First – baptism is a rite of the church that was commanded by Jesus. In Jesus’ day the Jewish people “baptized” things (washed them ceremoniously) to make them useful for religious purposes. They also baptized people who wanted to convert from other religions to the Jewish faith. John the Baptist built on this, encouraging even Jews to be baptized as a sign of repentance for their sin. Jesus takes all this, and transforms baptism into something new! (Just as he did with the Passover and the Lord’s Supper.) He commands his disciples to make new disciples, by baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ baptism is unique in the sense that God is the one primarily working through baptism. Titus wrote that baptism is a “washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” The waters of baptism, joined to God’s Words of promise, create faith and give new life (rebirth – Titus 3:5-8). They cleanse us from sin (Ephesians 5:26) and give the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer sin and live the way God planned before sin became a part of our lives (renewal – Titus 3:3-8).

But baptism does even more than change our lives now! Paul wrote to the Romans (6:3-4) that through baptism God connects us to the death and resurrection of Jesus! Because I am a baptized child of God, my death is only the doorway to eternal life.