What is the purpose of baptism?

Answer

There is no specific verse in the New Testament that explicitly explains the purpose of baptism. Therefore, we need to discern the purpose of baptism from various passages and the cultural context of the first century.

The Greek term for “baptize,” baptizó, literally means “to dip, immerse, or submerge.” It could describe what happens to a drowning person or a sinking ship (Beasley-Murray, G., “Baptism,” New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 1, Colin Brown, ed., Zondervan Pub., 1975). However, the ecclesiastical use of the term denotes a specific church ritual. In many instances, the ritual itself has lost its connection to the original meaning of the word baptize.

In the Roman Catholic Church, infants are “baptized” (sprinkled with water, though previously they were immersed) to cleanse away original sin. As the child grows, they will still need to address actual sins committed, but, according to Catholic doctrine, original sin has been eradicated, providing the individual an opportunity to eventually reach heaven.

In Reformed churches, infants are “baptized” (sprinkled with water) as a symbol of the New Covenant. It signifies the parents’ faith and their commitment to raising their child in a Christian environment. This act is considered the equivalent of circumcision in the Old Testament. In ancient times, when a baby was circumcised, they had no say in the matter; the ritual symbolized the parents’ desire for the child to be part of the covenant people of Israel. Similarly, in Reformed theology, baptism signifies the parents’ desire for the child to be part of the church.

Some churches view baptism as the initial step of obedience and deem it necessary for salvation. In these churches, baptism does not bring about salvation but marks the beginning of a life dedicated to following Christ and is deemed essential for ultimate salvation. From this perspective, baptism is not vastly different from the Rom.

A Catholic concept. Other churches view baptism as an act of obedience to Christ but not essential for salvation.

A significant part of the baptism mentioned in the New Testament is the baptism of John the Baptist (“one who baptizes”). Baptism was not widespread in Judaism; however, Gentile converts to Judaism were indeed baptized. When John called Jews to repentance and baptism, he urged them to acknowledge their sin, reject their heritage as a means of acceptance before God, and repent. When people approached John for baptism, they were acknowledging that they were no different from Gentiles.

The purpose of John’s baptism helps clarify why the religious leaders declined to participate. “Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father,” for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham’” (Matthew 3:5-9).

Although John’s baptism differs from Christian baptism, it sets the stage for it. In the first century, when a person responded to Christ in faith and was baptized in the name of Jesus, that person was rejecting their own righteousness and religious heritage in favor of Jesus as the means of salvation. This would have been clear to the first-century Jewish convert, but its significance is often overlooked by twenty-first-century cultural Christians. In the first century, baptism was the final step in identifying with Christ and the church, opening the individual to persecution. Until being baptized, the individual might have been merely curious or even a supporter of the church in some way, but they were.

Not considered truly Christian. Baptism was the event that marked an individual as absolutely committed to Christ.

Baptism is the rite that publicly identifies one as a follower of Christ—a Christian. It is included in Jesus’ final instruction to His disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” «Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: », (Matthew 28:19). When people responded to the gospel, baptism was the public response and was usually immediate (see Acts 2:38-41;8:12;10:47-48).

Baptism in the New Testament symbolizes resurrection and washing. The symbol or rite does not accomplish new life or spiritual cleansing, but it is an outward illustration of the inward reality. When a person is placed under the water and then brought out again, it visibly represents dying to the old life and being resurrected with Christ. Also, it is a picture of washing, as this seems to have been the background of the Jewish baptism of Gentile converts. At the same time, baptism is the public rite of initiation into the church and a public confession of identification with Christ in death and resurrection (see Romans 6:3-4).

Based on the definition of baptizó, the resurrection symbolism, and the fact that every use of the word in the New Testament either allows for or implies immersion as the mode of baptism, we conclude that immersion, not sprinkling, is the most biblical mode of baptism. While sprinkling with water may be a symbol for washing, it is hardly a visible representation of resurrection. Since baptism represents a reality in the life of the one being baptized,

In the Christian faith, it is emphasized that only those who believe are suitable candidates for baptism.