Have you ever felt the weight of past mistakes pressing down on your heart, longing for a fresh start? From the cleansing rituals in the Old Testament to John’s baptism of repentance in the New, Scripture offers a beautiful picture of redemption and renewed life in the call for believers to repent and be baptized, marking a bold step of faith toward a brand-new identity in Christ. More than a mere symbol, baptism unites us with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, testifying to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit still at work in our modern world. Stepping into those waters today represents a profound commitment to leave behind the old and embrace new life. Don’t miss the chance to discover how an ancient practice can revolutionize your walk with God. Let’s dive into a deeper, life-changing understanding of baptism that will make you wonder why you ever stayed dry.

1. The Problem is Sin

Romans 3:23 – For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:25 – For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

2. The Punishment is Death

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. The Pathway is Jesus

Matthew 11:28 – Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

4. The Purpose is Love

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

5. The Prescription is Grace

Ephesians 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.

6. The Plan is Healing

1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

7. The Promise is Victory

Hebrews 2:14-15 – Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

Baptism is being immersed in water as a symbolic act to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It symbolizes our new life in Christ and is a declaration that we are a disciple of Christ and have chosen to follow His Way. It points towards the work of God’s grace in our lives at salvation.

Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 6:3-4 – Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Romans 6:13 – Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

Colossians 2:12 –  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Galatians 3:27 – And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Matthew 3:15 – But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”

Acts 22:15-16 –  For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.

1 Peter 3:21 – And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. Spirit of God at Creation: Desiring to Make New

Genesis 1:2 – The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

2. Noah’s Ark: Saved from Judgement  

1 Peter 3:20-21 – Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you…

3. Red Sea: Deliverance from Egypt

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 – All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 

4. Crossing the Jordan River: Promises of God with New Life

Joshua 4:20 – It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

5. Tabernacle Wash Basin: Cleansing to Holiness

Exodus 30:20 – They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord

6. Naaman’s Healing: Obedience

2 Kings 5:13 – But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” 

1. John’s Baptism

Luke 3:3 – Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

2. Jesus’ Baptism

Matthew 3:13 – Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John.

Matthew 3:16-17 – After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

3. After Peter’s Sermon

Acts 2:41 – Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

4. The Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:35-38 – So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.