What’s Baptism and How Should it Look?
What’s Baptism and How Should it Look?
Baptism is a huge part of the Christian faith and church, regardless of the denomination you are apart of. But what really is baptism about? Why do we get baptized? And, what should our baptism actually look like, a sprinkle, pouring water over our heads, fully underwater? Will I go to hell if I’m not baptized?
All these questions will be answers below!
What is Baptism?
Baptism is simple. It is an act of an individual whose heart has turned to Jesus and it’s their outward declaration of this newfound faith and a commitment to walk with the Lord.
Ultimately, a baptism in a persons public ceremony, that let’s others know that they are proclaiming that Jesus is their Lord and Savior.
In the Bible we see countless individuals offer this public declaration and become baptized in the name of Jesus. All originating with John the Baptist.
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.”
Matthew 3:11
All in all, baptism is for individuals regardless of age who have made the conscious decision in their heart to follow Jesus.
What does Baptism look like?
This is also a simple answer too, because the Bible shows us exactly what it looks like.
“At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.”
Mark 1:9-10
Baptism is a full submersion under water for a brief moment and a coming back up out of the water.
There are some denominations that practice the sprinkling of water and pouring of water on the head to symbolize baptism, but this is not Biblical.
As Christians we are to follow the lead of Christ’s example, and Jesus had a fully submerged baptism, therefore we should to.
So, does that mean I shouldn’t baptize my newborn baby or toddler? Would that even symbolize a true baptism. The answer is no, and if you’d like to dive more into this explanation, click on this post below where I dive into the idea of baptizing a baby or toddler.
However, if you want more proof of a full submersion, let’s take a look at someone other than Jesus.
Below are verses taken from the book of Acts when Philip baptized the Ethiopian man after sharing the Gospel with him.
“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”
Acts 8:36-39
Baptism is a full submersion underwater and a coming back up out of the water. But why? Let me explain below:
Why a full body submersion?
Besides the main point that, that is what is taught in the Bible and the type of baptism Jesus had, and we are to follow His ways, there is also a symbolism in the full submersion.
A full submersion underwater and a rising up out of the water symbolizes Christs death and resurrection. Being brought fully underwater is Christ’s death and the coming up out of the water is His resurrection.
Those two movements point us to the cross and the sacrifice Jesus made for each one of us when He chose to die for our sins, but defeated death and rose again.
Therefore, a full body submersion also demonstrates us dying to sin and our old self, and rising again a new creation created anew in Christ through His sacrifice.
Will I go to hell if I’m not baptized?
The short answer is no. No, you will not go to hell because you were not baptized.
For example, let’s say today you chose to commit yourself to Christ, maybe you’ve known about him your whole life, grew up in the church even, but didn’t know, know Him. But you have decided now with a conscious decision in your hear to follow Jesus, and you decide I will be baptized. You reach out to your pastor, and schedule the date. But, God had other plans and you end up passing away before the date arrived. Will you still be saved? 100% you will.
The Bible teaches us that it is by the blood of Jesus that we gain our salvation.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:7
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
Jesus died on the cross and it is the shedding of His blood that gives us this free gift of salvation. Salvation is nothing we can earn by doing outwardly things, it is a free gift we can accept as our own when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Therefore, baptism is a beautiful and incredible symbol and outward example of our salvation, but it is not salvation itself. Jesus’ blood on the cross is all the salvation we need.
So, why get baptized then? And why do babies and toddler get baptized in some churches–I’ll explain that in this post and the rest down below! Let me dive into this below:
Why get baptized if it’s not for salvation?
Baptism is still incredibly important on your walk with Christ. It is a pivotal moment in your journey where you have decided to do away with the old you and through Jesus have taken the conscious decision to follow Him.
Baptism as I’ve heard before, is “a transition in the heart of the believer. Ot’s the begging of an intentional journey of a life deeply changed.”
Jesus told his disciples:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore, baptism is an integral part of our Christian faith, it is something Jesus commands his disciples to do for believers and something we should do too.
Jesus also says this:
“Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.”
John 3:5
So, if Jesus says this, doesn’t that mean Baptism is used for our salvation? No, not necessarily, because the Bible is very clear on what gives us salvation, (the blood of Christ), this is referring to a conversion of the heart through the holy spirit and baptism.
Because baptism is an outward expression of our faith in Christ, it is used as a symbolic washing on the self, a new birth in Jesus. A way for us to be born again and washed clean with the Holy Spirit, like described in that verses in John.
Who should get baptized?
Anyone. Anyone willing to make the conscious decision to follow Jesus.
You can be 10 or 110. As long as in your heart you have made the choice that Jesus is your Savior and you choose to follow Him all the days of your lives.
“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Even little children can be baptized, as well as all ages as we see throughout the new testament of all the adults getting baptized.
The only regulation is you have to make that choice for yourself. Mom, dad, pastors, teachers, friends, not one person besides yourself can decide to follow Jesus. It’s your heart and mind and spirit that has to guide you to that water to be born again.
Which is why babies and toddlers and those too young to understand what they are doing do not need to be baptized. As it is a conscious decision one must make, and because you don’t need baptism for salvation, an infant who dies without baptism does not mean they are going to hell.
What if I’m not perfect? Should I still get baptized?
Want to know a little secret?
You will never in your entire life (even after coming to Jesus), will be perfect. You were born a sinner and will die a sinner too. Regardless of baptism, communion, going to church every week, reading your Bible everyday, praying to God hourly.
We are sinners not because we “just told a lie”, we are sinners because it is in our DNA. Just like it is in your DNA that you might be White, Hispanic, Black, or Asian.
You will never be perfect. There is only one person who ever walked this planet who is, and that Jesus—the very person we are being baptized for.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2:22
God looks at the overall trajectory of your life, and He does this by looking at the heart.
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10
AND
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7
Therefore, you are not expected to be perfect to be baptized, and you are not expected to live a perfect life after baptism.
You will make mistakes, you will sin again, and probably even very soon after a baptism you might slip up in someway somehow. That doesn’t mean you have lost your salvation because baptism doesn’t give you that gift of salvation. Jesus’ blood does.
The importance is committing your life to Jesus, you fall of the horse, get back on and keep trying to ride it, you fall off again, guess what, you can get back on and try riding again, and again, and again, and again. Making every effort to keep riding without falling off, but, you will fall off, but it’s about keeping the trajectory of Jesus as your way of life.
For God looks at the heart and the mind and it’s those who have that steadfast dependency on Christ that will enter those pearly gates, those who “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
So, don’t be afraid or anxious to get baptized. Allow the Spirit to move you and allow yourself the beauty that is baptism and being born again of water and Spirit. Take that step, bring it to God in prayer and surrender your life to Christ!
What is Baptism and How Should it Look? What is Baptism and How Should it Look? What is Baptism and How Should it Look?
