Basic Bible Doctrine
Lesson Seven
"Baptism"

Baptism is an important practice for Christians. It’s a symbolic act that holds great meaning for believers of the Christian faith.

The baptism ceremony follows a series of steps that represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As the believer is waiting to be immersed in the water, it is a representation of Jesus dying on the cross. Then, when the believer is submerged, it represents the burial of Jesus. As the individual is raised up out of the water, they are symbolizing Jesus being resurrected from the dead. The water is a symbolism of their sins being washed away, and then when they walk away, they are symbolizing their new walk in Christ.

Romans 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Baptism always comes AFTER salvation. It does not save.

Acts 2:41 - Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls.

Notice from this verse that they had already believed before they were baptized. Salvation comes from believing.

Acts 8:38 - And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

We can see from this verse that baptism involved going "down" into the water. It was not sprinkled... It was not dipping... It was going down into the water and being totally submerged under the water.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Baptism is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ, not "the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost." These are "titles", not names. The name of the Father is Jesus Christ. The name of the Son is Jesus Christ. The name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ. There is only one God manifest in three persons, and God's name, given to man, is Jesus Christ. Since He is the Creator, and since He is the Saviour, then it is in His name that we are baptized. Further, the name of "Jesus" is the name everyone in the Bible was baptized in as well. Galatians 3:26, 27 tells us we are "baptized into Christ". In Acts 2:38 Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.." Further, Romans 6:3 teaches us that, "so many of us as were baptized into JESUS CHRIST were baptized unto his death". Many other portions of Scripture clearly teach that baptism is to be in the name of Jesus Christ. Nowhere in Scripture do we see any example of the phrase "father, son, and holy spirit" being used.

Notice also that in every baptism mentioned in the Bible, it is always adults who have trusted in Christ.  There is no biblical mandate or suggestion of babies being baptized.

So, in closing, Baptism is to be done after salvation, as a symbolic act picturing our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. It is to be done by complete submersion under water, and it is to be done in the name of Jesus Christ.    And finally, babies are not to be baptized. Only those who have cognitively made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour are to be baptized, and babies can not do this.