Baptism
Baptism
Baptism identifies you with Christ.
Baptism symbolizes to everyone that you are committed to Christ. (Romans 6:3)
Baptism illustrates Christ's death, burial and resurrection.
When you are baptized into the water it portrays to observers that Christ died and was buried. As you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ. (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
Baptism is a picture of your new life in Christ. Baptism pictures the death of your old sinful life and of being raised to walk in newness of life in Christ. (Romans 6:4-5) The Greek word "baptizo" is where we obtain our English word "baptism." The Greek definition is "to immerse, to dip or to submerge." Only a submerged body can represent death and burial. The body being raised up out of the water provides a picture of resurrection and new life. (Acts 8:38-39)
How will you be baptized? You will be asked to walk into a baptismal pool. The pastor will already be waiting in the water. He will announce to those present your commitment and desire to follow Christ in baptism. Next, he will immerse you into the water, and will bring you up out of the water. In Matthew 3:16, it tells us of Christ's baptism: "After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water." (NASB)