Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Hank Walker | Pastor at Peach City Fellowship

Baptism has a rich history predating the establishment of the Christian church. In ancient times, Jewish communities practiced baptism for converts, symbolizing their purification and readiness to embrace a new faith and entrance into the life of the synagogue. John the Baptist notably utilized a “baptism of repentance” (Mark 1:4) to prepare the hearts of Jews for the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). However, it is crucial to differentiate between John’s baptism, which emphasizes repentance, and Christian baptism, as outlined in Acts 18:24–26 and 19:1–7.

The essence of Christian baptism lies in its invocation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This triune formula sets Christian baptism apart, marking an individual’s formal entry into the church community. Upon salvation, believers experience spiritual baptism into the Body of Christ, as articulated in 1 Corinthians 12:13: “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.” Water baptism serves as a symbolic reenactment of this spiritual transformation.

Christian baptism provides a platform for believers to publicly express their faith and commitment to discipleship. Through this sacred act, individuals publicly declare their faith that Christ Jesus has cleansed them from sin and that they are proceeding in newness of life.

Moreover, baptism represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, reflecting a believer’s own journey of dying to sin and rising to new life in Him. Romans 6:4 states, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Submersion in water symbolizes death to sin, while emerging from it signifies a life renewed by salvation.

While baptism is an act of obedience following salvation, it is not a prerequisite for being saved. The biblical narrative consistently illustrates belief in Jesus as the antecedent to baptism. For instance, “Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).

New believers are encouraged to seek to be baptized as soon as is reasonable after coming to faith, and church leaders should encourage this obedient act.

In essence, baptism not only identifies believers with Christ’s transformative work but also invites them into the vibrant community of faith, reflecting their commitment to a life rooted in Him.

Grace and peace, y’all.

Soli Deo Gloria