Why Water Baptism?

Ever wonder why Jesus wants His people to be water baptized? Why is there a need to go under water in front of everyone? What should baptism mean in the life of a Christian and is it still relevant for today?

I hope to answer these questions for those who struggle with the idea of being baptized. I remember when I felt the need to be baptized. I kept resisting the idea, even though I knew it was the next step in my faith. It wasn’t that I was afraid of water and I had never seen my pastor drop anyone or have any type of “baptism casualty.” So what was the big deal? Why did I feel so intimidated by the thought of being baptized?

I can remember the very thought of baptism scared me. Maybe some of that fear was that baptism was done in front of the entire church, but event that was not my main fear. What I did not realize then was the spiritual warfare of following Jesus. Satan didn’t want me to get baptized because he did not want me to follow Jesus in obedience.
I remember my mom telling me, “Chad, you just have to do it. Once you get baptized, Satan will never bother you with it again. You will never fear it again.” As simple as that advice sounds, it was true! I pushed my fear to the side and followed Jesus in believer’s baptism. To my surprise, there wasn’t anything to fear. It was Satan trying to keep me from following Jesus fully. Perhaps the enemy is attempting the same tactic on you?

What Does Baptism Really Mean?
Baptism is publicly expressing your desire to follow Christ. It symbolizes the life change that you have experienced in salvation. The Bible commands believers to be baptized. If you have repented of your sins and trusted Christ for salvation, then your next step is water baptism.

“And Peter said to them, ‘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'” (Acts 2:38).

“And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).

“Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

Who Should Be Baptized?
Baptism is for those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Christ alone for their salvation. If you are a follower of Christ then you are ready for baptism. “So those who received his word were baptized, and they were added that day about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41 “But when they believed Phillip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12

When Should Someone Be Baptized?
As soon as you trust Christ for salvation and have repented of sins, you should now follow the Lord in baptism. By all accounts in the Scripture baptism was an immediate act. “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Acts 22:16. If you have been a Christian for years and have not yet been baptized, now is the time to obey the commands of Scripture and take your next step in baptism.

Why Does PCC Immerse Under Water?
We believe, like most churches, that water baptism is an immersion experience. The main reasons we do this is because first of all, it is the Biblical, New Testament pattern. In the baptism examples of the Bible are immersion, not sprinkling. The second reason is because of what baptism symbolizes. It represents that we have died to sin, been buried (following Christ’s example) and when we come out of the water, we are raised again to new life.

Note Romans 6:4, “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Also read Colossians 2:12, “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

Can I Be Re-Baptized?
We get this question alot. For many, they were baptized as children and did not live for Christ until later in life. Once someone gets serious with the Lord, they often ask if they can be re-baptized because it would be much more meaningful to them.

As a Church, we see nothing in Scripture that would prohibit someone from being re-baptized. In my wife’s case, she was christened as a baby, but was not saved until she was in her later teenager years. She felt she needed to be baptized because she had truly put her faith in Christ. We not only accept people who want to be re-baptized, we celebrate them!

Why Does PCC Not Baptize Infants?
We do not perform infant baptisms because we believe that baptism is for professing Christians who have, with full understanding, repented of sins and decided to fully follow Christ. As a Church, we do baby dedications where we pray over your child and dedicate their life to the Lord. Again, this is not in place of salvation, which they will one day have to experience on their own.