What is Baptism?

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua [the] Anointed for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.
Acts 2:38

The word “baptism”, comes from the Greek word “baptizo”, which literally means “immersion” or “submersion”.

Baptism is the initiation rite, or process, for becoming a true believer and disciple of Yeshua (Jesus) the Anointed one (Christ), and for receiving the forgiveness of our sins (our imperfections and unrighteousness) through his sacrificial death, by means of repentance.

What does Baptism Mean or Symbolise?

According to the scriptures, baptism openly signifies our faith in Yeshua to be the Son of God who died for our sins, and symbolises a renewal of oneself.

To wash away the old faithless, sinful person we were, to put the old self to death, and to rise up out of the water as a new person, to be “born from above”, as one of God’s children and Yeshua’s disciples, and welcoming the influence of God’s holy spirit into our lives that the Lord Yeshua himself baptises us with, which “seals us” in salvation:

• “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by [the] Anointed and not by human hands. And having been buried with him in baptism, you were raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with [the] Anointed. He forgave us all our trespasses…” – Colossians 2:11-13
• “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as [the] Anointed was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life“. – Romans 6:4
• “And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Yeshua [the] Anointed, who has gone into Heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him”. – 1 Peter 3:22
• “John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I [Yeshua]… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” – Luke 3:16
• “Yeshua answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water, and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. – John 3:5
• “He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth, and renewal by the Holy Spirit, which He poured out on us richly through Yeshua [the] Anointed our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.”. – Titus 3:5–7
• “For in one Spirit we were all baptized… and all were made to drink of one Spirit“. – 1 Corinthians 12:13

What is Required to be Baptised?

To be baptised as a disciple of Yeshua and to attain salvation, all that is required is a willingness to confess and repent of your sins, to have faith and belief in God, and faith in his Son Yeshua who died for our sins and was raised from the dead, and accepting him to be your King, Master and Lord:

• “…if you confess with your mouth, “Yeshua is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved“. – Romans 10:9
• “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yeshua the Anointed for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”. – Acts 2:3

It is important to also note, however, that after you have been baptised, as a disciple of Yeshua, you will then be required by God and his Son, to do your utmost to retain commitment to that confession and repentance, to keep on living a repentant lifestyle, by following their commands to the letter, and with continual confession to them of any future sin you may again fall into, to retain that salvation.

• “Those who embraced his message were baptized… They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. – Acts 2:41-42
• “…if we go on sinning wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the enemies. – Hebrews 10:26
• “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” – Matthew 3:8

Fear of Baptism

Whilst the idea of baptism and its commitments might seem unappealing or too difficult for some to consider, remember, it is better to be baptised and try one’s personal best to please God, even if making some mistakes, which only requires one to again repent and ask God for forgiveness (1 John 2:1-2, Revelation 2:5) than not to be baptised at all, for there is no salvation at all outside of Yeshua.

• “So Yeshua asked the Twelve, ‘Do you want to leave too?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life‘” – John 6:67-68
• “Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12
• My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Yeshua [the] Anointed, the righteous. For he’s the sacrifice that begs forgiveness for our sins“ – 1 John 2:1-2

How do I become Baptised?

As already mentioned, the word baptism means “immersion” or “submersion”.

In scripture, we see that to become a full disciple of Yeshua and gain forgiveness of our sins, we must typically seek to be “immersed” in water by another person.

• “Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” – Acts 10:47
• “And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” – Acts 8:36

During baptism, we confess openly to others present, to God, and in our hearts, our faith in Yeshua to be the Son of God, and the one who is the saviour of our sins, through whom we repent. We are then to be immersed into water by someone in the name (authority) of Yeshua, who we acknowledge has been given authority from the Father, and the power of his holy spirit, which he in turn pours upon us at our baptism (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38, Philippians 2:9).

What if I can’t find a way to get Baptised?

In some rare scenarios, individuals may not be able to find a way to be baptised in their area.

Though we should seek to be baptised in water if it is available to us as scripture commands, if a person cannot, for whatever reason, find an individual to baptise them, or lives in a place where there is not enough water available for baptism, there is no need to fret over one’s salvation, for God knows our hearts and true desires (Romans 8:27-29), and water baptism is merely but the outward “symbol” of our confession to others and God (1 Peter 3:22, Matthew 3:11).

In such a scenario, God surely knows that such an individual ‘desires’ baptism, and would certainly consider them to be baptised in heart and spirit, just as it was for the repenting thief who was crucified next to Yeshua, but never got chance to reach water.

• “Then he [the criminal] said, ‘Yeshua, remember me when you come into Your kingdom!’. And Yeshua to him, ‘Truly I tell you today you will be with me in Paradise’.” – Luke 23:42-43

Are You Seeking Baptism?

If you seek to be baptised but struggle to find someone to perform the rite, please do not hesitate to contact me on my about page, and from there we can discuss “possible” arrangements by means of my fellow friends and brothers around the world, with whom I have contact with.