What Is Baptism?
Baptism is a public step of obedience that shows what has already happened in your heart when you trusted Jesus.
The word baptize comes from a Greek word (baptizō) that means to dip or immerse. When someone is baptized, they are identifying themselves with Jesus—His death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism does not save you.
Jesus saves you through faith.
Baptism is how you show others that you now belong to Him.
The word baptize comes from a Greek word (baptizō) that means to dip or immerse. When someone is baptized, they are identifying themselves with Jesus—His death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism does not save you.
Jesus saves you through faith.
Baptism is how you show others that you now belong to Him.
The Bible describes baptism as a picture:
Going under the water represents your old life dying with Christ
Coming out of the water represents being raised to a new life with Him
Romans 6:3–4 (NKJV)
We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Who Should Be Baptized?
Baptism is for people who have personally believed in Jesus Christ.
In the Bible, people were baptized after they believed.
Baptism is a way of saying:
“I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose again, and I am choosing to follow Him.”
In the Bible, people were baptized after they believed.
Acts 2:41 (NKJV)
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized…
Baptism is a way of saying:
“I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose again, and I am choosing to follow Him.”
Why Should I Be Baptized?
Because Jesus asked His followers to do it.
Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV)
Go therefore and make disciples… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
Go therefore and make disciples… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…
If you have trusted Jesus, baptism is your first step of obedience as a follower of Christ.
In the New Testament, we consistently see the same pattern:
- People hear the gospel
- They believe
- They are baptized—often right away
(See Acts 2:41; 8:12; 8:36–38; 16:31–33)
What baptism is and is not.
Baptism is:
A step of obedience
A public declaration of your faith
A picture of your new life in Christ
A step of obedience
A public declaration of your faith
A picture of your new life in Christ
Baptism is not:
What saves you
Something you have to “earn”
About being perfect before you do it
You don’t get baptized because you have everything figured out — you get baptized because you trust Jesus.
What If I Was Baptized Before?
If you were baptized before you personally believed in Jesus, we encourage baptism after faith, because that is the pattern we see in Scripture.
Final Encouragement
Baptism is not about pressure — it’s about joyful obedience.
If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, baptism is a beautiful next step to say:
“I belong to Him.”
