What is baptism and why do believers get Baptized?

Baptism is a believers outward expression of their faith. In it they identify with Christ's death and resuruction. The Greek word for this literally means to imerse and was an expression used in the cloth trade to dye a garment. Thus, through the power of the Holy Sprit as a Christian I strive to be more Christ like (not to be Christ but to have his attitude etc). Thus, in my view only those who have nade a personal profession of faith can be baptised and this should always be by full imersion unless it's an emergency and circumstance don't allow. However, it's important to note that baptism does not save nor in my view necessary for salvation (the thief on the cross repented but was not baptised, yet Jesus assured him of a place with him in paradise). Salvaton is a free gift of God and baptism should be done by belivers in obedience to his word but as I said is in my view extraneous to salvation.

"Baptism" comes from a Greek word that means to dip, immerse, or overwhelm. Baptism, therefore is an immersion.

Romans 6:3-4 and Colossians 2:12 describe it as a burial. Only immersion fits this description.

This burial is when a believer comes "into Christ" and "into His death" (Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:27) It is important for a believer to contact His death because that is where the saving blood was shed. This blood washes away sins. (Rev. 1:5)

A believer is baptized for the following reasons.

To wash away sins (Acts 22:16) (By contacting Christs death, blood)

To enter into Christ (Romans 6:3-13, Galatians 3:27). One cannot be saved out of Christ.

To be saved. (1 Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16)

To obey Jesus. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16) Jesus " became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, (Hebrews 5:9)" so this is necessary for salvation.

As a believer, you should be baptized "for the remission of sins (KJV)", for the forgiveness of your sins (NIV)" , "unto the remission of your sins (ASV)", or "so that your sins will be forgiven (CEV)". (Acts 2:38)

Jesus said, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". (Mark 16:16)

Some will tell you you believe, are saved and then you shall be baptized. This is not the same thing Jesus said. It is not in the same order!

What would Jesus have said if he had meant "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved"?

I believe He said what he meant and meant what He said! I believe Jesus! "He that believes not shall be condemned" (Mark 16:16)

There are 2 types of baptism in the Bible

1. water baptism

believers get baptised because Jesus did (matthew 3:13). and because it's a command in the Bible (Acts 2:38). It is a public confession of Jesus, in much the same way that a wedding is a public committent to a partner.

2. baptism of the Spirit

This is when a believing and repentent christian receives the Holy Spirit inside them, to guide and give power in their lives.

(1 Corinthians 12:13, Romans 8:9, Ephesians 1:13-14 and others).

Baptism is symbolic of the "old person" dying (his sinful nature) when the person is placed under the water, and the "new person" being born (coming up out of the water). This is necessary among Christians because Christ Himself was baptized, and He also says in John 3:5 that"no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless he is born of water and spirit", meaning that one must be baptized by water, and receive the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is a symbolic outward act of the private and internal change within that person. It should always come after the individuals decision to life their life for Christ and a baby should never be baptised as they don't have the capabilities to decide to become a believer.

Water baptism was the ancient equivalent of 'signing on the dotted line'. A person declared loyalty to a cause by being baptised into the 'name' of a leader. People had John's baptism, to show that they agreed with John's teaching. Christianity was quite soon persecuted, and being baptised in public, in a river, was a dangerous thing to do. But Jesus said that unless his disciples were not ashamed to make their faith in him public, they were not actually disciples.

Now today, in most countries, there is no danger from being baptised. All sorts of people are baptised who have only a hazy idea of what it is to be Christians, let alone make a lifelong commitment to Christ. This started when a 'pope' decided to let infants be baptised. Water baptism has been more or less meaningless since then. (Catholics and similar people say that water baptism actually makes them Christians, but that is superstition, and is a way of persuading oneself that one does not need to make a personal commitment.)

It is essential for anyone with Christian faith to make that fact public, not in an aggressive or rude way, but enough to let people know where he or she stands on moral issues. Whether Christians get baptised in water or not is up to them. The important thing is to be persecuted, and genuinely persecuted, and for the right reason. No pain, no gain.

Before Jesus death it was a baptism of full immersion in water to signify being saved. Since Jesus death and the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell on earth...it has become the equivalent of Jesus death and resurrection......Jesus died with the sins of the world on His shoulders and rose again clean. When we enter the water...after declaring 'Jesus is Lord'...we die to our own sin and when we come out of it..it is our resurrection as a clean new person of God.

I could have made it more complicated but felt there might be those here who would prefer to understand rather than work out from scripture etc.

Best wishes, Mike.

Baptism is a public declaration of one's eternal dedication to serve God. It is a full body immersion in water done by some already dedicated Christian to the applicant.

several things precedes it, repentance, dedication, the beginning of practicing Christian good works. One must no longer live in sin and no longer willfully sin.

Willful sin leads to damnation.

However, baptism is compared to Noah and his family entering the ark to get saved. In this way, it is a must for a Christian if he wants to be saved.

Baptism is a sign that you are joining the (Christian) family of God. The water symbolises cleansing, the oils symbolise strength (for your journey of faith) and the white garment symbolises purity.

There's lots more to it than that but the above should give you something to be going on with.

In the catholic religion, baptism exists to cleanse you of the sins you were born with. Born-again's get baptized to get rid of the sins they committed their whole lives.