What is Water Baptism?
A baptism is an IMMERSION. A person who has been baptized is a person who has been immersed in something, because that is what Biblical baptism means. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist speaks of three different baptisms in one verse. He mentions WATER baptism, HOLY GHOST baptism, and FIRE baptism. One gets you wet, one gets you in the body of Christ, and one gets you in Hell fire.
A person is baptized by the Holy Ghost the very moment they receive Christ as Savior (I Cor. 12:13). This particular baptism is a SPIRITUAL baptism, and it should never be confused with water baptism. The spiritual baptism can be found in I Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 4:5; Romans 6:3-4; and Galatians 3:27. It is not water baptism for water baptism places no one in the body of Christ. A person is saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).
Water baptism, however, is important, for it pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I Peter 3:21 tells us it is a "figure". Obedient Christians will submit to water baptism, but they should NEVER confuse it with their salvation. Remember, the repentant thief was saved WITHOUT being baptized in water (Luke 23:42-43), and the eunuch of Acts chapter eight wasn't permitted to be baptized until he first BELIEVED on Christ (Acts 8:37-38).*
Back to Church Pictures Charity WebMap
*The Bible Believer's Helpful Little Handbook by James L. Melton. Available through Faithway Baptist Church, PO Box 477, Troy, TN 38260.