Baptism is an important practice and rite in Christianity that symbolizes the cleansing of sins and the initiation into the Christian faith. The Bible provides important details about the origins, meaning, and purpose of baptism for followers of Jesus Christ.
The root of the word “baptism” comes from the Greek word “baptizo” which means to immerse, submerge, or wash. In the New Testament, the concept of baptism is closely tied to repentance, conversion, and the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). John the Baptist was the first to practice baptism as a symbolic act of spiritual cleansing and preparation for the coming Messiah. John baptized people with water as a sign of repentance and foretelling the spiritual baptism that Jesus would bring (Mark 1:4-8).
When Jesus began His earthly ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, setting an example for all believers to follow (Matthew 3:13-17). Jesus’ baptism served as a mark of the beginning of His public ministry and identified Him with those He came to save. Shortly before His ascension, Jesus commanded His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). This Great Commission established water baptism as an ordinance practiced by the early Christian church.
Throughout the book of Acts, new believers were baptized immediately after professing faith in Jesus Christ. The Ethiopian eunuch, Saul (the apostle Paul), Cornelius and his household, Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and many others were baptized as soon as they believed the gospel (Acts 8:12, 8:38, 9:18, 10:47-48, 16:15, 16:33). Water baptism symbolized their spiritual baptism into Christ and identification with Him.
Several key Bible passages shed light on the origin and meaning of baptism for believers:
- Romans 6:3-4 – Baptism represents being buried with Christ and raised to new life.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13 – Baptism unites believers into one body through the Holy Spirit.
- Galatians 3:27 – Those baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Him.
- Colossians 2:12 – Baptism symbolizes being buried and raised with Christ.
- 1 Peter 3:21 – Baptism corresponds to Noah and his family being saved through the floodwaters.
In summary, the practice of baptism has its roots in the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus Christ, and the command of Christ to baptize new believers. Throughout the book of Acts, baptism marked the initiation of new followers of Jesus and identified them with the Lord. Key passages indicate that baptism signifies spiritual realities like cleansing from sin, death to old life, and resurrection to new life in Christ.
Baptism did not originate with the Christian church, but the meaning given to it in the New Testament is unique. The symbolism of baptism captures the essence of the gospel message – God’s grace offered through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to all who will repent and believe.
The Method of Baptism
In addition to understanding where baptism came from, it’s also important to consider how baptism was performed. Specifically, the New Testament demonstrates that baptism was administered by immersion in water.
The Greek word baptizo means “to immerse, dip, or submerge.” All of the baptism accounts in the Bible point to the act of fully plunging a new believer into water rather than sprinkling or pouring water over them (Matthew 3:16, John 3:23, Acts 8:38-39). Full immersion vividly symbolized dying to one’s old way of life and rising again to new life in Christ.
Baptisms in the New Testament also took place where there was much water, allowing for full immersion. John baptized in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:6). After the Ethiopian eunuch believed Philip’s message about Jesus, they came across water and he said “Look, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Docking a boat or finding a body of water was necessary for baptisms to be performed.
Church history confirms that early Christians almost universally practiced baptism by full immersion. Immersion continued to be the normal mode of baptism until around the third century when sprinkling or pouring water over initiates became more common. Still today, baptism by immersion is practiced by many Protestant denominations following the pattern in Scripture.
In summary, the biblical method of baptism was by immersion or submersion in water, which vividly symbolized dying and rising again with Christ. This full dunking represented the complete cleansing from sin that was made possible by Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The Purpose of Baptism
Baptism serves as an important symbol of several spiritual realities for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Here are some of the main purposes and significances of water baptism according to the Bible:
- Identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection – Baptism represents dying to sin and the old way of living and being resurrected to new spiritual life with Christ (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12).
- Cleansing from sin – Baptism serves as an appeal to God for the forgiveness and removal of sins through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21).
- Union with Christ – Baptism unites the believer with Jesus Christ incorporating them in His body, the Church (Galatians 3:27, 1 Corinthians 12:13).
- Obedience to Christ’s command – Baptism is practiced in obedience to Christ’s command to make disciples and baptize them (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Public declaration of faith – Baptism provides an opportunity for believers to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ and identification with His people.
In the early church, baptism was intricately tied with conversion and admitting new members into the local body of believers. The purposes of baptism show it is more than just a ritual, but rather a significant and weighty act for those believing in Jesus Christ.
At the same time, it is important to understand that baptism does not automatically grant salvation to individuals apart from personal faith. Scripture warns against treating baptism as an ex opere operato (from the work done) ceremony that confers regeneration apart from faith. The purposes and symbolism of baptism are fulfilled when it is practiced by those who have sincerely put their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
In summary, baptism serves as a God-ordained symbol of inner spiritual blessings that come to those who believe in the gospel. It signifies the believer’s participation in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who Should Be Baptized?
Since baptism publicly identifies a person as a believer in Jesus Christ, it should be practiced by those who have professed faith in the gospel. Here are some biblical guidelines about who should be baptized:
- Repentant believers – Those who have repented of sin and placed their faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38, 16:31-34).
- New converts – Baptism followed conversion as an initiation into the Christian life (Acts 8:12, 9:18).
- Adults & older children able to understand the gospel – Individuals old enough to comprehend sin, repentance, and redemption through Christ (Acts 8:12).
- Followers of Jesus – Baptism is for disciples of Christ, not for nonbelievers (John 4:1-2).
In the book of Acts, whole households were baptized after the head of the home came to faith in Christ. This likely included older children able to profess personal faith as well as infants in Jewish homes where children were included under the household covenant (Acts 16:15, 16:31-34).
The New Testament records no examples of forced baptisms for unbelievers or compulsory baptisms for infants against the will of parents. Those baptized demonstrated repentance, belief in Christ, and a desire to identify with Him. However, parents can choose to baptize their children at a young age as a symbol of consecration to the Lord.
In summary, baptism in the New Testament was closely tied with repentance and faith in Christ. It was administered to new believers in Jesus as a step of obedience and public testimony. The minimal requirement appears to be ability to understand and profess faith in the gospel of Christ.
Does Baptism Save People?
An important question is whether baptism is required for salvation. Here are some key truths to understand biblically:
- Baptism does not earn salvation but publicly testifies to faith already present.
- Baptism is an act of obedience to Christ that declares trust in His sacrifice for sins.
- Baptism symbolizes the inner spiritual transformation that has already occurred.
- Faith in Christ alone is what saves, not the external act of baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- However, baptism was closely tied with conversion in the early church.
Scripture warns against ascribing automatic saving power to baptism apart from true faith in Christ. Passages like Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8-9 make it clear that belief in the heart is what justifies a person before God. However, baptism still serves an important public declaration of that inner saving faith.
At the same time, refusal to be baptized contradicts obedience to Christ’s command and unwillingness to publicly identify with Him. Since baptism was inseparably linked with conversion, delaying or resisting baptism should prompt serious self-reflection. But the external act alone has no inherent saving power apart from genuine repentance and faith.
In summary, baptism does not itself redeem people but represents inner redemption and cleansing accomplished by the blood of Christ. It is a vital step of obedience and public profession of faith rather than a prerequisite for earning salvation.
How Should Baptism Be Practiced?
Scripture provides helpful guidelines for how the church should practice baptism today based on New Testament precedent and principles:
- Using water as Christ commanded (Acts 8:36, 10:47)
- By full immersion rather than sprinkling (Matthew 3:16, John 3:23)
- As soon as possible after conversion (Acts 9:18, 16:15)
- With understanding and consent of the person (Acts 8:12)
- In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)
- As a public testimony among fellow believers (Acts 8:12, 10:48)
- Accompanied by preaching, teaching, and prayer (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 8:12)
Baptism should be treated with spiritual importance and solemnity, not as a mere religious tradition. At the same time, legalism should be avoided by not making baptism a basis for self-righteousness or a requirement for church membership.
Churches do differ on certain practices such as the mode (immersion vs. sprinkling), who should perform the baptism (elders vs. any Christians), and age or level of understanding required. But on the whole, evangelical Protestant traditions follow the New Testament pattern of baptism fairly closely.
In summary, baptism today can and should follow the biblical model – new believers publicly proclaiming their faith in Christ through full immersion in water and joining the local body of believers.
What If I Was Baptized as an Infant?
For those baptized as infants, here are some things to consider biblically:
- Infant baptism differs from the New Testament pattern of baptizing professing believers.
- There are no examples of involuntary baptisms of those too young to understand the gospel and respond in faith.
- However, if done prayerfully, infant baptism can represent parental consecration to raise the child in the faith.
- Those baptized as infants still need to make a personal public profession of faith at the appropriate age.
- It is appropriate to prayerfully consider being baptized again after conversion.
Scripture encourages those baptized before personal conversion to thoughtfully consider whether they want to get baptized again as believers. This allows them to publicly profess their own faith in obedience to Christ.
At the same time, it is important to balance personal conscience with maintaining unity among diverse Christian perspectives on baptism. Non-coercion and consideration of other viewpoints should characterize decisions about potentially getting rebaptized.
In summary, while infant baptism does not perfectly match the New Testament pattern, those baptized as children can still baptized again later as an adult believer to make their faith public.
Baptism in Church History
The practice of baptism has evolved through different traditions over 20 centuries of church history. Here is a brief overview:
- 1st to 3rd centuries – Baptism was by full immersion and closely tied with conversion.
- 4th to 6th centuries – Infant baptism became common although adult baptisms still took place.
- 7th to 11th centuries – Infant baptism was the norm and seen as necessary for salvation.
- 12th to 16th centuries – Baptism was administered by priests and done mostly to infants.
- 16th to 19th centuries – The Reformers challenged infant baptism but practiced sprinkling.
- 19th to 21st centuries – Believer’s baptism by immersion regained prominence.
The practice of baptism evolved from the original form of immersing adult converts to sprinkling infants as the prevalent practice through much of church history. But in the last two centuries, there has been a return to baptizing new believers by full immersion while allowing differences of opinion on appropriate participants.
This historical trend shows that baptism has been fluid in its form while maintaining significance as initiation into the Christian life. There is freedom for diversity in opinions and practices within biblical parameters. Most importantly, the spiritual meaning of union with Christ through faith remains central.
In summary, while baptism traditions have adapted over church history, the core significance as an act of obedience and identity with Christ’s death and resurrection perseveres.
Conclusion
In summary, baptism originates from the ministry of John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ. Jesus Himself instituted Christian baptism and tied it to discipleship. The early church practiced baptism by immersion as initiation into the body of believers and a symbol of dying and rising with Jesus.
While differences arise in who should be baptized and details of practice, biblical baptism represents repentance, faith, and cleansing from sin through union with Christ. All who have turned to Jesus as Lord and Savior are encouraged to receive baptism as a public declaration of their new life in Christ.
Baptism continues as an important practice of obedience, identity, and discipleship for Christians today. Though not required for salvation itself, it serves as a vital step of public profession and celebration of faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as Savior.
