Water baptism in the faith of Christ serves more than one purpose. Just as the laying on of hands, for example, serves as a sign of approval (Act 6:1-6), an act of conferring a blessing (Gen 48:13-20), a medium of impartation (2 Tim 1:16; 1 Tim 4:14; Deut 34:9; Act 8:18), and a means of the flow of healing virtue (Mk 5:23). However in the case of water baptism, one administration of it has more than one import. Contrary to the one sided view of some who define baptism as an outward expression of an inward faith, baptism in scriptures signifies and accomplishes more than one thing. On one part it is a sign, and on another part a means to a grace ( in the sense that God works through it spiritually to accomplish what it signifies). Note that although the new covenant emphasises the spiritual more than the ceremonial (unlike the old testament in which there was great emphasis on the ceremonial) it does not outright wipe out all that is ceremonial from the acts of God. The laying on of hands, the anointing of the sick with oil for example were clear ceremonial means by which God worked out his purpose. In like manner, it will be sheer faithlessness not to believe that God works through baptism, according to his eternal plan and purpose in Christ, what he says he works through it. What was in the water of the Pool of Siloam that could heal the blind man? What was in the water of River Jordan that could cleanses Naaman of his severe leprosy? Only unbelievers doubt and question the acts of God. To question how water baptism can save or wash away sin is to question how the blood of Christ can save and cleanses away sin . If God has chosen to use blood, he has equally chosen to use water. It takes faith to take God at his word.

1. Water Baptism is a rite of spiritual union with Christ.

According to scriptures, baptism is a rite of spiritual union with Christ. It is a rite of spiritual initiation into Christ. The scriptures say if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are past away, behold all things are become new. 1 Cor 17:5

To be in Christ is to be in spiritual union with Christ. It is to be in the faith of Christ. The question therefore is how does one come into Christ?

Scriptures answer that question when it among other things, says baptize into Christ.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

It seemed perhaps some were ignorant of this spiritual reality. Note Paul did not say as many as were baptized into Christ were demonstrating his death, but rather they were baptized into Christ’s death. There is a spiritual implication of Christ’s death, and they were baptized into it.

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.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Among other things, what unites us as one in Christ is baptism into Christ as explained by this scripture above.

The place of believing in Christ should not be overemphasized: believing is a constant in all religious equations. There is no religion in the world that does not include one having to believe. Believing is part of man’s standing with any deity, God or idol. That one has to believe is not peculiar to the Christian faith; it is so with all faiths all over the world: Judaism, Islam, idolatry, etc. Believing in Christ is not enough, it inseparably goes with baptism into Christ. One has to be baptized into Christ to be in Christ. Note that Apostle Paul did not say as many of you that have believed in Christ. He said, “…as many of you that are baptized into Christ.” It is not enough to believe in the death of Christ, you have to be baptized into that death! . Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?( Romans 6:3) The death of Christ was not an empty death. It is the one most powerful sacrifice that puts an end to all sacrifices.

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

According to Paul’s interrogation, they had repented and were already baptised of John’s baptism. They didn’t say they did not believe in Christ. They professed Christ, and that’s the reason for the term certain disciples. (consider other scriptures Acts 21:16; 9:10; 9:36; 16:1) They already believed on Christ (verse 2), but they were not yet in Christ having not been baptised into Christ, for they merely had been baptised unto repentance. Though having repented, believed and were baptised of John’s baptism, they could not be said to have been baptised into Christ’s death, or have put on Christ (i.e the finished work of Christ couldn’t apply to them, the finished work which could erase the distinction between Jews and gentiles, male and female that all can be one in Christ [Gal 3:27-28; Eph 2:13-14]).

While the baptism of the church was multipurpose, John’s baptism was simply unto repentance for the remission of sin. Note that John never baptise into. He only baptised, not unto himself, but unto repentance. Whereas, the Apostles baptised not unto repentance, but into Christ.

2. It is a seal of the new covenant people of God

God’s covenant sign with his chosen people under the Abrahamic covenant was circumcision. Acts 7:8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

This sign was retained by God in the law of Moses but replaced by God in the faith of Christ with water baptism. Col 2:11

Circumcision of the old covenant was a seal of God’s covenant with Abraham. Apostle Paul explains: Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

Note the term that he might be father of them that believe though they be not circumcised. We know the way by which the gentiles can be the children of Abraham though they be not circumcised is by the faith of Christ which commands baptism for one to be connected to Abraham. Gal 3:27-29

He further explains that baptism in the faith of Christ replaces circumcision so we can through Christ connect to the Abrahamic covenant of promise. So while the law of Moses (Old Covenant) retained the circumcision sign and seal of God’s covenant with Abraham as the sign and seal of God’s chosen people, the Faith of Jesus Christ (New Covenant) while not disannulling the Abrahamic covenant of promise replaced the sign and seal with water baptism. Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Water baptism is the circumcision of Christ.

3. It is for the remission of sin

People in the Bible were baptised, among other things, for the remission of their sins, not to symbolise sins already remitted.

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38

Apostle Peter did not say, “Repent for the remission of sins, and be baptised”. He said, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins….” Act 2:38

It was not an out ward declaration of a remitted sin. It was instrumental to the remission of sin. You don’t demonstrate your sins are forgiven to have them forgiven. They are either forgiven or not. Baptism is not an outward expression of an inward faith: it is for remission of sins. Christ instituted the ordinance as a means through which He remit sins. Its being done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost bring the divine to bear on its spiritual import.

4. It is a requirement of salvation

You may have heard it said that baptism is not necessary for salvation. Such inference, conclusion, deduction or opinion should be debunked. Scripture is clear on the matter that water baptism is necessary for salvation. Those who think otherwise assume baptism is a work, and that since we are saved by grace and not works, baptism can not be necessary for salvation.

Any how they understand it, they should realise that baptism is not what you do for God: it is what God does to you. Baptism is not demonstrated; it is received. This gives the reason why you don’t baptise yourself. If it were your own work you should have been asked to baptize yourself. Those who say baptism is a demonstration of of faith make baptism their own work, hence they are demonstrating their faith (demonstration which of course cannot contribute a dime to their salvation), a show which God did not design baptism to be. No, baptism is not a demonstration of faith. Someone standing in the stead of Christ baptises you in the name of Christ. It is not your work: you receive it. It is grace– grace is received.

Didn’t Christ understand grace well when he said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…(Mark 16:16)? Or when did Jesus ever say “he that believes and is saved, shall be baptized”?

Didn’t Peter know about grace when he said, “…even baptism doth also now save us… by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 3:21)? Now, anyhow that is interpreted by any preacher today, the points remains that, in the very words of Peter, by and large, “baptism …saves us.”

More so, while Apostle Paul stressed grace and faith in Romans 3:22 as means of redemption, three chapters later in the same letter to the Romans (6:3-4) Paul affirms that one is buried with Christ in baptism that he might walk in newness of life (= live a saved life). This goes to explain that salvation by grace does not exclude other conditions as repentance and baptism.

Even when the Bible says he that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved it does not mean the mere calling “Lord,” “Lord.” Jesus clearly condemned that. The calling upon the lord that amount to salvation involve repentance: …Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity ( 2 Timothy 2:19), and water baptism: …be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. (Acts 22:16) This is the theology the Apostles and the first century Christians held.

It is strange how people would teach the saviour how to save them. Jesus told his disciples to go preach the gospel to all nations baptising them, and that he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. And Hebrews 5:9 says he is the author of salvation to them that obey him. How can you then if you refuse be saved when he only saves those who obey him? It would be like Rehab saying the scarlet rope is not necessary for her salvation, or Noah saying the ark is not necessary for his salvation, or the Israelites saying the blood on their lintel is not necessary for their salvation. No wise Christian should joke with his or her salvation. No one makes heaven by winning an argument. If on that day you discover it was necessary for salvation what would you then do. The eunuch requested his own baptism: “What now hinders me?” He asked. Cornelius though having received the Holy Ghost baptism was not denied water baptism as unnecessary. Anyone who thinks water baptism is not necessary for salvation should know that disobedience is necessary for condemnation, and would have to explain on that day how his “wisdom” of the Scriptures helped him walk in disobedience.

5. It is a mark of discipleship

When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) John 4:1-2

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…. Matt. 28.19-20

You can’t be a complete Christian without baptism. To be a follower of Jesus, you must first be baptized, and subsequent to this, be taught to observe all that Christ commanded.

This is how it works according to Ephesians 4 vs 5: One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Understand here the importance of baptism in Christ. How it is placed on the same plane as being interwoven with the Lordship of Christ and the Faith in Christ. Christ’s Lordship is not divided(one Lord). His Faith is not divided (one Faith). Baptism into him is not divided (one baptism). These three make up one Christianity. None is optional. It goes thus:

Who is your Lord? – Jesus Christ.( 2 Cor 4:5)

Whose faith do you hold? – Jesus Christ. (Rev 2:13)

In whose name were you baptized? – Jesus Christ. (Act 10:48; 1Cor 1:13)

That is how it works. If you say Jesus is your Lord, and claim to hold his faith, you must of necessity be baptized in his name. You must be baptized in the name of the one crucified for you. This is what the Apostles believed. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. It will be unwise to practice a version of Christianity different from the one the Apostles preached and practiced and expect to make the very heaven they made. That will be trying to be wiser than the people who heard Jesus firsthand.

6. It is a rite of admission into the visible church of God

7. It is a Washing of Regeneration

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