Baptism

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.

Baptism is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection. It means going public with our faith in Jesus and symbolizes that once we come out of the water, we are not the person we were when entering in. We are no longer defined by our sin, but brought to new life with Jesus like He resurrected into new life.

Being baptized is not equal to salvation, but it shows a picture of salvation.

Think of it like a ring symbolizes marriage. If you take your wedding ring off, you are no less married; however, with it on, it shows the rest of the world that you are committed in a relationship unlike anything else.

You have been made new in your salvation, and baptism is a symbol to those watching—and to those you tell later—that you are no longer a slave to sin and death but are alive in Christ. Because of Jesus, everyone can live in freedom.