Christian Baptism (article)

Before diving into the New Testament, it’s helpful to see where the idea started. In the Old Testament, ceremonial washing (Mikvah) was about ritual purity. If you touched something "unclean," you washed to be fit for the Temple. It was repetitive and focused on external cleanliness. Leviticus 15:31 states, "Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them."

Christian baptism moved from ritual to relationship. It isn't about being "clean enough" to enter a building; it’s about being "made new" to enter a kingdom. While OT washings were repeated, Christian baptism is a one-time definitive act of identification with Jesus.

What is Baptism?

According to the Bible, baptism is an outward act symbolizing an inward reality.

A Burial and Resurrection: It is a physical "enactment" of the Gospel. You go under the water (dying to the old self) and come up (rising to new life).

It is the public "uniform" of the believer. You are putting on Christ. Galatians 3:27 says, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Three Key Points About Baptism:

1. Identification: You are publicly aligning yourself with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Romans 6:4 states, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
2. Obedience: It is the first step of the Great Commission. We don't get baptized to get saved; we get baptized because we are saved and want to follow Jesus’ command. Matthew 28:19 tells us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
3. Community: It marks your official entrance into the visible Body of Christ—the Church.

Max Lucado notes, "Baptism is the initial step of a faithful heart." Watchman Nee shares, "Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith." An unknown author writes, "Baptism is the funeral of the old self and the resurrection of the new." As general Christian teaching expresses, "In baptism, we say to the world: 'The old me is gone. The new me is here, and He looks like Jesus.'"

Why is it Important?

1. It follows the example of Jesus: Even though He was sinless, Jesus was baptized to "fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:15 says, "But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he allowed Him." Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, and John 1. Jesus had no sins to confess.
2. Jesus commands it in Matthew 28:19: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
3. Peter reinforced it in Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
4. It provides a "Milestone": In moments of doubt, a believer can look back at their baptism as a definitive moment where they declared their faith.
5. It preaches a sermon without words: When others watch someone get baptized, they are seeing the Gospel story acted out in front of them.