What is Baptism?

Before exploring more about the purpose of baptism, it’s important to gain an understanding of its meaning. The English word “baptism” comes from the Greek baptisma, which refers to “washing, dipping, or immersing something into water.”

It also means “immersed fully into something”, which in the case of baptism could be summarised in the word identification. Baptism is an expression of personal and public identification with Jesus Christ.

How important is your baptism? It is your personal identification with the greatest act of human history—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn’t save you - salvation comes by faith alone.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, we read “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God”. Your guilt before God is removed the moment you trust in Christ. But baptism is your personal testimony to, and the inward assurance of, your passage from the old life to the new life.