Introduction: What Is Baptism?

If you’ve recently decided to follow Jesus, you may be wondering:

What is baptism?

Why do Christians get baptized?

Do you have to be baptized to be saved?

What does going underwater actually mean?

And how do you know when you’re ready to be baptized?

Baptism has been practiced by followers of Jesus for nearly 2,000 years.

Jesus Himself was baptized.

He instructed His disciples to baptize others.

And throughout the book of Acts, when people believed the gospel and decided to follow Jesus, baptism was one of their first steps of obedience.

Jesus said:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

— Matthew 28:19

Baptism isn’t simply a religious tradition.

Baptism is a public declaration of your faith in Jesus and a picture of the new life you have received through Him.

In this guide, we’ll look at what the Bible says about water baptism, what baptism means, why Christians get baptized, whether baptism is necessary for salvation, who should be baptized, and how to know if you’re ready.

What Is Water Baptism?

Water baptism is the public declaration of a person’s faith in Jesus through being immersed in water and raised back out.

The word translated baptize in the New Testament comes from the Greek word baptizō, which commonly carries the idea of immersing, dipping, or submerging.

But the physical act points toward a much greater spiritual reality.

Paul writes:

“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 6:4

Going beneath the water pictures death and burial.

Coming out of the water pictures resurrection and new life.

Baptism tells a story:

My old life is gone.

I belong to Jesus.

I have been given new life in Him.

What Does Baptism Symbolize?

Baptism carries several powerful biblical meanings.

Baptism Identifies You With Jesus

Romans 6 connects baptism with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

Jesus died.

Jesus was buried.

Jesus rose again.

In baptism, we publicly identify ourselves with what Jesus has done for us.

“Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God.”

— Colossians 2:12

Baptism doesn’t reenact our physical death and resurrection.

It gives us a visible picture of the spiritual transformation that has taken place through faith in Christ.

Baptism Represents New Life

Second Corinthians 5:17 says:

“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Following Jesus isn’t simply adding religion to your old life.

Jesus makes you new.

Baptism publicly represents that change.

We go into the water identifying with the old life being buried and come out identifying with the new life we have in Jesus.

Baptism Is a Public Declaration

Following Jesus is personal.

But it was never intended to remain private.

Baptism is one of the clearest ways a follower of Jesus can publicly say:

“I have decided to follow Jesus.”

In the New Testament, people who believed in Jesus were baptized openly.

Acts 2:41 says:

“Those who accepted his message were baptized.”

Baptism publicly identifies you with Jesus and His people.

Why Should Christians Get Baptized?

The simplest reason is:

Jesus told us to.

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His disciples what we call the Great Commission:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

— Matthew 28:19

Baptism wasn’t an optional idea the early Church invented later.

It was part of Jesus’ command to make disciples.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, baptism is a step of obedience to Him.

Jesus Was Baptized

Matthew 3 records Jesus coming to John the Baptist to be baptized.

Jesus was without sin, so His baptism wasn’t an expression of repentance from personal sin.

But His baptism marked the beginning of His public ministry and demonstrated His identification with God’s purposes.

If Jesus considered baptism important, His followers should take it seriously too.

The Early Christians Were Baptized

The book of Acts repeatedly shows the same pattern:

People heard the gospel.

They believed in Jesus.

They were baptized.

At Pentecost:

“Those who accepted his message were baptized.”

— Acts 2:41

In Samaria:

“When they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized.”

— Acts 8:12

When Philip shared Jesus with the Ethiopian official:

“As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?’”

— Acts 8:36

When Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit, Peter said:

“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.”

— Acts 10:47

The pattern is difficult to miss.

People believed in Jesus, and then they were baptized.

Does Baptism Save You?

This is one of the most common—and most important—questions about baptism.

The New Testament connects baptism very closely with repentance, faith, forgiveness, and becoming part of the people of God.

At the same time, Scripture consistently teaches that salvation is God’s gift received by grace through faith in Jesus—not something we earn through a religious act.

Ephesians 2:8–9 says:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We aren’t saved because water washes away our sin.

We are saved because of what Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection.

The criminal crucified beside Jesus provides a powerful example.

He placed his faith in Jesus while dying on the cross and had no opportunity to be baptized.

Jesus told him:

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

— Luke 23:43

So baptism doesn’t earn salvation.

We aren’t baptized in order to earn salvation. We are baptized because we have put our faith in Jesus.

But that doesn’t make baptism unimportant.

Jesus commanded it.

The apostles practiced it.

The early Church expected it.

For someone who has decided to follow Jesus, baptism should be a natural and important step of obedience.

What About Acts 2:38?

One passage that often comes up in discussions about baptism and salvation is Acts 2:38.

After Peter preached the gospel at Pentecost, the people asked what they should do.

Peter replied:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”

Some Christians understand this passage to mean that baptism itself is necessary for receiving salvation.

Others understand repentance and baptism here as closely connected responses to the gospel, while salvation itself is received through faith.

Throughout the New Testament, faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit are closely connected.

We shouldn’t separate what the New Testament keeps close together.

At the same time, we shouldn’t make the water itself the source of salvation.

Jesus saves us.

Baptism is the God-given response through which a believer publicly identifies with Jesus and declares faith in Him.

Who Should Be Baptized?

At Elan Church, we practice what is commonly called believer’s baptism.

That means baptism follows a person’s decision to put their faith in Jesus.

The pattern we repeatedly see in Acts is:

Hear the gospel → believe in Jesus → be baptized.

Acts 8:12 says:

“When they believed Philip… they were baptized, both men and women.”

Baptism is therefore an appropriate next step for someone who:

• Understands the gospel

• Has personally put their faith in Jesus

• Has repented of sin

• Desires to follow Jesus

• Understands what baptism represents

Baptism doesn’t make you a Christian. Baptism declares that you have decided to follow Christ.

What About Infant Baptism?

Christian traditions have disagreed about infant baptism for centuries.

Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, and some other Christian traditions practice forms of infant baptism.

Many Baptist, evangelical, Pentecostal, charismatic, and non-denominational churches instead practice believer’s baptism.

At Elan Church, we practice believer’s baptism rather than infant baptism because we believe the clearest New Testament pattern is for people to personally believe in Jesus and then be baptized.

We don’t see a clear example in the New Testament of an infant being baptized apart from personal faith.

That doesn’t mean Christians who were baptized as infants weren’t sincere or that we need to treat Christians from other traditions disrespectfully.

Faithful Christians have reached different conclusions on this question.

But based on our understanding of Scripture, we believe baptism is intended to follow an individual’s personal decision to follow Jesus.

What if I Was Baptized as a Baby?

If you were baptized as an infant but have since personally decided to follow Jesus, you may wonder whether you should be baptized again.

At Elan Church, we would encourage you to consider believer’s baptism.

This doesn’t require rejecting or dishonoring what your parents intended when they had you baptized.

They may have sincerely desired to dedicate you to God and raise you in the Christian faith.

You can be grateful for that.

But believer’s baptism gives you the opportunity to publicly declare your own faith in Jesus.

It becomes your declaration:

“I have decided to follow Jesus.”

Should Children Be Baptized?

The Bible doesn’t give a specific minimum age for baptism.

The more important question is whether the child genuinely understands the gospel and has personally decided to follow Jesus.

Parents and church leaders should be careful not to pressure children into baptism simply because friends or siblings are doing it.

A child should be able, in an age-appropriate way, to understand:

• Who Jesus is

• What Jesus did for us

• What sin is

• What it means to trust Jesus

• What baptism represents

• That following Jesus is their own decision

The goal isn’t to find the youngest possible age.

The goal is to make sure baptism meaningfully represents the child’s personal faith in Jesus.

Why Do Churches Baptize by Immersion?

Christian churches practice baptism in different ways.

Some sprinkle water.

Some pour water.

Others fully immerse a person in water.

At Elan Church, we baptize by full immersion.

We believe immersion most clearly reflects both the language and imagery of baptism in the New Testament.

When Jesus was baptized:

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.”

— Matthew 3:16

When Philip baptized the Ethiopian official:

“Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water…”

— Acts 8:38–39

And Romans 6 describes baptism using the imagery of burial and resurrection.

Immersion beautifully illustrates that reality:

Under the water: buried with Christ.

Out of the water: raised to new life.

Why Are We Baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Jesus specifically instructed His disciples:

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

— Matthew 28:19

Christian baptism is Trinitarian.

We worship one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Baptism identifies us with the God we now belong to and the faith we publicly profess.

When Should I Get Baptized?

In the New Testament, baptism usually happened relatively quickly after someone decided to follow Jesus.

At Pentecost, thousands were baptized the same day they received Peter’s message.

The Ethiopian official was baptized shortly after Philip explained the gospel to him.

The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized after hearing and responding to the message about Jesus.

There wasn’t an expectation that someone had to become a mature Christian before being baptized.

Baptism isn’t a graduation ceremony for mature Christians. It’s an early step of obedience for new disciples.

You don’t need to know the entire Bible.

You don’t need to have conquered every struggle.

You don’t need to have your life completely together.

If you’ve genuinely put your faith in Jesus and understand what baptism means, you don’t need to wait until you feel spiritually impressive enough.

What if I’ve Been a Christian for Years but Never Got Baptized?

It’s not too late.

Maybe no one ever explained baptism to you.

Maybe you grew up in a church tradition that approached baptism differently.

Maybe you kept putting it off.

Whatever the reason, obedience doesn’t have an expiration date.

If you’ve put your faith in Jesus but have never been baptized as a believer, you can take that step now.

Don’t let embarrassment about how long you’ve waited keep you from obeying Jesus today.

Can You Get Baptized More Than Once?

Yes, someone physically can be baptized more than once.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean Christians need to repeatedly get baptized.

If you were genuinely following Jesus when you were baptized as a believer, you don’t need another baptism every time you go through a difficult season, recommit your life to God, or experience spiritual growth.

Baptism points to your identification with Christ, not your ability to live perfectly afterward.

However, you might consider being baptized if your earlier baptism happened before you personally understood or believed the gospel.

Acts 19 records people in Ephesus who had received John’s baptism but, after learning about Jesus, were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The question isn’t:

“Was I perfect after my baptism?”

The better question is:

“Did my baptism represent my own genuine faith in Jesus?”

What Happens During a Baptism?

The exact details vary by church, but baptism is usually very simple.

At Elan Church, a person being baptized is immersed completely in water and then raised back out.

The act represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and the new life the believer has received through Him.

Often, friends, family, and members of the church celebrate with the person being baptized.

And celebration is appropriate.

Jesus said:

“There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

— Luke 15:10

Baptism is worth celebrating because new life in Jesus is worth celebrating.

What Changes After You’re Baptized?

Baptism isn’t the finish line.

It’s part of the beginning.

Jesus’ command wasn’t merely to baptize people.

It was to make disciples.

Matthew 28:19–20 says:

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

After baptism, keep following Jesus.

Read Scripture.

Pray.

Be part of a local church.

Build Christian community.

Serve others.

Learn to recognize the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Turn away from sin.

Share your faith.

Become more like Jesus.

Baptism isn’t the destination. Following Jesus is a lifelong journey.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baptism

What Is Baptism?

Water baptism is a public declaration of faith in Jesus in which a believer is immersed in water and raised back out, representing identification with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection and new life in Him.

Why Do Christians Get Baptized?

Christians get baptized because Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized and because baptism publicly declares their faith in and identification with Jesus.

Do You Have to Be Baptized to Be Saved?

We believe salvation is received by God’s grace through faith in Jesus, not earned through baptism or another religious work.

However, Jesus commanded His followers to be baptized, so baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian.

Does Baptism Wash Away Your Sins?

Water itself doesn’t have the power to remove sin.

Jesus is the one who saves and cleanses us.

Baptism visibly represents the cleansing and new life we receive through Him.

Can You Go to Heaven if You Aren’t Baptized?

Salvation is through faith in Jesus.

The criminal beside Jesus on the cross was promised paradise despite having no opportunity to be baptized.

But if someone has put their faith in Jesus and has the opportunity to be baptized, they should want to obey what Jesus commanded.

Should Babies Be Baptized?

Christian traditions answer this differently.

At Elan Church, we practice believer’s baptism because we believe the clearest New Testament pattern is for someone to personally believe in Jesus and then be baptized.

What Age Should You Be Baptized?

The Bible doesn’t give a minimum age.

The important question is whether someone genuinely understands the gospel, has personally trusted Jesus, and understands what baptism represents.

Should I Get Baptized Again if I Was Baptized as a Baby?

If you were baptized as an infant and later personally put your faith in Jesus, we would encourage you to consider believer’s baptism as your own public declaration of faith.

Can I Be Baptized Twice?

Yes, although repeated baptism isn’t necessary simply because you’ve struggled or recommitted yourself to God.

You might consider baptism if your first baptism occurred before you personally believed in Jesus or understood what baptism meant.

Why Is Baptism by Immersion?

We believe full immersion most clearly reflects the New Testament language and imagery of baptism and beautifully represents being buried and raised with Christ.

Was Jesus Baptized?

Yes.

John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, recorded in Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3.

Who Can Baptize Someone?

The New Testament emphasizes the act of baptism and the making of disciples more than establishing a detailed list of who is permitted to perform it.

Churches may establish different practices regarding who performs baptisms.

Is Baptism the Same as Salvation?

No.

Baptism and salvation are closely connected in the New Testament, but they aren’t identical.

We are saved by Jesus through faith.

Baptism is a public act of obedience that identifies us with Him.

Are You Ready to Get Baptized?

Maybe you’ve been thinking about baptism for a while.

Maybe you recently gave your life to Jesus.

Maybe you’ve followed Jesus for years but never taken this step.

You don’t need to wait until you’re perfect.

You don’t need to understand everything.

You don’t need to have your entire life figured out.

The question is much simpler:

Have you decided to follow Jesus?

If the answer is yes, baptism is one of the clearest next steps Jesus gives us.

In Acts 8, after hearing the gospel, the Ethiopian official saw water and asked:

“What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

— Acts 8:36

That’s a good question.

If you’ve put your faith in Jesus, perhaps it’s time to take your next step.

Baptism isn’t about showing everyone that you’ve arrived. It’s about showing everyone who you’ve decided to follow.

Looking to Get Baptized Near Naperville, Illinois?

If you live in Naperville, Aurora, or the greater Chicago area and have decided to follow Jesus, we’d love to help you take your next step through baptism at Elan Church.

Elan Church is a Holy Spirit-led, Bible-immersed, non-denominational church in the Naperville area.

Whether you’re brand new to Christianity, recently decided to follow Jesus, or have been following Him for years but haven’t been baptized, we’d love to walk with you.

If you’ve decided to follow Jesus, your next step may be baptism.