Why should I get baptized?

What is Baptism?

Baptism is one of the most neglected topics in the Christian life, but it has the potential to be one of the most identity-shaping moments for a believer. What is baptism? The Bible says that baptism is "an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21). That is why the Bible can even say "baptism now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21). Peter says that the physical act of baptism does not save us (the washing of dirt from the body), but what baptism symbolizes saves us. In other words, believers at baptism ask God—on the basis of the death and resurrection of Christ—to cleanse their consciences and forgive their sins. We make an appeal in baptism, saying, “Cleanse my conscience from all my sin through the death and resurrection of Christ. I believe that I am saved only by what he has done. He alone can bring me through the waters of judgment. This is my only hope.”

In other words, baptism is the promise of the gospel in physical form. The promise has become three-dimensional. You see the promise physically enacted. You see it. You feel the water. You physically enact the promise because you believe the promise. We do not put our faith in baptism. We put our faith in Jesus—his death and resurrection has decisively and definitively dealt with the problem of sin and judgment.

Do you need to be baptized to be saved?

Lets answer this question by appealing to the example of marriage. Baptism is like the wedding ring that confirms the covenant of marriage. It is a symbol that makes sense only in a specific context. If a man secretly slips a ring on a woman on the street that does not make them married. In the same way, if someone falls into the baptistery, he or she is not baptized and suddenly united to Christ. The exchange of rings happens in a specific context (exchanging vows and commitments of marriage). The rings symbolize that covenant commitment. In the same way, baptism only saves when someone responds with faith to the promises embodied in baptism (by faith, you have entered Jesus, the greater ark, which saves you from a greater judgment).

What if you have not been baptized?

Let’s say you were in a wedding ceremony and you have already taken your vows. Now here comes the moment to exchange the rings. He freezes when he remembers that he left them at his house in all the rush to get to the church. Does that mean the wedding is off and the marriage is invalid? No. They are still married. But there is something missing and it must be rectified quickly.

What if you have not been baptized by immersion as a believer? Does that mean you are not a believer? Does it mean that you are not heaven-bound and that your faith is invalid?

No, but something is missing. We invite you to learn more about how to fill in what is missing.