What is baptism? Baptism is the initiation ceremony into the Christian faith. It is an initiatory sign through which you enter into the community of believers, through which you are called a child of God, and engrafted into Christ. Through baptism, you are united with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. You go down into the water—buried with Christ—and when you rise, you rise with Him to live a new life. In this act, your sins are forgiven, covered, and erased. As you come up out of the water, you enter into new life and a new relationship with God and with God’s new community. Paul says in Galatians, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” — Galatians 3:27. Calvin says, “Baptism is the moment of faith in which adoption is realized.” 

So, should we be baptized? Yes—Jesus Himself was baptized. Before beginning His public ministry, He was baptized by John the Baptist. At that moment, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and a voice from heaven declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Not only was Jesus baptized, but He also commanded us to baptize others. Whoever is baptized—I believe whatever happened to Jesus at His baptism happens to that person. Heaven rejoices, he or she is acknowledged as a child of God, and the Holy Spirit descends on the baptized person. 

Baptism is a sign of purification. The old is gone, and the new has come. You are a child of God. The Holy Spirit, who is given, begins the work of sanctification. Through baptism, we not only enter into new life, but also into a new community—a community of believers where Jesus is Lord and Head. You enjoy this new life with Him and with fellow believers. Let me close with these verses from 1 John 5:11–12: “And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 

If you are not baptized yet, may I encourage you to prayerfully take the decision to be baptized. It is a symbolic act—but one filled with rich meaning. May the Lord bless and help us to live fully in the new life and the new community we have entered in Jesus! God bless you all.