Water Baptism

Matthew 28:19-20

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These words from Jesus are not a suggestion. They are a command. As His final instruction before ascending to the Father, Jesus commissioned His followers to engage in a global mission, one that would continue until the end of the age. That mission begins with making disciples, and immediately after that, Jesus includes baptism as an essential part of that process. The act of baptism is not a cultural practice. It is a covenant command given by the risen Lord Himself. To baptize is not a side note to discipleship. It is a foundational act of obedience, bound up with the process of teaching people to follow Jesus in all things.

The Greek word for “baptize” is baptizō (pronounced bap-TID-zo), meaning to immerse, to dip under, or to submerge. In the context of the New Testament, this word refers to full immersion in water. It signifies a complete identification with someone or something. When believers are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, they are being fully united with God’s covenantal purpose. They are being marked, not with water alone, but with divine ownership and kingdom identity.

Jesus never called for private belief alone. He called for public allegiance. Baptism becomes the visible sign of inward repentance and outward devotion. It is a declaration that the old life has been buried and a new life has begun. It is a statement of belonging, of covenant, and of submission to Christ’s lordship.

Mark 16:15-16

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. The one who has believed and has been baptized will be saved; but the one who has not believed will be condemned.’”

This passage again highlights the centrality of baptism in the response to the gospel. Belief and baptism are linked. Not as two separate events, but as two dimensions of one obedient response. Belief reaches into the heart. Baptism gives it expression. Those who believe but refuse to obey remain in rebellion. But those who believe and submit to the waters of baptism enter into the visible line of obedient disciples.

It is important to understand that baptism is not what saves a person. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly teaches that salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. But true saving faith will always lead to obedience. Jesus said, John 14:15, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Refusing baptism after hearing the gospel is not a minor act. It is spiritual disobedience. It reveals a heart unwilling to follow Jesus all the way.

Acts 2:38

“Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

On the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out and Peter preached to the crowd, he offered a clear response to the gospel. The people were “pierced to the heart” and asked what they should do. Peter’s answer was immediate: repent and be baptized. Not later. Not eventually. Not after spiritual maturity. Right now.

Peter’s command echoes Jesus’ mandate. Baptism is not a graduation ceremony for seasoned believers. It is an entry point for the newly converted. It follows repentance. It is the act through which a person testifies that they have turned from sin and now belong to Christ. Baptism does not earn forgiveness, but it accompanies it as an obedient sign that the old life is over and a new life has begun.

Acts 22:16

“Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins by calling on His name.”

These were the words spoken to Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul the apostle. Notice the urgency: “Why do you delay?” In the early church, baptism was never postponed. When a person turned to Christ, baptism followed immediately. Not to make salvation more complete, but to confirm it through obedience. To delay baptism without cause was to delay obedience.

There is also symbolic language here, “wash away your sins.” The water does not cleanse the soul, but it outwardly represents the inward cleansing that comes through the blood of Christ. Baptism is a washing of identity. The old man is buried. The new man rises.

Insight and Application

Water baptism is not an option to consider. It is a command to obey. To refuse baptism is to reject the authority of Jesus. A person cannot claim to follow Christ while rejecting His most basic instruction. Baptism is not merely a church tradition. It is the first public step of surrender. It says to the world, “I no longer belong to myself. I belong to Jesus.”

Ask yourself:

• Have I obeyed the command of Christ to be baptized?
• Have I taught others that baptism is not a tradition, but a command?
• Do I see baptism as a line drawn in the sand between my old life and my new life in Christ?

Baptism is the outward sign of an inward change. It is a physical act with spiritual significance. It is not a performance. It is a burial and resurrection. In the water, we leave behind the identity shaped by sin, shame, and self. Out of the water, we rise as sons and daughters of the King.

If you have already been baptized, remember its meaning. You were buried with Christ. You have been raised to new life. Let your obedience in baptism become a testimony to others. Let it call the watching world to repentance and new birth. If you have not been baptized, the words still stand: “Why do you delay?” Obey the Lord, enter the water, and rise to walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:3-4

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”

Baptism is far more than a symbolic ritual. It is a spiritual declaration and identification with the most profound event in all of human history, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through baptism, the believer does not merely remember these events but actively enters into their reality. The one being baptized is joined to Christ’s death, is buried in the likeness of His burial, and rises in the likeness of His resurrection.

The phrase “baptized into Christ Jesus” reveals a truth about spiritual union. The Greek word baptizō (pronounced bap-TID-zo) means to submerge or to immerse. In the context of this passage, it refers to being immersed not only into water, but into the person and work of Christ. The believer is united with Him at the deepest level.

The Apostle Paul writes that we have been “buried with Him through baptism into death.” Just as Jesus’ body was laid in the tomb, our old self is laid down in the grave of baptism. This is not a poetic metaphor. It is a spiritual reality. Baptism announces the death of the old man, the part of us that was enslaved to sin, driven by the flesh, and alienated from God. It is the proclamation that the reign of the sinful nature has come to an end.

Colossians 2:12

“Having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.”

In this passage, Paul connects baptism directly to the power of the resurrection. It is not merely the physical act of going under the water and coming out again that brings transformation. It is faith in the working of God. The believer enters the waters trusting that what God did in Christ, He now does in them. Just as Christ was raised by the power of the Father, so too the believer is raised with new life, empowered to walk in holiness.

This raising is not symbolic alone. It signifies the beginning of a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come. Baptism serves as the formal recognition that a believer is no longer who they were. The change is not cosmetic. It is foundational. It touches identity, desire, behavior, and destiny.

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Though this verse does not mention baptism directly, it gives insight into the spiritual truth that baptism communicates. When a person is baptized, they are declaring what Paul stated, they have been crucified with Christ. The Greek word for crucified here is sustauroō (pronounced soos-tow-ROH-oh), which means to be nailed to the cross with someone. In baptism, we declare that our old self was nailed to the cross with Jesus. We no longer belong to sin. We no longer serve self. We no longer live for the old life.

The resurrection is not just a doctrine we believe. It is a life we now live. The new man walks in resurrected identity. We live in the same flesh, but not by the same power. Christ lives in us. His desires become our desires. His love becomes our love. His mission becomes our mission. The life we now live is not ours. It is His.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Baptism marks the moment of that declaration. The old things pass away at the cross. The new life begins at the resurrection. The believer becomes a new creation, not in the eyes of man, but in the eyes of heaven. The Greek word for “new” here is kainos (pronounced KAI-nos), meaning fresh, of a new kind, unprecedented. This is not merely a repaired version of the old life. It is something entirely different. It is the birth of someone who did not exist before, a person alive in Christ.

This is what baptism represents. Not a religious duty. Not a denominational badge. Not an emotional response. It is the doorway into the resurrected life. It is the visible witness of spiritual death and spiritual birth. It is the believer’s grave and the believer’s new beginning.

Insight and Application

What does your baptism represent to you? Was it a moment of public confession or was it a spiritual funeral and resurrection? To follow Jesus is to lose your old life and gain His. This is what is declared in the waters. The old man is crucified. The new man is born. The believer no longer belongs to the world. They no longer belong to themselves. They belong to Christ.

Ask yourself:

• Have I truly left the old life behind?
• Do I see myself as dead to sin and alive to God?
• Does my life reflect the resurrection power I testified to in baptism?

Baptism represents more than a past decision. It speaks to a present reality. The one who is baptized must walk in the resurrection they have declared. They must feed on the Word, abide in Christ, resist sin, and pursue righteousness. They must live from a new identity, clothed in Christ, filled with the Spirit, marked for glory.

If you have been baptized, let that act remind you that your past is buried. Your failures, shame, bondage, and guilt are no longer your identity. You rose to walk in a different direction. You were born again by the Spirit. Live like it. Walk in the newness of life.

Romans 6:11

“So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

This is the baptismal mindset. Not just symbolic. Not just emotional. A transformation grounded in truth. A change that begins inwardly and manifests outwardly. A reality that testifies: I died with Christ, and now I live for Him.

Acts 2:37-38

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what are we to do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

The day of Pentecost marked the birth of the Church, and with it came the clear proclamation of the gospel. When the people heard Peter’s message about the crucified and risen Christ, they were cut to the heart. Their question was immediate and urgent: “What are we to do?” Peter’s answer established the biblical pattern for salvation response, repentance, followed by baptism. This order is not man-made. It is apostolic. Repentance comes first, then baptism, and then the infilling of the Spirit.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeō (pronounced meh-tah-NO-eh-oh), which means to change one’s mind, to turn from sin, and to reorient one’s life toward God. It is not sorrow alone, but a deliberate rejection of sin and a conscious submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Repentance is not a feeling. It is a decision that breaks agreement with darkness and enters the light.

Before any person is baptized, they must first repent. The waters of baptism are not for those still in rebellion against God. They are for those who have come to the end of themselves and have chosen to follow Christ. Without repentance, baptism is meaningless. It becomes a hollow tradition rather than a sacred response.

Luke 24:46-47

“And He said to them, ‘So it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’”

Jesus made it clear that the message of repentance is central to the gospel. Forgiveness does not come through ritual or heritage. It comes through repentance and faith in the name of Jesus. The gospel is not an invitation to add Jesus to one’s life. It is a call to turn from sin, believe the truth, and follow the risen Savior. Baptism is part of that response. It is the visible sign that repentance has taken place and a new life has begun.

Acts 8:12

“But when they believed Philip as he was preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were being baptized.”

Here we see another example from the early church. The people in Samaria heard the gospel preached by Philip. They believed the message about the kingdom and the name of Jesus. Their belief was not shallow agreement. It was saving faith, demonstrated by their immediate obedience to baptism. They did not delay. They did not debate. They obeyed.

The Greek word for believe in this passage is pisteuō (pronounced pee-STYOO-oh), meaning to trust, to place full confidence in, or to rely upon. True faith is more than intellectual assent. It is trust that leads to action. These believers in Samaria showed their faith not only by believing, but by stepping into the waters of baptism as a public affirmation of their surrender to Christ.

Mark 1:4-5

“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the region of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.”

Even before Jesus began His public ministry, the call to repentance and baptism was preparing the way. John’s ministry paved the road for the Messiah by calling people to turn from their sins and express their turning through baptism. The confession of sin was not hidden. It was vocal. The repentance was not theoretical. It was visible. This pattern remains the same. Repentance is not a private thought alone. It is a change of life that is publicly affirmed through baptism.

Baptism, therefore, is not merely a personal milestone. It is a covenant response. It is the act of saying, “I have heard the gospel. I believe the gospel. I have repented of my sins. And I now declare before heaven and earth that I belong to Jesus.”

Galatians 3:26-27

“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

This passage shows the inseparable connection between faith and baptism. Through faith in Jesus, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God. And through baptism, we publicly clothe ourselves with Christ. The Greek word for clothed is endunō (pronounced en-DOO-no), which means to put on as a garment. Baptism is not only a declaration of faith, it is a spiritual dressing, where the believer puts on the identity of Christ for the world to see.

This clothing is not external alone. It is a manifestation of internal transformation. The believer no longer wears the rags of sin. They are clothed in righteousness, not their own, but the righteousness of Christ received by faith. Baptism becomes the spiritual dressing room, where the old self is laid aside, and the new self, created in the likeness of God, is revealed.

Insight and Application

Repentance and faith are the gateway to true baptism. A person cannot be baptized rightly without first turning from sin and turning to Christ in faith. Baptism is not for the unrepentant. It is for those who have heard the gospel and responded with belief and submission. Baptism is not a finish line. It is a starting point. It is the response of a heart pierced by conviction and awakened to grace.

Ask yourself:

• Have I repented from my sins, not just emotionally but with a real change of direction?
• Do I trust fully in Christ for salvation, or am I relying on myself or tradition?
• Was my baptism a true expression of my repentance and faith, or was it done without understanding?

Repentance is the soil. Faith is the root. Baptism is the fruit. The gospel calls each person to respond, not only with words, but with action. If repentance has truly occurred and faith has taken hold, then baptism becomes the joyful step into the life of obedience. It is the confession that Jesus is Lord, that the old life is finished, and that a new life has begun in Him.

Let those who have been baptized reflect deeply on the foundation of their faith. Let those who are preparing to be baptized do so with sincerity, humility, and confidence. The water does not save. But the One who commands us to enter it has already saved us through His death and resurrection. Baptism is our yes to His finished work, and our first step into the life that faith makes possible.

Acts 2:41

“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”

The early Church did not treat baptism as a symbolic ritual to be scheduled at a later time. It was the immediate response to the preached gospel. On the day of Pentecost, after Peter’s powerful sermon, the people responded with faith and repentance. There was no extended waiting period, no formal class, and no delay. Those who received the word with believing hearts were baptized that very day. Baptism was not seen as an optional display of commitment. It was the expected and essential act of obedience for every new believer.

This pattern continued throughout the book of Acts, which serves as the primary historical record of how the apostles and the early Church lived out the command of Christ. The urgency of baptism is unmistakable. It was not relegated to church membership processes or denominational schedules. It was integrated directly into the conversion experience itself. The gospel was preached. People believed. They repented. And they were baptized without hesitation.

Acts 8:35-36

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. As they went along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?’”

This passage records the account of the Ethiopian eunuch, a high official in the court of Candace. After hearing the gospel from Philip, he understood the message of Christ and responded with immediate desire. The presence of water was all he needed to act. There was no requirement of waiting for a special place or ceremonial process. Baptism was simply the next step once faith had taken hold. This moment reflects the instinctive urgency with which the early Church viewed baptism. It was the first act of public confession and covenant obedience.

Acts 9:17-18

“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like fish scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized.”

This passage describes the baptism of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul. Even in this dramatic and deeply personal encounter with Christ, baptism was not delayed. Saul had already encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. His physical sight was restored. His heart was transformed. And he was baptized without hesitation. The word “immediately” reflects the consistency of the early Church’s pattern. Baptism followed faith and surrender. It was treated as the divinely appointed marker of entry into new life and mission.

Acts 10:47-48

“‘Can anyone refuse the water for these to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?’ And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.”

Here we witness Peter’s response to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles in Cornelius’ household. The Spirit had fallen, and Peter did not hesitate. He ordered that they be baptized in water. There was no argument or postponement. The early Church did not wait for further evaluation or extended discipleship before baptizing believers. Once the evidence of faith and the Spirit was present, baptism followed as a matter of obedience. This confirms that baptism was not the endpoint of discipleship but a gateway into it.

Acts 19:4-5

“Paul said, ‘John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

This account takes place in Ephesus where Paul encountered disciples who had been baptized according to John’s ministry but had not yet received the full gospel of Christ. Upon hearing the message of Jesus, they were re-baptized, this time in the name of the Lord Jesus. This reveals a critical theological shift. Baptism into Jesus’ name was not just tradition. It was theological precision. It signified the authority, power, and identity of Christ being invoked over the believer.

The Greek expression “in the name” is en tō onomati (pronounced en toh on-OM-ah-tee), which means under the authority or in the full representation of the person named. Baptizing in the name of Jesus did not contradict the command in Matthew 28:19 to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Rather, it confirmed that Jesus is the embodiment of the fullness of the Godhead. To baptize in His name was to align with His lordship and receive His covenantal covering.

Acts 16:14-15

“A woman named Lydia was listening; she was a seller of purple fabrics from the city of Thyatira, and a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. Now when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”

Lydia's baptism happened after the Lord opened her heart to respond to the gospel. There is no delay between her conversion and her baptism. It even included her entire household, showing how baptism was introduced into family and community life. The early Church believed in entire households coming under the covering of Christ through faith and baptism. Again, faith came first. Then baptism followed.

Insight and Application

The book of Acts sets the pattern for how the Church ought to approach water baptism. It was always immediate, intentional, and connected directly to conversion. There was no concept of postponing obedience until spiritual maturity. Baptism was not about waiting for worthiness. It was about obedience to Christ at the moment of belief.

Ask yourself:

• Does my understanding of baptism align with the urgency seen in the early Church?
• Do I view baptism as the biblical response to the gospel, or as a symbolic gesture disconnected from conversion?
• Have I taught others to respond immediately and joyfully to the call of baptism in the name of Jesus?

The early believers did not debate baptism. They embraced it. They saw it as both the seal and the signal of new birth. To delay baptism was to delay obedience. The name of Jesus was spoken, the waters were present, the hearts were ready, and the Spirit confirmed it. That is the model we are called to follow.

Let the Church return to the clarity and boldness of the early Church. Let us preach the gospel, call for repentance and faith, and lead people into the waters of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ. Let baptism regain its place as the first declaration of allegiance to the King of kings. Let every heart that has been opened by the Spirit respond with immediate obedience and public surrender. This is the pattern. This is the call. This is the response of the baptized Church.

Galatians 3:26-27

“For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”

Baptism is not simply an act of obedience or a public ceremony. It is a covenantal moment in which the believer steps into a completely new identity. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that baptism is more than a sign. It is a spiritual act of being clothed with Christ, of putting on the very character and nature of the Savior. The phrase “clothed yourselves with Christ” indicates transformation. You are no longer identified by your past, your failures, or your old allegiances. In baptism, you are wrapped in the righteousness of the One who now lives within you.

The Greek word for “clothed” is endunō (pronounced en-DOO-no), which means to sink into a garment or to be wholly enveloped in clothing. This is not a partial covering. It is total. It means that when heaven looks at you, it sees the righteousness, purity, and authority of Christ Himself. Your identity is no longer determined by what you were. It is now rooted in who He is and what He has done.

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Baptism does not just symbolize this truth, it announces it. The moment of baptism is the line between the old and the new. In Christ, you are not reformed or rehabilitated. You are reborn. You are a new creation. The Greek word for “new” in this verse is kainos (pronounced KAI-nos), meaning new in nature, kind, and quality—something never seen before.

The believer comes out of the water not as a better version of themselves but as someone entirely different. The power of the old life is broken. The bondage of sin is buried. The condemnation of the past has been swallowed by grace. In baptism, the new identity in Christ is both declared and embraced. This new identity is not an abstract idea. It becomes the foundation from which the believer now lives, worships, obeys, and overcomes.

Romans 6:6

“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.”

Baptism makes a bold declaration: the old self is dead. The person who lived according to the flesh, bound by sin and shaped by the world, no longer holds the steering wheel. In Christ, through baptism, that person is crucified. The phrase “done away with” means rendered powerless. Sin may still try to speak, but it no longer has the right to rule.

This is critical for the believer’s walk. Identity shapes behavior. If you still believe you are the same broken, addicted, fearful person you once were, you will continue to live under that lie. But when you believe what the Word says about your new identity, you begin to walk in freedom. You begin to say no to sin, not in your strength, but as one who knows that sin is no longer your master.

Ephesians 4:22-24

“That, in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

Baptism marks the beginning of a journey that must be lived out every day. Putting off the old self and putting on the new is not only a one-time act. It becomes a daily practice. The Greek word for “put on” again is endunō, the same word used in Galatians 3:27. You were clothed with Christ in baptism. Now, you must consciously walk in that clothing.

You are not who you used to be. Therefore, you must not live like you used to live. Your thoughts must change. Your desires must be purified. Your actions must align with your new identity. The past no longer defines you. You have been recreated to walk in righteousness and holiness. This is not something you earn. It is something you receive and live from.

Philippians 3:13-14

“Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Paul understood that to fully live in the present, you must leave the past behind. Baptism gives you permission to do just that. The guilt, shame, failure, and wounds of the past are buried in the water. You are not dragging the old identity with you. You are reaching forward. You are pressing on. You are living for something greater, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

The call is not backward. It is forward. The water that washed over you is also the water that closed the door to your old life. The devil will try to remind you of what you were. But the Word reminds you of who you are. You are not what happened to you. You are not what others said about you. You are who God says you are, and baptism declares that loudly.

Colossians 3:1-3

“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

This is the mindset of the baptized believer. You have been raised with Christ, so your focus must shift. You no longer live for the earthly. You live for the eternal. Your old life is gone. Your new life is hidden with Christ in God. This is not mere inspiration. It is transformation. You belong to another kingdom. You walk in a different reality.

To live in new identity is to live as one whose citizenship is in heaven. It means your values, desires, speech, and conduct are shaped not by the world around you but by the Christ within you. The world may try to label you according to your past, your weaknesses, or your failures. But you are no longer defined by the labels of man. You are hidden in Christ.

Insight and Application

Baptism is not just about getting wet. It is about being made new. It is the public funeral of your old identity and the celebration of your resurrection in Christ. You have been clothed with Jesus. You are a new creation. You are no longer a slave to sin. You are not who you used to be. That person is dead. You have been raised to walk in a new way, with a new mind, a new purpose, and a new authority.

Ask yourself:

• Do I live each day in the awareness of my new identity in Christ?
• Have I left the old self behind, or do I still carry the labels and shame of my past?
• Do I walk in the authority of one who has been clothed with Christ?

The Church does not need more people going through religious motions. It needs sons and daughters who know who they are. Baptism is not the end. It is the beginning. It is the moment you stepped into your new name, your new purpose, and your new future. Live as one who has been raised. Let the old things stay buried. Let the new things flourish. You are not just a believer. You are a new creation. Baptized. Identified. Empowered. Alive in Christ.

Romans 6:4

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”

Baptism is not only about what is buried but also about what is raised. The baptized life is not meant to be static, ceremonial, or private. It is active, powerful, and public. To live the baptized life is to live daily in the power of the resurrection. The same glory of the Father that raised Jesus from the dead now enables His followers to walk in a new kind of life. This newness is not simply improved morality. It is the fruit of a supernatural union. You have been joined to Christ, and that union produces power to live differently.

The Greek word for “walk” in this passage is peripateō (pronounced peh-ree-pah-TEH-oh), which means to conduct one's life, to behave in a certain way, or to go about in daily living. The new life in Christ must be expressed in daily habits, choices, speech, and posture. Living in resurrection power means that the believer no longer walks in the paths of defeat, fear, or bondage. Instead, there is a new walk that reflects the victory of Jesus.

Philippians 3:10

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

To live in resurrection power is not to live in ease, but in intimacy. Paul longs not only to know about Christ, but to know Him, especially through the power that raised Him from the dead. The Greek word for “power” is dunamis (pronounced DOO-nah-mis), meaning inherent strength, ability, or miraculous force. This power is not theory. It is spiritual energy that breaks the chains of sin, overcomes temptation, and fuels obedience.

But this power is not disconnected from suffering. Those who share in Christ’s resurrection must also share in His sufferings. This does not mean seeking pain, but embracing the cross that always precedes resurrection. The baptized life is a crucified life raised into power, and that power does not remove all hardship. It gives grace to endure and overcome it.

Colossians 2:13-14

“And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings, having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

Living the baptized life means living free from condemnation. The believer no longer carries a certificate of guilt. The charges of sin have been nailed to the cross. The penalty has been paid. The resurrected life is marked not by striving for forgiveness, but by walking in the assurance of it. You were made alive with Christ. That life is no longer under the burden of legalistic fear or the shame of failure.

The baptized believer walks with boldness, not arrogance. There is no place for guilt to dominate the conscience when the blood of Jesus has canceled the debt. This does not lead to lawlessness, but to gratitude. The one who has been raised walks in a joy-filled response to the grace that made them alive.

1 John 5:4-5

“For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Victory is the inheritance of every baptized believer. To overcome the world means to rise above its corrupt patterns, to resist its seductions, and to reject its lies. The Greek word for “overcome” is nikaō (pronounced nik-AH-oh), which means to conquer, to prevail, or to gain the victory. This is not a temporary win. It is a permanent position in Christ.

The baptized life is not lived in defeat or hiding. It is lived in the victory of faith. The one who has been born of God does not belong to the world’s system. He or she belongs to a higher kingdom. Faith in Jesus is not a one-time confession. It is a constant stance of trust that keeps the believer aligned with heaven and advancing in power.

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Baptism was never meant to be a private moment only remembered in personal reflection. It is a declaration to the world, and the life that follows must echo that declaration. The baptized life is not one of secrecy or compromise. It is a public witness that Jesus Christ is alive and reigning. To be baptized is to be set on a hill where others can see what Christ has done.

The Greek word for “light” is phōs (pronounced foce), meaning the source of illumination or brightness. This light is not self-generated. It flows from the presence of Jesus within the believer. But this light must not be hidden. It is to be seen in your words, your choices, your integrity, and your love.

The baptized life is missional. It draws others to the glory of God. The goal is not attention to self, but attention to the Father. When others see the resurrection life at work in you, they are given a glimpse of heaven’s power and the kingdom’s beauty. Your light must shine in your home, in your workplace, in your neighborhood, and in every place God sends you.

1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

You have been baptized into an identity that is not just personal, but corporate and eternal. You are part of a chosen people. You are called to proclaim. The baptized life is not silent. It is full of testimony. God has brought you out of darkness. That deliverance demands a response. You are not just saved from sin. You are saved for proclamation.

The Greek word for “proclaim” is exangellō (pronounced ex-ang-GEL-lo), meaning to publish or declare completely. This is not whispering a private truth. It is announcing the excellence of Christ with clarity and boldness. The one who has been baptized is not just a follower. He or she is a witness. The light that rescued you now shines through you.

Insight and Application

The baptized life is a life of resurrection power. It is marked by freedom from condemnation, authority over sin, and victory over the world. It is a life that shines brightly, proclaims boldly, and lives faithfully. Baptism is not a finish line. It is a starting point into the life of witness and warfare, of holiness and harvest.

Ask yourself:

• Am I walking in the resurrection power made available to me through Christ?
• Do I live like someone who has been raised, forgiven, and sent?
• Is my life a visible, public witness that Jesus is alive in me?

To live the baptized life is to live for the glory of the One who raised you. You are no longer in the grave. You are alive. You are no longer silent. You are sent. You are no longer defeated. You are victorious. Walk in that truth. Shine with that light. Proclaim His name with confidence. The water marked your surrender, but the Spirit now marks your journey. You are baptized. Now live as one raised in power.