Baptism by the Holy Spirit happens at the moment the person becomes a believer. Christ baptizes the believer with the Holy Spirit and the believer is placed into the body of Christ. The believer lives in unity with Jesus Christ and with other believers.
The Church uses water baptism as an outward sign of the inward change that has taken place in the believer's heart. Baptism involves the application of water to the body of a person. It is frequently thought of as an act by which the believer enters the fellowship of a local congregation or the universal church.
Water baptism is not the means by which salvation is brought about, but is a sign and seal of the covenant. The covenant is God's pledge to save mankind. Because of what He has done and what He has promised, God forgives and gives new life to the believer. On the one hand, baptism is a sign of the promise. On the other, it is the means by which people enter into that covenant.
Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. - (immersed or buried in water and being brought up or resurrected) It signifies the believer’s death to sin and resurrection to righteousness.
Over the years, churches have come up with their own rituals concerning baptism. Some adhere strictly to the original definition of the word, completely submerging the new believer into the water. Some churches pour water over the new believer symbolizing the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Some churches sprinkle water over the new believer symbolizing the cleansing work of Christ in our hearts and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus.
Read the following verses and others that you will find in your Bible, for a clearer picture of baptism.
Matthew 3:13-17 -- Jesus was baptized.
Jesus did not need to be baptized since He did not sin. However, those who went to John were looking forward to the coming of the Messiah. As the Messiah, Jesus was identifying himself with sinners because soon He would provide righteousness for sinners.
Matthew 28:19,20 -- Jesus told His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations by telling them the Good News. Those who believed were to be baptized in water. This symbolic gesture would associate them with the person of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:31 - 39
You may also be interested in the article Baptism .
Back to the Glossary
 A Walk With the Women of the Bible EBook by Lynne Chapman Join me in getting to know some amazing women of the Bible while we extract valuable insights and lessons from their lives. Now available for Kindle under new title A Walk With EVE  Also available in paperback from Cafe Press. |  Names of God Ebook Almighty God. The Creator of heaven and earth. Our God is given names in Scripture that describe the characteristics of His personality. Experience God. |
