What is Baptism and Why is it Important?

Baptism: What and Why?

For many outside the Christian faith, baptism can seem odd. Mysterious. Obscured by a mountain of conflicting answers. It’s a practice handed down through the millennia. Observed by Jesus and His followers from the very beginning of the Church (and even before!).

But what is baptism and why is it important? Baptism is the Christian practice of publicly immersing believers in water to symbolize their union with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an important visual representation for Christians of the spiritual reality of their inclusion in Jesus’ promises of forgiveness and eternal life.

You might think that a practice so universal and long-observed by the Church would enjoy widespread, unanimous agreement on all the particulars. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Instead of trying to define what everyone believes, let’s look at what God’s word teaches about baptism.

What Does “Baptism” Mean?

While the term “baptism” is first presented in the New Testament, ritual washing always had a place in the Jewish religious tradition. We’re introduced to baptism as we know it in the Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) when we’re told of John the Baptist’s ministry.

Now John himself had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. (Matthew 3:4–6, bold added)

Let’s acknowledge that this doesn’t explain to us exactly what’s going on here. We read that people were being “baptized” by him. But what if you didn’t have some prior knowledge of baptism? Would you know what was being reported? Probably not.

That’s because the word “baptism” (or “to baptize”) isn’t an English word. It’s a Greek word that has been transliterated instead of translated. A transliteration is when you take a word (along with its spelling and meaning) from one language and “transfer” it into another. This is different than a translation. A translation captures the idea of one language and expresses it with the appropriate word in another language.

Here’s how the same passage would read if we actually translated the Greek into English: “Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being dipped by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins” (Matthew 3:5–6, bold added).

Instead of translating the Greek word baptizō into a suitable English word in most of our English versions of the Bible, we’ve simply transliterated “baptizō” into “baptize.” And, for the most part, this works fine, unless… What if, instead of hanging on to the idea that baptizō communicated to the original audience, we began developing our own ideas? What if, over time, we’ve lost the original idea?

Put another way, what if “baptize” has accumulated a bunch of baggage over the years and no longer communicates the simple ideas of being “dipped” or “immersed” when we read or hear this word? Spoiler alert: baggage has accumulated.

It might amuse you to learn that baptizō can mean to “wash,” “dunk,” “immerse,” “plunge,” “dip,” or “ceremonially clean” something. That being the case, when you allow your pots and pans to soak in the sink before putting them in the dishwasher, you’re “baptizing” your dishes. As a kid, if you ever dunked your brother or sister under the water while swimming, you “baptized” them. I have friends who enjoy doing “polar plunges” – clearing away the ice and “baptizing” themselves in an icy pond or lake. I’ll pass, thank you.

Of course, that’s not what Christians mean today when they talk about baptizing. However, the idea of plunging, dipping, or ceremonially cleaning someone (or something) would have been the mental image that came to mind for the original audience.

This raises an interesting point. When we speak of baptism today, we are almost always talking about dipping someone in water as part of a religious ceremony. However, we need to be aware that not every instance of “baptism” or “baptize” in the Bible is talking about the religious practice. For example:

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (Romans 6:3)

A surface reading of this text might give you the impression that the Apostle Paul is talking about the practice of Christian water baptism (taking someone down and dipping them into the river). However, a better reading of this verse might sound something like this: “Or do you not know that all of us who have been immersed into Christ Jesus have been immersed into His death?”

In other words, everyone who has been included into the Lord Jesus has participated in and been included in His sacrificial death.

The point is, there’s more to “baptism” than meets the eye. While the practice is important, God is not impressed with how well we maintain religious rituals. Jesus instructed His disciples to engage in baptism, but we need to keep our attention fixed on what the practice means.

The Symbolism

As we begin to unpack all that baptism is meant to communicate, please consider this quote from Romans:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:1–11)

There’s a lot going on here! As part of Paul’s larger argument, Romans 6 plays an important role. In chapters 1–3, he goes to great length to ensure the reader understands that everyone stands guilty before God.

There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, there is not even one. (Romans 3:10–12)

However, in spite of that great turning away from God, the Father has sent the Son so that through the gift of faith, all who believe will be forgiven and restored.

But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:21–26)

Now, as we come to Chapter 6, Paul is anticipating this fleshy, wicked question: Because God’s grace and love are put on display by His forgiving our sins, shouldn’t we continue to sin so that His graciousness can be displayed even more?

How does he answer this question? “May it never be!” (Romans 6:2; bold added)

Why? Why shouldn’t we continue to sin so that God’s grace can be proven to be even more gracious? Paul’s answer is, because of the spiritual reality that baptism symbolizes.

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. (Romans 6:3–7; bold added)

In the Garden of Eden, God warned Adam and Eve that eating the fruit of the forbidden tree would result in death.

The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16–17)

Later, through His prophet Ezekiel, He made clear that,

The person who sins will die. (Ezekiel 18:20)

However, the good news of the gospel is that,

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

This death – the death Jesus died on the cross of Calvary – is the death that Paul tells us in Romans 6 that we’ve been “baptized into.” We’ve been immersed into Jesus’ death which means that He paid the death-debt we owe for our sins.

But there’s more to it than that. You see, Jesus didn’t just die. He returned from death to life. He didn’t stay in the grave. So, just as we’ve been baptized into His death, we are baptized into His life. We are baptized (immersed) in Him! We are vitally and truly connected to Him in such a way that we can say, “His death was our death. His life is our life. We have spiritual life because He is risen, and we are in Him.”

This is why Paul treats the idea of our continued sinning as absurd. Of course we wouldn’t use this new life in Christ to sin! We must use this new life in Christ to live like He lived: Free from the power of sin!

So, as we think about the practice of baptism, we need to cling to the truth that we are engaging in an act meant to symbolize the reality of our connection with the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we are plunged beneath the water, the overwhelming weight of death should be in fixed in our minds. As we are drawn out of the water, the miraculous reality of life everlasting in Christ should resound in our hearts.

And, as time goes on, a believer has the ability to look back on their baptism, remembering it as a source of conviction (“I’m dead to sin, therefore let me walk in righteousness.”) and comfort (“I died and was raised to life in Christ. He will never leave me or forsake me.”).

Is Baptism Necessary?

This is where a lot of the controversy remains. Do Christians need to be baptized in order to be saved from their sins? And does the mode of baptism matter?

This is too large of a theological ball of worms to attempt to untangle in a short blog post to the satisfaction of everyone. However, we will attempt to clarify what the Bible seems to declare plainly about the necessity of baptism for salvation, and why the one doing the baptizing does matter (but not in the way most people initially think!).

Based on the passages quoted above, salvation is only for those who are in Christ. That is, for those who are hidden in Him. The rite (or, ordinance or sacrament if you prefer) of water baptism symbolizes this salvation with vivid imagery. But is it this ceremonial act that places someone in Christ?

No, the One who actually baptizes (immerses, hides, or places believers into Christ) is the Holy Spirit.

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

A few chapters later, the Apostle Paul expresses that it is this one baptism, performed at the moment of faith by the Holy Spirit, that really matters:

There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6)

As with communion (or the Lord’s Supper), the elements symbolize the substance that God Himself has done, to the praise and glory of His great name.

To those who have believed in Jesus, we rely completely on God’s grace and mercy in supplying and applying everything we need for our salvation. The proof that the Holy Spirit has placed the believer into Christ is that the Holy Spirit Himself now resides in the believer, too, as a seal and pledge of our inheritance in Christ.

To be sure that you are in Christ, you can’t simply check a box that says you were once dipped in water in public. A better question is: is the Holy Spirit in you? If yes, then you can be sure that you are in Christ. Praise God!

So, Why Be Dipped in Water?

Since it is “just symbolism” and isn’t “necessary for salvation,” should we even do it?

Yes, it’s true, baptism in water doesn’t save you. Being immersed in Christ is what truly saves. In line with this, we have the Lord’s testimony that the thief on the cross would enter heaven, even though he wasn’t let down for a quick baptismal dip from the cross before he died.

And He (Jesus) said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Based on this man’s faith, the Holy Spirit applied Christ’s work to him and hid him in Jesus. God did all this apart from the external works that those whose lives don’t end abruptly after their profession of faith in Jesus will likely include.

Just because baptism isn’t strictly necessary for salvation doesn’t justify not participating in it. There are at least three reasons why Christians should be baptized.

First, as we’ve already discussed, a Christian has the ability to look back on their baptism as their union in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. What a profound blessing! Why wouldn’t you want to have the great comfort and conviction that Christian baptism symbolizes and promises? Why wouldn’t you want to have that tangible experiential memory to hold on to as you read along with Paul in Romans 6, saying, “Yeah! That’s right! This is true for me. I know, because I’m in Christ!”

Don’t miss out on a great blessing that God has provided in and through baptism. What other blessings of God would you prefer not to have? That seems silly, doesn’t it?

Second, we participate in baptism because it is the model we see all throughout the New Testament.

Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13–17).

As prior disciples of John the Baptist, it’s safe to assume some of the Apostles had been baptized (John 1:35–42).

Even before Jesus’ death and resurrection, His disciples were baptizing new believers (John 4:1–2).

The teaching and practicing of baptism were a consistent feature of the Church from its very beginning (Acts 2:38; 8:25–40; 10:44–48; 16:13–15; 16:27–34; 18:5–8; 19:1–5; 22:14–17; 1st Corinthians 1:12–17; etc.)

As a universally taught and accepted practice of the Apostles, why would we not follow in their authoritative footsteps? The Apostles and the godly men that they raised up were given to us as an example. Let’s follow that example!

Finally, the last reason that we should practice baptism is that Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 18:18–20; bold added)

Yes, baptism is a great blessing for Christians. Yes, Jesus, the Apostles, and the disciples modeled baptism. However, the most compelling reason we must participate in baptism is that Jesus commanded His people to baptize and be baptized as part of the Great Commission; the great “marching orders” He left to the Church until He returns. He said, “Go, do this!” so we must do that until He returns to give us new orders. Baptism is an act obedience to Him.

Summary

Christians are not saved by our obedience or by our religious works. However, we have been set free from slavery to sin and self that we may walk in newness of life, which includes obeying what Jesus has commanded out of love for our Lord and Savior.

Baptism is the Christian practice of immersing believers in water to symbolize their union with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an important visual representation for Christians of the spiritual reality of their inclusion in Jesus’ promises of forgiveness and eternal life. We practice and participate in it because Jesus commanded it, He and His disciples participated in it, and it is a great blessing to believers.

The question is, do you believe that Jesus Christ came and died for your sin? If so, in the words of the Apostle Peter we say,

Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. (Acts 2:38–39)

We invite you to find a gospel-preaching local church and get baptized today.