Discipleship Lesson 2: Baptism

Once you have prayed to accept Jesus as your Savior, the next step in your discipleship journey is to be baptized. Some religious affiliations and denominations believe that you must be baptized to be saved while others do not. Regardless of your belief on the subject the Bible is clear – baptism is important and should be your next step.

What is baptism?

Baptism is the act of being submerged beneath the water and raised again. It is a quick process, but one of beauty. It is a public demonstration of an inward declaration of your faith. It is a step of obedience and a reminder of God’s grace and goodness in our lives.

The term baptism is derived from the Latin baptisma which means washing or dipping. In the Greek it is derived from the verb baptizo which means I wash (from bapto which means dip). These indicate that immersion (fully going under the water) is the intended process that was used in the Bible.

One of the first things we see Jesus doing at the beginning of His ministry is being baptized. John the Baptist performed this act that is recorded in the Bible. We see Jesus being baptized in Matthew 3:13-17:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Where can it be done?

Baptism can be performed anywhere there is a body of water. Many churches have what are called baptismal founts built in. Other churches have baptismal structures that are temporary and set up only for baptisms and then stored away. Some churches will offer baptism at the home of a member of the church using the swimming pool in the back yard. Others have used lakes or rivers.

What it Represents

Baptism represents the change inside of you. It is sometimes referred to as Believer’s Baptism, since you are now a believer in Christ. It symbolizes the believer’s death to their old sinful life and resurrection in a new life in Christ.

Some church leaders explain it this way:

• When you stand in the water your body forms a cross with it, symbolizing the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
• When you are immersed in the water, this symbolizes your death to sin and the old self.
• When you are raised from the water, this symbolizes you being raised to a new life in Christ, washed clean and made new.

Infant Baptism vs Believer’s Baptism

Many people were baptized as infants. This is known as Christening. It is a symbolic ceremony where parents declare they will be raising the child in a godly home and raise them in the faith. Infants are sprinkled with water (or it is poured over just the top of their head over a baptismal fount). This is typically a Catholic tradition.

But many other denominations believe that baptism should come after salvation, not during infancy. Many individuals who were christened as babies choose to be baptized later in life.

Believer’s baptism emphasizes a personal faith in God and a decision to follow Jesus, both of which cannot happen as an infant.

Examples of Baptism in the Bible

There are several verses that speak of baptism. These include, but are not limited to the following:

• Matthew 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
• Mark 16:16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
• Acts 2:38-41: 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.
• 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.
• 1 Corinthians 12:13: For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
• 1 Peter 3:21: And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Study Questions

1. Why should we be baptized? What does it represent?
2. Is baptism a requirement for salvation? What about for eternity?
3. Can you be baptized a second time if you were christened as a baby?

Think About It

The thief on the cross next to Jesus when He was crucified was not baptized yet Jesus told him that he would be in heaven with Him. Was this a special circumstance or does it say something about baptism in salvation?

Discipleship Program Index | Lesson 1 | Lesson 3

You might also like this:

Discipleship Lesson 1: God, Sin, & Salvation Discipleship Lesson 3: The Bible Discipleship Lesson 4: Selecting a Bible