Baptism Sunday: Buried with Christ, Raised to New Life
This Sunday, we celebrated water baptism and communion. But before we got into the pool, we opened the Word to see what baptism really means.
What Is Baptism?
Some people were christened as children, others sprinkled, and some have never seen baptism outside of a religious ritual. But what does the Bible actually say?
Baptism isn’t about being dipped like chicken tenders at Chick-fil-A. It isn’t about sprinkling water on your head without understanding. Baptism is a command of God, a public witness of faith, and a supernatural act of power.
Let’s look at what Scripture says.
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Matthew 3:1–12 (NLT)
In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” … People from Jerusalem and all of Judea came to hear John. When they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
John preached repentance and water baptism as a sign of turning to God. But he also pointed to someone greater: “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”
Even Jesus came to be baptized.
Jesus’ Example
Matthew 3:13–17 (NLT)
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it… Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. After his baptism, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
If Jesus was baptized, so should we.
Five Truths About Baptism
Baptism is a Command from God
Jesus said, “We must carry out all that God requires.”
In Matthew 28:18–20, He commanded His disciples: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…”
Anything God commands, He blesses.
Baptism Is the Ordinance of the Church to Make Disciples
Discipleship isn’t just saying you follow Jesus—it’s obedience to His teaching.
Baptism is how the church publicly affirms and teaches discipleship.
Baptism Means You Died with Christ
Romans 6:4: “We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead… we also may live new lives.”
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward death to sin.
Baptism Releases Resurrection Power
The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead raises you into new life.
Sin’s grip is broken. Struggles lose their power.
Baptism Is an Outward Witness of an Inward Confession
Acts 8:36: “Look, there is some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”
Baptism is a declaration: I belong to Jesus.
The Power of the Cross
Colossians 2:12–15 tells us that baptism is linked with Jesus’ death and resurrection:
For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God… He canceled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities.
Baptism testifies to that victory. It’s not just water—it’s resurrection life.
Baptism Changes Everything
Baptism is more than ritual. It is:
Obedience to God.
Discipleship in action.
Dying to sin.
Rising with power.
Public witness of faith.
If you’ve never been baptized—or if you were baptized without understanding—this is your call: obey Jesus, follow Him into the waters, and rise in new life.