Baptism Is Only by Immersion Although some early Baptists baptized by pouring or sprinkling water over a person, Baptists concluded that immersion of a person’s entire body in water was the only biblical way to baptize. Therefore, in spite of persecution, inconvenience, and ridicule, they began to practice baptism only by immersion. Today, that is the Baptist way throughout the world. The belief in immersion as the proper mode of baptism is based on the Bible for several reasons: The English word “baptize” comes from a word in the Greek language—the language in which the New Testament originally was written—that means “to dip, submerge, or immerse.” Jesus requested John the Baptist to baptize him in the Jordan River as Jesus began his public ministry. The biblical account of the baptism indicates that it was by immersion (Matthew 3:1317; Mark 1:9-11). Christ’s disciples in New Testament times baptized by immersion (Acts 8:36-39). Immersion is a means not only of declaring that Christ died, was buried, and was resurrected to provide salvation but also of testifying about our own hope of resurrection (Romans 6:5). The New Testament teaches that immersion is a way to symbolize that a believer has died to an old way and is alive to walk a new way in Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12). Baptism Is Symbolic Baptists believe that the Bible teaches that baptism is important but not necessary for salvation. For example, the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43), Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-18), and the people gathered in Cornelius’ house (Acts 10:24-48) all experienced salvation without the necessity of baptism. In his sermon at Pentecost, Peter urged those who had repented and believed in Christ to be baptized, not that baptism was necessary for salvation but as a testimony that they had been saved (Acts 2:1-41). Thus, baptism is symbolic and not sacramental. Baptists believe that the Bible teaches that baptism symbolizes that a person has been saved and is not a means of salvation. Baptism is not a way of channeling saving grace but rather is a way of testifying that saving grace has been experienced. It does not wash away sin but symbolizes that sin has been forgiven through faith in Christ. While baptism is not essential for salvation, it is a very important ingredient for obedience to the Lord. Christ commanded his disciples to baptize (Matthew 28:19) and therefore baptism is a form of obedience to Jesus as Lord. Baptism is one way that a person declares, “Jesus is Lord.”
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