What is the meaning of Baptism for us today?

Q: What is the meaning of Baptism for us today?

A: This is a question that I have been asked many times. While there are many variations in the specific practices of baptism throughout the history of the church and between different denominations, Christian baptism is a universal statement of a person's belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I will not be addressing the particular differences between Christian groups but will simply addressing the common symbolism involved.  

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe 

will be condemned." (Mark 16:16 – ESV)

It is a Natural Thing to Do—Then and Now

Baptism for the Christian today is a wonderful symbol of God's saving work in our lives.  We are not baptized in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.  It is nowhere taught in the Bible that if you are not baptized that you are not saved.  Rather, baptism is referred to as the outward sign of an inward work of grace.  It is a believer's first public declaration of faith.  All throughout the Book of Acts, time and time again, we see that the first act of any new believer in the Scripture was baptism (Acts 2:41; 8:12-13,16,36-38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5; 22:16).

What should we as Christians do when we first believe that Jesus is the Son of God and died for our sins?  The Apostle Peter was asked this very question after his first sermon, and he answered, as it is written,

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"  Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off‑‑for all whom the Lord our God will call."  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:36-41)

In addition to the historical record of baptism in the early church, we also have several wonderful passages in Scripture that deal with the doctrinal aspect of baptism. 

It is a Funeral Service for the Flesh

Baptism is like a funeral service for our "old nature."  It died with Christ on the cross and now in baptism we have the funeral service as the "old nature" goes down into the water, symbolizing burial with Christ.  Here are a couple of texts to consider.
 
Romans 6:3-4 "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." 
 
And also,

Colossians 2:11-15 "In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.  When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ.  He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.  And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."

It is in baptism that we identify ourselves with Christ's death for us on the cross (giving us the hope of victory over sin) and his burial, as well as with His resurrection from the dead (giving us the promise of eternal life).

It is a Celebration of the New Birth

So not only do we hold a "funeral service" for our sinful nature, we also celebrate the "new birth" as we come up out of the water, symbolizing the newness of life in Christ.  As it is written, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

There remains no trace of the penalty for our sins, once we have confessed and repented for Jesus has removed "the handwriting of requirements" and has cleansed us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Baptism therefore is a celebration of a birth, our new birth in Jesus Christ!

It is an Identification with the Church—Christ's People

Baptism's imagery goes beyond identifying ourselves with Christ to include identifying ourselves with the Church, Christ's people.  We not only identify ourselves with Christ and His people, but we are immersed in their life. We become a part of the "body" as it is written in the following passages,

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free‑‑and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."

Galatians 3:26-28 "You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

We are made "sons of God through faith in Christ," and through baptism we testify publicly and practically that we have "clothed ourselves with Christ."  No longer will we fear that our nakedness will be exposed for now we are clothed not with "the filthy rags of our own righteousness" but with Christ Himself, He is the Robe of Righteousness that never wears out!

A Simple 3-Word Summary of the Doctrine Of Baptism

Declaration—You are saying something.  In baptism, you are declaring that you are dead to sin and alive to Christ.  You are making public your decision to respond to the love of God by surrendering to Jesus Christ and leaving behind the sinful things of the past.  You are saying that you have determined that because of Christ's work on the cross, you will no longer allow sin to reign over you but instead will submit your life to Christ, actively living for Him.

Identification—You are relating to Someone.  In baptism, you are identifying yourself with the Savior, in both His death and His resurrection.  You are saying that if there is going to be any distinguishing feature, any recognizable traits in your life, it will be that people recognize by your life and your words that you are a follower of Jesus!

Obedience—You are following Someone.  In baptism, you are obeying God's Word, beginning your life with Christ in an appropriate way.  We are commanded to be baptized and Jesus has given us an example to follow.  In being baptized as a profession of our faith in Christ, we are beginning to walk with the Lord as we ought.