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,1
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 baptize
to the word immerse will greatly help your understanding. Not
every time the word baptize 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.
Burial is not absolutely required, but is recommended as the best
course of action. So, generally, those who receive Jesus Christ should
normally be baptized in water.
In the book of Acts, water baptism always seemed to be done without
delay. Although burial can take place at any time, the best time is
immediately after death has been confirmed.
Clean Break With The Past
As we are baptized 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.
Back to Top
