There has been endless debate among scholars and theologians about the need for baptism by immersion.  To immerse means to "put completely into water" [Oxford English Dictionary]. The scriptural evidence points very clearly to the practice of immersion as used by the early church.  In this study we shall look briefly at the background in which this form of baptism was established and why it is essential that believing Christians should be baptised by immersion.

1)  BACKGROUND

The meaning of the word
The Greek verb baptizo (from bapto, to dip) means to dip, to submerge.  The Greeks used it to describe the dyeing of a garment, the drawing of water by dipping a cup into a bowl.  It was necessary to immerse the entire garment if it was to be completely dyed and to put the cup beneath the water to fill it.  In the Greek version of the Old Testament baptizo is used of Naaman dipping himself in the Jordan (2 Kings 5.14).  Jesus used the same word to indicate that He would be immersed in suffering and overwhelmed with judgement on the Cross.

The practice of the Jews
Baptisms or ceremonial purifications were common among the Jews.  Not only priests and other persons but also clothing, utensils and articles of furniture were thus ceremonially cleansed (Leviticus 8:6, Exodus 19: 10-14, Mark 7:3-4, Hebrews 9:10). The Jews practised baptism by immersion.  When a Gentile left behind his pagan beliefs and placed his faith in the living God, he could only become a worshipping member of the Jewish community by being baptised.  The baptism had to take place in the presence of three witnesses; the individual had to declare his faith in the God of Israel; after which immersion took place.  His past was considered to be forgotten while his present and future life were to be marked by a new relationship with god and His people.

The baptism of John
The baptism of John was not Christian but Jewish.  John seems to have had a unique commission to baptize -“He who sent me to baptize with water” (John 1:33) - and he obviously adapted Jewish baptism for his own particular mission.  John’s was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  He baptized those who turned to God as a sign that the old life was finished and the new life begun.  He baptized in Jordan and “at Aenon near Salim because there was plenty of water and people were constantly coming to be baptized”, which suggests that John used the immersion method for baptism.

The baptism of Jesus Christ
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and was immersed in the same way as the Gentile converts, going down into the water (Matthew 3:16).  He declared that the main reason for His baptism was “to fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). When Jesus stood in the river Jordan it was not as a repentant sinner but to obediently do all that God required of Him.  He was taking the guilty sinner’s place and identifying Himself with them in their relationship to God as sinners. His baptism in water illustrated first His death on the cross, where He would again take the place of the sinner, and then to His burial.  His coming up out of the water was a picture of His resurrection and ascension.

The practice of the early church
The most detailed account we have of a biblical baptismal service is recorded in Acts 8:36-39 where Philip baptises the newly converted eunuch. "As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said 'Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptised?'  And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him.  When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing".  The early Christians clearly used immersion as their form of baptising.

2)  WHY SHOULD WE BE BAPTISED?

Baptism is one of the sacraments common to all Christian denominations and it would take many volumes to discuss all the doctrinal and theological arguments for one type of baptism over another.  The simplest way is to look at it however is to examine what Jesus and the apostles did and said and follow their example.

We must first stress that Baptism does not and cannot produce salvation – “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 [e.g. baptism], so that no-one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

So, why is it necessary to be baptised?  What does it signify?

In baptism, we actively and openly make declaration of certain facts:

1.   Our obedience to Jesus Christ
Baptism was part of the great commission that Jesus gave to His disciples – “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19, 20).  That is a DIVINE ORDER and it was implicitly obeyed in the New Testament church.  Every new Christian was baptised.  In Acts 10:48 Peter “ordered that they be baptised” which shows that neither the apostles nor the believers regarded baptism as an 'optional extra'.

As Christians, we aim to please our Lord rather than ourselves (2 Corinthians 5:9).  He wills that we are to be baptised.  He said, “If you love me you will obey what I command” (John 14:15), “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 14:15).  So, what are Christians waiting for?  “Get up, be baptised ....” (Acts 22:16).

2.   Our confession of Jesus Christ
Baptism has been described as “an outward sign of an inward faith”.  Faith is invisible, intangible and needs to be expressed in action.  We should be proud that we belong to Jesus!  Baptism can be seen as a way of “getting into uniform” or wearing the Master’s colours.  It is part of our covenant relationship with God.  Paul declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1: 16).  Jesus said, “whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32, 33).  Let us be glad to confess that our lives belong to Jesus. “What are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised….” (Acts 22:16)

3.   Our dedication to Jesus Christ
The oath sworn by a Roman soldier to the Emperor was called the sacramentum.  By it, the soldier committed himself to service and loyalty.  The ordinances given by Jesus regarding baptism and the Lord’s Supper were soon known as "sacraments".  A sacrament seals a promise.  It is an outward sign of the promise made.  (For example, a rainbow is the outward sign of God's promise, or the giving of a ring is the outward sign of a marriage having taken place).  We promised to follow Jesus when we became born again Christians.  Baptism is our active step of dedication.  It is not to be taken lightly, but thoughtfully and seriously.  We should regard it as an act of total dedication to our Lord and Master, an offering of our life to Him for all time. "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - which is your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).

In some countries today, Christians face imprisonment following baptism!  It really costs them to take this step but they know the Lord will stand by them and strengthen them.  Let's hear again the call in Acts 22:16 - "What are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away, calling on His Name".

4.   Our identification with Jesus Christ
Our identification with Jesus Christ is the deeper meaning of baptism.  The main passage dealing with this is found in Romans 6: 3-14.  In baptism, we are identified with Jesus in his three acts to secure our salvation – His death, His burial and His resurrection.

Jesus identified with us:
(a)  By His baptism in the Jordan.  He stood in the sinner’s place in relation to God as sinners.  This baptism also symbolised His death and resurrection.
(b)  By His baptism on the Cross.  He was immersed in suffering as He bore God’s judgement on man’s sin - “I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed” (Luke 12: 50).

We identify with Jesus:
When we become Christians our old way of life finishes and a new way of life begins.  “Count yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11) and “therefore if any one is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Our death to sin and resurrection to new life are clearly and actively demonstrated through baptism by immersion.
 

Into the water	DEATH	There has been a complete break with the past - a death.
Under the water	BURIAL	When we are lowered under the water our lives as sinners are regarded as put out of sight, buried - “we were therefore buried with Him through baptism unto death” (Romans 6:4).
Out of the water	RESURRECTION	As we come up out of the water we rise to our new life. “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.  If we have been united with him in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection” (Romans 6:4,5).

CONCLUSION

If we can honestly say that we have repented before God, trusted and believed in Jesus Christ by faith and received the Holy Spirit into our lives, the Bible teaches us that we are ready and need to be willing to obey the Lord’s specific command to be baptised.  Conversion is only the beginning.  It is the gateway through which we pass to a completely new life and, having begun, we must continue to progress.  Having responded to the call to believe, we must now choose to obey the command to be baptised.  “What are you waiting for?  Get up, be baptised...”