What Does Baptism Picture?

There is an all-important reason why God does not accept sprinkling or pouring. While it should be enough that He commands a thing for us to obey without question, it can be important to understand why God says to do something His way. This is true of baptism.

The symbolism of being completely immersed in water has great meaning. Baptism symbolizes death, burial and a rising, or resurrection, from a grave. This is exactly the pattern of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Neither sprinkling nor pouring reflects this symbolism. Consider Romans 6:3-5: “Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” True Christians will be resurrected at the time of Christ’s Return to earth.

Also, Romans 6:6-7 further shows that true Christians are “crucified with Him,” and are “dead” and “freed from sin.” There is no mistaking the death, burial and resurrection symbolism of immersion (baptism) in water.

Additionally, Paul recorded, “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:12). Col 2:13continues, “And you, being dead in your sins…has He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses (sins, I John 3:4).” A baptized person is a forgiven person—freed from sin and “walk[ing] in newness of life.” This is the plain truth from God’s Word!

A Christian has started his life over. His old life is dead and gone. He is a changed person whose past is wiped clean—buried in a grave—“for you are dead…hid[den] with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). What a wonderful, inspiring truth for those who choose to walk this path. God commands baptism so that people can recognize that they have begun again, and that they have a Saviour—if they express faith in Him and accept His sacrifice. Christ, as Saviour, will then send His Holy Spirit and help Christians grow and change.

Our goal is to become like God in character now so that we can rule with Him later in His kingdom—thus fulfilling our incredible human potential! (Read our free book The Awesome Potential of Man to learn more.)

Not Joining a Church or Denomination

We all know people who say, “I am affiliated with this church,” “I joined that church” or “I changed to another church.” Millions join or change their church affiliation every year—thousands every day. Can a person join the true Church of God? After baptism, into what has a person been baptized? We just quoted Romans 6:3. Recall that it said we are “baptized into Jesus Christ.” Christ explained that we are “baptized into the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Nowhere does the Bible say that we are baptized “into either a denomination or some particular church organization.”

This is extremely important to understand! Many have become confused because they believe baptism places them into some church corporation when the Bible does not say this—and it is probably not even technically, legally possible to be baptized into actual membership in a corporation, in most countries.

Do not misunderstand, however. The newly-begotten Christian is put into Christ’s Church. This requires some careful explanation to fully comprehend. There is, in fact, only one true Church, with all others, therefore, having been built by men and false as a result.

Typically, most churches will refuse to baptize people who will not “join their church.” This is scripturally incorrect. Why? A true Christian is put into the Church that Jesus Christ—not any man—built. Christ said, “I will build My Church” (Matt. 16:18). It is Christ—not any man—who is putting people into His Church, thereby building it. (To understand how to identify Christ’s Church and to see how He has preserved it throughout history, you may read our free booklet Where Is God’s Church? and our free book Where Is the True Church? – and Its Incredible History!)

Exactly how does one become a member then of the true Church of God? Traditionally, many churches compete with one another, advertising for members. Does the Bible teach this? Paul wrote, “For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). He also wrote, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). By putting these two verses together, we see that a Christian is baptized into the Body of Christ—not some church organization founded or built by men of this world.

Briefly, “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15) is the Bible’s definition of the Church. The Church is where the truth is found. It is “grounded” on the TRUTH. It is then the house(hold) of God—His Church—because it is holding fast to, and is grounded upon, the truth. Of course, this includes the truth about the proper mode of baptism.

Here is the connection between being “baptized into Christ” and being “baptized into one body,” signifying baptism into the true Church of God. This must be made clear. Consider Ephesians 1:22-23. Speaking of Christ, it says, “and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body.” Colossians 1:18 confirms this: “And He is the Head of the body, the church.” This pictures Christ inserting individual people into the body of His Church upon baptism! People can join baseball teams or social clubs (most churches are simply “religious social clubs”), but only Christ can put them into the Church that He is building. There is no such thing as an “independent” baptism by any supposed believer who wants to exist on his own apart from the one place where Christ is working. Christ’s true ministry must be involved—must authorize the baptism.

(Other verses describing and discussing the Body of Christ are Romans 7:4; 12:4-5; I Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 4:4, 11-16; 5:30; Colossians 2:17 and all of I Corinthians 12:1-31.)

Let’s make this absolutely plain, so that none can miss it. One is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the biblical Body of Christ, but this Body is unified, organized and structured, and exists as the one true Church of God on earth, directly guided and led by Jesus Christ Himself, not by any man or group of men. It exists for the purpose of carrying out the Work of God on earth—the preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God to all nations (Matt. 24:14; 28:19-20). The all-important understanding of the true gospel—the only one brought by Christ—was earlier referenced.

You cannot receive the Spirit of God unless you are baptized. You cannot be baptized unless you have repented. Remember, God’s command is “Repent, and be baptized,” and only then “you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Men may have their traditions, ideas, and methods of baptism—or opinions about how one can receive God’s Spirit—but following God’s instruction is the only acceptable way!