Bible glossary

What Does ‘Baptism’ Mean in the Bible?

Baptism is the sign of belonging to Christ: being washed with water in the name of God, picturing dying and rising to new life with Jesus.

Baptism, from a word meaning to wash or immerse, is the outward sign of an inward reality. Jesus commanded His followers to baptize new disciples in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, marking them as belonging to God.

The Bible ties baptism to the heart of the gospel: going down into the water pictures being united with Christ in His death, and coming up pictures rising with Him to new life. Christian traditions understand its details differently, but all treat it as a sacred beginning.

Key verses

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Matthew 28:19

“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.”
Romans 6:4

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.”
Acts 2:38