Baptism by immersion in water is the second of three foundational steps in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. It follows conversion in which we are ‘born again’, and by which we become a Christian.  The third important step is the baptism with the Holy Spirit, through which we receive the necessary power from God to be effective witnesses for Jesus Christ.

Jesus set the example by being baptised in the river Jordon. Later the Apostle Paul wrote that it signified that our old, pre-Christian life was dead, being buried with Christ, and in coming up out of the water we were rising to a new life in Jesus Christ.

When the apostle Peter preached at Pentecost, that was shortly after Jesus had risen from the dead and had ascended to heaven, the people asked “what should we do to be saved”, Peter answered, “repent and be baptised”. Three thousand people responded were baptised that day.

The new testament practice was that people were baptised, by immersion, as soon as possible after they had become Christians. It is a simple practice in obedience to Jesus, and a witness to Jesus, our friends and other observers, and to heavenly principalities and powers, that we are committed to following Jesus for the rest of our lives.

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