Being baptized in water is an exciting day for every believer. But why do we need to get baptized? When we surrender to Christ we are giving our lives over to obey Him. One of His commands is that we get baptized in water. Being born again means that something has changed on the ‘inside’ where no one can see, our Spirit has become alive to God. Water baptism is the ‘outward’ step we take in OBEDIENCE to His Word (Mark 16:16). This act demonstrates our commitment to following Christ and calls all those present to witness our desire to serve God.

"Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life"(Romans 6:3-4 NKJV).

Water baptism is not what saves us, but it is a testimony that you as a new believer are declaring. You are declaring that as you go under the water your "old man," – your old sinful life - is buried with Christ, as Christ was buried in the grave. As you come out of the water, you are declaring that you are raised to new life just as Christ was resurrected from the grave. Water baptism is, therefore, a declaration of you identifying with Christ by laying down your old life and choosing to walk in your new life with Christ.

Believer’s baptism

Water baptism is a believer's baptism, as nowhere in Scripture do we find that infants were baptized. In reading the Further Bible Study section you will notice that all those who were baptized had an opportunity to hear the Word of God and respond to the Word preached before they were baptized. Thus, the assumption was that they were of the age of understanding, with the ability to make a conscious decision to follow Christ.