and this is for those who cannot comprehend that water baptism is symbolic and think it is not in scripture...well it is
12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. this verse indicates a symbolic burial with Christ through water baptism and not washing away of any sin. if a person can remember that the Bible is CLEAR that only the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin, they can then view scripture concerning baptism with a proper understanding of the symbolism and the fact that while we should be baptized, this does not wash away our sins. through the act of water baptism, we signify that our old lives are now behind us...buried...and we are now alive in Christ, a new creation and a child of God
Baptism was practiced before the founding of the church. The Jews of ancient times would baptize proselytes to signify the converts’ “cleansed” nature. John the Baptist used baptism to prepare the way of the Lord, requiring
everyone, not just Gentiles, to be baptized because
everyone needs repentance.
However, John’s baptism, signifying repentance, is not the same as Christian baptism, as seen in Acts 18:24–26 and 19:1–7. Christian baptism has a deeper significance.
Baptism is to be done in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit—this is what makes it “Christian” baptism. It is through this ordinance that a person is admitted into the fellowship of the church. When we are saved, we are
“baptized” by the Spirit into the
Body of Christ, which is the church.
First Corinthians 12:13 says, “We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Baptism by water is a “reenactment” of the baptism by the Spirit.
Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith and discipleship. In the waters of baptism, a person says, wordlessly, “I confess faith in Christ; Jesus has cleansed my soul from sin, and I now have a new life of sanctification.”
Christian baptism illustrates, in dramatic style, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, it also illustrates our death to sin and new life in Christ. As the sinner confesses the Lord Jesus, he dies to sin (
Romans 6:11) and is raised to a brand-new life (
Colossians 2:12). Being submerged in the water represents death to sin, and emerging from the water represents the cleansed, holy life that follows salvation.
Romans 6:4 puts it this way: “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.”
Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Everywhere the gospel is preached and people are drawn to faith in Christ, they are to be baptized. references are from scripture and
the explanations are from here
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Jude