Many denominational wars over the years concerning water baptism could have been avoided if we had correctly understood the true meaning of the word. When a person is baptized in water, his or her body is totally immersed in the water and brought out again.
The awesome significance of water baptism is that it symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and our identification with Him in those things. The Scriptures refer to Jesus as being the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:21-22, 45).
Jesus, in His sacrifice for us, represented us. When a person receives Jesus as Lord, he identifies fully with what happened to Jesus (Rom. 6:4-6). Water baptism is a physical act that should permanently mark the mind of the person being baptized with the reality of his union with Jesus Christ.
Water baptism also gives the believer the opportunity to openly testify to others of his born-again experience. It serves as an outward sign and testimony of an inward grace. The believer has been crucified with Christ, buried with Him, and raised together with Him to walk in newness of life (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:4).
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." We believe it is scriptural to baptize in the name of each of the Trinity.
Someone might ask the question, "What was the purpose for John's baptism?" John's baptism served the purpose of revealing to Israel the Lamb of God Who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29-33).
When Jesus—the Lamb of God—was baptized, it was to fulfill righteousness, because He had committed no sin (Matt. 3:15-17). Jesus' baptism also demonstrated and foretold of His own death, burial, and resurrection yet to come.
Water Baptism Is Not The Same As Salvation
Sometimes, people have confused water baptism with baptism into the Body of Christ (being saved). In Acts 2, when Peter preached about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, he said: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (v. 38).
When a person is born again, he is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. This is not water baptism. Water baptism is not the baptism that saves. It is the precious blood that Jesus shed on the cross, not water, that cleanses us from sin. (See Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22; Rev. 1:5.)
A person must be baptized into the Body of Christ (saved) before water baptism. For without first making Jesus Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead, water baptism would have no purpose.
Water baptism is an experience after salvation to confirm and strengthen your commitment to live a godly life.
Out With The Old
The baptismal waters represent a burial ground. When you're buried with Christ in baptism, you are proclaiming to heaven, earth and hell that the old you no longer exists. To be buried with Jesus means that your old self died to sin just as Jesus did when He was made sin for us (Rom. 6:3,6,10-12).
That's why we are immersed. It's a picture of burial.
Coming up out of the water signifies our being raised to new life in Christ. To be raised with Jesus means making Him Lord of every area of your life—spirit, soul, and body. You've been bought with the blood of Jesus and you belong to Him.
Every day you now should ask, "Lord, where do You want me to go? What do You want me to do? What do You want me to be? Not my will, but Thy will be done."
So, if you feel you've never properly buried your old, sinful nature and dedicated your whole self to the Lord, don't wait any longer—find a place to participate in water baptism and get totally free!
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God’s WORD to their lives.
