STEPPING INTO WATER BAPTISM
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED IN WATER?

1. We bury our old life and are resurrected to new life in Christ.
“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection.”
Romans 6:3-5 (NKJV)


2. Our old nature is crucified.
“knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
Romans 6:6 (NKJV)


3. We are cleansed from sin.
“Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   Acts 2:38 (NKJV)
“And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord’.” Acts 22:16 (NKJV)


4. Our hearts are circumcised, or set apart, for God.
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11-12 (NKJV)

Your public water baptism announces and declares three important things:
I. You are a follower of Jesus Christ.

“Those who accepted his message were baptized.” Acts 2:41


II. You are beginning a changed life in Christ.

“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.” Romans 6:4


III. You are part of a new family.

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26–27

After being made aware of what the scripture teaches on baptism, one should choose to take this step of obedience to show a willingness to surrender to the example and authority of Christ and His Word. This step is not to be a dead religious deed without true faith but instead one that leaves no question to whether a person's confession of faith in Christ is one of full surrender of faith unto salvation. This decision is not to be made out of comfort and perceived readiness, but out of faith in Christ and obedience to His Word.