What is the meaning and purpose of baptism?

The Question: Is baptism merely a symbol, a requirement for salvation, or something else entirely?

Key Verses & Explanation:

• Matthew 28:19 (The Command): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

  • Explanation: Baptism is an explicit command from Jesus, making it a required act of obedience for disciples. It is done in the name of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

• Romans 6:3-4 (The Symbolism of Union with Christ): "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 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."

  • Explanation: The meaning of baptism is profoundly symbolic. Going under the water symbolizes participation in Christ's death and burial (dying to the old sinful life), and being raised out of the water symbolizes participation in Christ's resurrection (rising to a new, redeemed life). It is a public declaration of an inward reality.

• 1 Peter 3:21 (A Clear Qualification): "and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God."

  • Explanation: Peter's statement clarifies that baptism is not a magical ritual ("not the removal of dirt from the body"). Instead, it is the outward expression of the inner faith—a "pledge of a clear conscience." This shows that salvation comes from the inner faith that the baptism symbolizes, not the physical act itself.

Answer & Conclusion: Baptism is essential but generally understood as not a prerequisite for salvation, but rather a public act of obedience and faith that symbolizes a person's prior salvation and union with Christ. It represents the death of the "old self" and the resurrection to a new life in Christ.