What is Water Baptism in Christianity - a brief explanation

In Christianity, water baptism is a choice that many people can choose in order to demonstrate that they have united with Jesus Christ, and accepted Christ as their Lord, God and saviour. It also symbolizes a fresh start: This represents your new life as a Christian. We leave our “old life” behind and start a “new life.”

Jesus Christ Himself chose to be baptised during His earthly ministry.

Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The process of Water Baptism:

Some people elect to be baptised spontaneously on the day, while those who decided in advance attend a brief course offered by the Church to better grasp the deeper meaning of baptism. A person who is being baptised will stand in clean, room-temperature water, with an ordained pastor or a church leader, the ordained pastor or church leader says prayer or declaration which must be repeated. Afterwards the one who is being baptised will be quickly submerged in and out the water. This occasion frequently occurs in a church because many churches are built with small baptismal pools that are specifically designed for the water baptism.

Purpose of Water Baptism:

Water baptism symbolizes Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It is intended to be a public declaration of one's commitment to and belief in Jesus Christ. Going under the water represents burial one's old life, and emerging up from it represents being raised to a new life in Christ.

Here are a few Bible verses to reflect on:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:3-4 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Peter 1:3–5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled,"

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I hope this gives you a brief idea of the meaning of water baptism in Christianity, reach out to your local church for further details.

God Bless you

From

~Natlie Loots~