizing produces salvation. But baptism should not be seen as necessary for salvation because the Bible makes clear that we are saved by faith in Christ, not by getting baptized (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, baptism is “an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.” This is the definition given in The Baptist Faith and Message, the doctrinal confession of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The word “baptize” in the Greek language in which the New Testament was originally written means “to plunge, dip, immerse” something or someone in water. The idea is that something or someone goes entirely underneath the water. Jesus himself was baptized (Mark 1:9-11), setting the example for us.

The day of one’s baptism is a blessed day, full of happiness because it marks the beginning of a new life; a Christ-centered life. The day of a new believer’s baptism is the day that believer identifies publicly as a follower of Christ and joins with Christ and his church in a union that Christ himself commanded (Matthew 28:19).

Submitting to baptism means you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior. It means you are serious about following him. It means you are committed to living under God’s authority. It means you are willing to be an active participant in the local church that baptizes you. It means you are agreeing to stand committed to Jesus and the advance of his cause in the world. In short, getting baptized means you are willing to stand with Jesus for the rest of your life, no matter what happens. It is a serious commitment. In fact, it is the most serious commitment you can make.