Baptism

1. Because Jesus was baptized that way. “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” (Matthew 3:16a)

2. Every Baptism in the Bible was by immersion.“Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…” (Acts 8:38–39)

3. The word “baptize” means “to dip or immerse”.

4. It best symbolized a burial and resurrection. “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3–4)

It illustrates Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. “ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day…”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

“Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

Every person who believes in Christ should be baptized. Believers realize their sin separates them from God. They conclude that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross bridges the gap between them and God. Having decided to trust Christ alone for their salvation, they follow Christ in baptism as a symbol of their new life in Christ. (Acts 2:37-38)