A Washing, a Death, a Resurrection and a New Birth.

Baptism is introduced to us as a New Testament concept. There is no ritual equivalent in the Old Testament, although Israel was required to wash regularly to conform to the Law. The forerunner of baptism might be seen in the case of Naaman the Syrian, who was cleansed of his leprosy by washing in the River Jordan (in 2 Kings 5). Bathing played an important part in the ritual life of certain pre-Christian Jewish sects. 'Baptise' comes from a Greek word, adopted into English, meaning 'to dip', possibly related to the process of dyeing cloth, in which the woven material was dipped into the dye to change its colour. The ritual of baptism described in the New Testament involved men and women being immersed in a river or other suitable stretch of water.

"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River." (Matthew 3:5-6).

"Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were constantly coming to be baptized." (John 3:23).
"And as they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?' Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' The eunuch answered, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him." (Acts 8:36-38).
Baptism symbolises in the first place a washing away of sins that are past, a complete change of moral attitude, and a fresh start to the new life in Christ, following the understanding of the gospel message, and sincere repentance.

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:36-39).

Baptism also symbolises a spiritual death, a burial in water, and resurrection to a new life in Christ, following the example of the Master. Once baptised, the Christian is "dead to sin, but lives to God in Christ". By submitting to baptism we express our confidence that as Christ died and rose again to eternal life, so we also will be "united with him in his resurrection".

"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 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 6:1-4).

Baptism also expresses our confidence that as Christ physically died and rose to eternal life, so we also will be united with him in his resurrection. Paul writes about baptism:

"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. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection." (Romans 6:4-5).

Baal
Babylon
Baptism
  1. "Baptism for the dead"
  2. Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Barbarians
Beelzebub
Beginning
  1. The Creation of the World
  2. The New Creation in Christ
Begotten
Believe, Belief, Believer
Bible
Bishop
Blasphemy
Blessedness
Blessing
Blood
Body
  1. The physical body
  2. The spiritual body
  3. The body of Christ
  4. "The body of Moses"
  5. "Spiritual bodies"
Born
Bread
Breaking Bread
Brothers and Sisters
Burial