What is water baptism?

Water  Baptism

Water  baptism is a symbolic burial, by which the new Christian publicly declares  they have died, and are now beginning a new life, in Christ.

Baptise is the English form of a Greek word which means to  immerse: to place something into something else.

In Christian water baptism, the believer is put completely under water,  then immediately raised out of the water.

Water baptism is a statement of faith: my old life is behind me -- I am  a new person, with a new life.

Water baptism is a sign of repentance -- repentance means change -- a  change so drastic that the old person is "buried."

It does not make you acceptable to God. As a work of righteousness,  trying to obtain a good standing with God, it is worthless.

Water baptism is a way of giving testimony to what has happened  inwardly, and a clear commitment to turn from the old life.

For Your Benefit

Water baptism outwardly demonstrates what has happened inwardly. Water  baptism helps you to grasp the reality of the spiritual truth that the old  "you" has died.

Water baptism is only as important as the participant believes it to  be. Water baptism is their confession, and a public commitment. Unless the  person really believes they died, there is no need for a burial.

It is not something we must do to impress God, but something to impress  on our mind what happened to us inwardly. Water baptism is for our  benefit -- not God's.

Meaning Of The Word Baptise

T. J. Conant in his book, The Meaning And Use Of Baptizein, after an exhaustive examination of the Greek word baptizein in  Greek literature, concludes that the English word immerse is the  best word to translate it.

Conant tells us, "The word `baptise' is an  Anglicised form of the Greek BAPTIZEIN."

He says immerse is the English word that "precisely" makes  known to us the same meaning as BAPTIZEIN did "to those who first heard  and read the Gospel in Greek."

In all the available Greek literature, both secular and religious,  Conant found no example in which the word baptizein had any other  meaning.

Conant reports that it was a common, secular word, used in the daily  affairs of life, to express the most familiar acts and conditions.

Baptizein was a daily household word. Whenever the idea of  total submergence was to be expressed, whether literally or  metaphorically, baptizein was the word used.

As you read the Bible, mentally translating the word baptise to the word immerse will greatly help your understanding. Not  every time the word baptise or baptism is used in the  Bible refers to water baptism.

Burial After Death

Water baptism is about death -- your death. ("Death" is the end of  something.) Water baptism is your public declaration of your death. It is a public confession of faith: I have died to my old life and my old  ways.

By being baptised in water you are saying that you have died to sin,  selfishness, and the world's ways. Water baptism is a public burial of the  old life.

By asking for burial, you declare that you believe something has died.  There is no need for a burial without a death.

In the book of Acts, water baptism always seemed to be done without  delay. The best time is  immediately after death has been confirmed and is strongly encouraged. Acts 2: 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptised, every one of you .....”

Clean Break With The Past

As we are baptised in water, we are in effect saying goodbye to our old  life (self), and saying hello to a new creation who is IN Christ Jesus.

Because of death you are free from your old master the devil; now you  have a new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.

A major benefit to the believer is the clean break that water baptism  makes with their past. When the devil brings temptations and accusations  concerning their old life -- the believer can reply, "That person is dead  and buried. I am a new person in Christ."

Water baptism is a point of separation, dividing the old from the new.  It says the past is dead and gone -- drawing a clear line between the old  life and the new, graphically imprinted on the mind of the believer.