Baptism is a beautiful, public 'yes' to Jesus: dying to the old life and rising to the new. Whether it is your baptism or a loved one's, it is a day to celebrate. These verses are for a baptism, to mark what it means and Whom it is all about.
What God says over a baptism
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
Go and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
In Christ you are a new creation; old things are passed away.
“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus Himself was baptized, and the Father was well pleased.
“And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”
See, here is water; what hinders me from being baptized?
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
For by grace are you saved through faith; it is the gift of God.
Where this all leads
Baptism is not the thing that saves you; Jesus is. It is the joyful sign of what He has already done: washing you clean, raising you to new life, and marking you as His own. Today the old is gone under the water and the new has come up out of it. Welcome to the family, made new in Christ.
Lord Jesus, thank You for washing me clean and making me new. As I go under the water, I bury the old life; as I rise, I choose to walk with You. Fill me with Your Spirit and keep me faithful. Let my whole life be a 'yes' to You. In Your name, amen.
You were never meant to walk this alone
The family here will pray with you, and you can hear how Christ has met others in the same place.
Romans 6:4 (buried with Him, raised to newness of life), Galatians 3:27, and 2 Corinthians 5:17 (a new creation) are central baptism verses.
What does baptism mean in the Bible?
It pictures dying to the old life and rising to new life in Christ (Romans 6:4), a public declaration of faith and repentance (Acts 2:38), and being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). Salvation comes by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).