Baptism is associated with repenting of sin, believing the gospel message and becoming a member of Christ's body.
Baptism is ordained by Jesus Christ himself
Matthew 28:19 See also Acts 9:17–18, Acts 16:14–15
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Baptism is linked with repentance
Acts 2:38 See also Hebrews 6:1–2 The “baptisms” referred to here may imply teaching about Jewish rituals or the baptism offered by John the Baptist.
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.
Baptism follows the decision to believe
Acts 2:41, Acts 18:8 See also Acts 8:12–13, Acts 16:31–33
Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day.
Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
Baptism in the name of God or Jesus Christ
Baptism in or into the name of Jesus Christ
Acts 19:5 See also Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48
On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Baptism in the name of the Trinity
Baptism was by immersion
Romans 6:4 The word “buried” implies immersion. See also Acts 8:38
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 walk in newness of life.
Baptism is linked with the gift of the Holy Spirit
Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5 See also Acts 2:4, Acts 11:161 Corinthians 12:13 All the Christians at Corinth had been spiritually baptised into Christ and thus united with him.
I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
Manifestations of the Holy Spirit may follow or precede water baptism
See also Acts 8:12–17, Acts 9:17–18, Acts 10:44–48
The person who baptises is of little importance
1 Corinthians 1:14 What matters is not who baptises but the Saviour in whose name it is done.
I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,
Baptism ``for the dead''
1 Corinthians 15:29 It is not certain if there was a ceremony of baptism “for the dead” in the NT church, nor whether, if it existed, Paul approved of it.
If these things are not so, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?
Passages which may imply infant baptism
The ``households'' (not merely individuals) may well have included children: Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 1:16; Mark 10:13–16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Colossians 2:11–12 If baptism is here equated with circumcision, this suggests baptism is the sign of the new covenant.
Passages apparently negating infant baptism
Acts 2:38–41 infants cannot repent and believe; Galatians 3:7 Under the new covenant it is faith in Jesus Christ, not an outward sign, that makes a person a child of God.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.