What is Baptism?
Baptism is the most important part of God’s plan of salvation. Its connection with Noah’s Flood is mentioned in the Bible in these verses:
“Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. In the Spirit he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water. This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Noah and his family reached a new world safely inside the ark, saved by the waters that destroyed the ungodly. They were unharmed by judgment. The judgment of sin guaranteed their salvation. Similarly, Christians are secure because of Christ who took upon Himself the judgment of sin. Jesus Christ, who had no sin, died in place of sinners and freed humanity from the condemnation of sin. Thus, the wall caused by sin between God and man was removed, allowing man to reach God. Noah’s Flood is the first example of this, and baptism is linked to passing into a new life. As described in the Bible verses, baptism is not the cleansing of the body from dirt but the representation of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. One’s passage to the new world happens through personal faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism now signifies that we belong to a new covenant and receive the blessings of that covenant.
In the Bible, baptism first appears in the verses about John the Baptist calling people to repentance and baptizing them with water. John called the people to repent promising forgiveness of sins, sealing this promise with “baptism of repentance.”
“In those days John the Baptist appeared in the Judean wilderness, preaching, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ People from Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region of the Jordan went out to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” —
He announced the one who would come after him and baptize with the Holy Spirit. This person would be the one on whom the Holy Spirit visibly descended.
“The one I am talking about, who comes after me, has surpassed me because he was before me. I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” John continued his testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and remain on him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” —
The promised gift of baptism is the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was baptized as the first example of believers in the new covenant period. An important point in His baptism is His sonship and anointing for His mission. Everyone baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, who has privileges as the Son, shares in those privileges.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” —
Everyone who believes and is baptized is completely forgiven, reborn, and becomes a member of God’s kingdom through the Holy Spirit.
“Peter replied, ‘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.’” —
Baptism declares that the penalty for sins has been paid for the Christian and that a righteous life has begun.
“Through the glory of the Father, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may live a new life. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, and we should no longer be slaves to sin.” —
Everyone who publicly declares faith in Jesus Christ with words is commanded to be baptized.
There is no specific command in the Bible about how baptism should be performed. Some communities and denominations baptize believers after a short instruction process; some baptize immediately upon confession of faith; others wait until certain conditions are met; some baptize infants, others baptize adults who are conscious. However, it is impossible and not for humans to judge sincerely whether someone truly believes; only God can read hearts.
There are different methods of baptism practiced. In some communities, the person is fully immersed in water. In others, water is sprinkled on the face or poured on the forehead.
