Understanding the Significance of Baptism in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Baptism Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line

Baptism is not the culmination of your spiritual journey, but rather the beginning of a new life in Christ. Just as Jesus’ own baptism marked the start of His public ministry, our baptism is a declaration that we are committed to following Him and living out our faith. It’s a visible sign to ourselves and others that we are stepping into a life of discipleship, ready to grow, learn, and be transformed. No matter your background or how much you know, baptism is the first step of obedience, not the last. [32:23]

Luke 3:21-23 (NIV)
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been waiting to “have it all together” before taking a step of faith? How might seeing baptism as a starting point encourage you to move forward today?

Day 2: Baptism Is a Command from Jesus

Baptism is not just a tradition or a suggestion—it is a direct command from Jesus to all who choose to follow Him. In His final instructions to His disciples, Jesus made it clear that making disciples includes baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This act is a public declaration of faith and obedience, showing that we belong to Jesus and are committed to living out His teachings. [36:36]

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Reflection: If you consider yourself a follower of Jesus, have you responded to His command to be baptized? What might be holding you back from taking this step of obedience?

Day 3: Baptism Represents Dying to Self and Rising to New Life

Baptism is a powerful symbol of what Jesus has done for us—it represents dying to our old way of life and being raised to new life through Him. When we are immersed in water, it’s like being buried with Christ, and as we come up, we rise to walk in the newness of life He offers. This act is a vivid reminder that our identity is now found in Jesus, and we are called to live as people who have been made new. [41:49]

Romans 6:3-4 (NIV)
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Reflection: What is one old habit, attitude, or pattern you need to leave behind as you embrace the new life Jesus offers? How can you take a practical step toward that today?

Day 4: Baptism Is for Believers Who Choose to Follow Jesus

Baptism is meant for those who have personally chosen to put their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. It’s not about age or tradition, but about a conscious decision to trust and follow Christ. This means that each person, regardless of background, is invited to respond in faith and take this step when they are ready and able to make that choice for themselves. [44:06]

Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV)
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Reflection: If you have made a personal decision to follow Jesus but have not yet been baptized, what would it look like for you to take that step? Who could you talk to about making this public declaration of your faith?

Day 5: Faith in Jesus Alone Saves—Baptism Is the Response

It is not the act of baptism or the water itself that saves us, but faith in Jesus—His death and resurrection on our behalf. Baptism is the outward response to the inward reality of salvation; it’s how we show the world that we trust in what Jesus has done for us. No amount of good works, knowledge, or perfection is required—just faith that leads to action. [59:20]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Reflection: Are you relying on your own efforts or background to feel “good enough” for God, or are you trusting in Jesus alone? How can you rest in His grace and let your faith move you to action today?

Sermon Summary

Baptism is one of the most significant and sometimes misunderstood practices in the Christian faith. It’s a word and an act that carries a lot of weight, history, and emotion, especially because so many of us come from different backgrounds and traditions. Whether you grew up Catholic, Orthodox, non-denominational, or somewhere else, baptism is a word that immediately brings church to mind. But what does it actually mean, and why do we do it?

The word “baptism” comes from the Greek “baptizo,” which literally means to immerse, dip, or plunge. In the New Testament, every time baptism is mentioned, it’s about being fully immersed in water—not sprinkled. This is important, because the way we practice baptism should reflect what the word actually means and what we see in Scripture.

Jesus himself was baptized, not because he needed to repent, but to show his commitment to God’s mission and to mark the beginning of his ministry. Baptism, then, is not the finish line of faith, but the starting point. It’s a public declaration that you’re in, that you believe, and that you’re following Jesus. Jesus’ followers continued this practice, baptizing new believers as a sign of their faith and commitment.

Jesus also commanded his followers to baptize others. In his final words before ascending to heaven, he told his disciples to go, make disciples, and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The early church took this seriously, and throughout the book of Acts, we see story after story of people believing in Jesus and immediately being baptized.

Baptism is a symbol of dying to your old self and being raised to new life in Christ. It’s like a wedding ceremony: the love and commitment are already there, but the ceremony is the public declaration. Baptism doesn’t save you—faith in Jesus does—but it’s the way we show that faith. It’s a step of obedience, a response to what Jesus has done for us.

If you believe in Jesus and haven’t been baptized, this is your next step. It’s not about being perfect, knowing everything, or being good enough. It’s about faith—trusting in who Jesus is and what he’s done. Don’t let excuses or fear hold you back. This is a practice that has united followers of Jesus for thousands of years, and it’s an invitation to publicly declare your faith and join in what God is doing.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism is about immersion, not sprinkling, because the word “baptizo” means to be fully immersed. This isn’t just a technicality; it’s about honoring what Scripture actually says and how Jesus and the early church practiced it. The method matters because it reflects the meaning and the story we’re telling with our lives. [26:57]
2. Jesus was baptized to mark the beginning of his ministry, not because he needed forgiveness, but to show his commitment to God’s mission. Baptism is not the finish line of faith, but the starting point—a public declaration that you’re all in. It’s a way of saying, “I’m ready to follow where God leads.” [32:23]
3. The command to baptize is not optional for followers of Jesus. In the Great Commission, Jesus made it clear that making disciples and baptizing them go hand in hand. To ignore this command is to miss a vital part of what it means to follow Jesus and participate in his mission. [38:53]
4. Baptism is a symbol of dying to your old self and being raised to new life in Christ. It’s not about having it all figured out or being perfect; it’s about responding in faith. Like a wedding ceremony, it’s the outward sign of an inward commitment—a way to publicly declare, “I belong to Jesus.” [41:49]
5. If you believe in Jesus, baptism is your next step, regardless of your background or how long you’ve been following him. Excuses like not being good enough, not knowing enough, or fear of what others think are just that—excuses. Faith leads to action, and baptism is the faithful response to what Jesus has done for you. [49:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - One Church at the Park Details
[03:10] - Introduction to “Church Words” Series
[05:45] - Why Baptism Matters
[09:20] - Personal Baptism Story
[13:00] - Different Baptism Traditions
[18:30] - The Meaning of Baptizo
[21:00] - Jesus’ Baptism and Its Significance
[26:57] - Believer’s Baptism Explained
[32:23] - Baptism in Jesus’ Ministry
[38:53] - The Early Church and Baptism
[41:49] - Baptism as Dying and Rising with Christ
[44:06] - Who Should Be Baptized?
[46:52] - Addressing Infant Baptism
[49:32] - Responding to Jesus’ Command
[54:22] - When and Why to Be Baptized
[57:01] - Common Excuses and Encouragement
[59:20] - Baptism: A Declaration of Faith
[60:51] - Communion and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1. Luke 3:21-23 (NIV) — > When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.

2. Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) — > Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

3. Romans 6:3-4 (NIV) — > Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Observation Questions

According to Luke 3:21-23, what happened when Jesus was baptized? What did God the Father say about Jesus at that moment?
In Matthew 28:19-20, what are the three things Jesus commands his followers to do?
Based on Romans 6:3-4, what does baptism symbolize about our relationship with Jesus?
According to the sermon, what does the Greek word “baptizo” mean, and why is that important for how baptism is practiced? [21:00]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptized even though he had no sin to repent of? What does this show us about his commitment to God’s mission? [32:23]
The sermon says baptism is not the finish line but the starting point of faith. What does that mean for someone who is considering baptism? [32:23]
Why is the method of baptism (immersion vs. sprinkling) emphasized in the sermon? How does the meaning of “baptizo” shape our understanding of baptism? [21:00]
According to the sermon, what is the difference between being baptized as an infant and being baptized as a believer? Why does this matter? [46:52]

Application Questions

The sermon says baptism is a public declaration of faith, like a wedding ceremony is for a marriage. If you have been baptized, how did that experience impact your faith journey? If you haven’t, what holds you back from taking that step? [41:49]
Jesus commands his followers to baptize others as part of making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). How does this command challenge your view of what it means to follow Jesus? Is there someone in your life you could encourage toward baptism? [38:53]
The pastor shared that excuses like “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t know enough,” or “I’m afraid of what others think” often keep people from being baptized. Which of these (or others) do you relate to, and how could you move past them? [49:32]
Baptism is described as dying to your old self and being raised to new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-4). What is one area of your life where you need to “die to self” and trust Jesus for new life? [41:49]
If you were baptized as an infant but now believe in Jesus, how do you process the pastor’s encouragement to be baptized as a believer? What conversations might you need to have with family or friends about this? [46:52]
The sermon says faith leads to action, and baptism is a faithful response. What is one step of faith you feel God is calling you to take right now—whether it’s baptism or something else? [49:32]
For those who have been following Jesus for a long time but never been baptized, the pastor said, “Just be baptized.” How does this direct approach make you feel? What would it take for you to respond? [52:01]

Sermon Clips

Paul says, those who are baptized, our old life is dead and we're risen to new life. We repent from our old life and we go to our new life and baptism shows that. And I explain to people when they go down into water and you're like kind of watching, you see pictures of it. It looks like a dead person. They're underneath the water. They're not moving type of deal. They start flailing. That's a whole other weird thing that could happen. But like, you're fine. But they go underwater and it's like they're coming down into death and being raised to new life. This is what baptism shows. This is what baptism represents. This is a big deal and this is why they practiced it. It's dying to ourselves and being risen to new life because of Jesus. [00:41:06] (38 seconds) #BaptismRepresentsNewLife

Who should be baptized? Believers in Jesus. If you follow Jesus, those who put their faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord, that's who gets baptized. And let me be very clear. The water doesn't save you. There's nothing magical about it, okay? Like, if we do, like, the horse trough like we do here and run a hose from the bathroom sink back there, it's just sink water. Like, there's nothing holy about it. The water doesn't save you. Jesus does. But we show this through baptism to show that Jesus has saved us, and we've put our faith into Him. [00:44:06] (38 seconds) #BelieversGetBaptized

If you've been baptized as an infant, I honor your parents for doing that. But if you've been baptized as an infant and are a believer and a follower of Jesus, and you've not been baptized on your own decision since, you're not following Jesus in that command. And guys, to be very blunt, we don't follow Jesus in that command. And we're believers. If you're not a follower of Jesus, guess what? You are free from this. You don't have to worry about this. Like, you're not a believer. You're not a follower. You're watching online in person. You don't have to worry about this. But what I'm saying, if you say, I'm a follower of Jesus, and you're not following Jesus in this command, guys, that's sin. That's rejecting what Jesus teaches us to do. [00:48:51] (41 seconds) #BaptismStartsTheJourney

If you've been a believer and you've never done it, that's your next step. All right, this one. This is a big one. What are the requirements of baptism? Faith. You believe in Jesus and who he is and what he's done. That's it. You don't have to go to church for so many Sundays to make yourself good enough. You don't have to do all these special spiritual things to make yourself. It's faith alone. That's it. [00:53:02] (30 seconds) #FaithLeadsToAction

What saves you is faith alone. Baptism is just the response to that. A faith that leads you to repent and follow. Faith should lead to action. If it's not, if it doesn't lead to action, faith isn't faith. It's just some belief that we really don't believe to begin with. [00:53:33] (16 seconds) #BaptismReflectsJesusWork

We get baptized because of who Jesus is and what he has done. This is where it lands on. We get baptized because it shows our faith in who Jesus is and what he has done. We get baptized because Jesus is and was God with us. It was God who walked among us. It was God who taught us. It was God who showed us life to the fullest. It was God who died for you and me for the payment of our sins. It was God who died for us to be victorious over death and sin because it was God who died for us and then rose again. This is what we believe in Jesus. [00:54:47] (35 seconds) #FaithTrustsJesusNotSelf

Faith is not a measurement of whether you're good enough or not. Faith is trusting what Jesus has done and he makes you good enough. You're never going to be good enough on your own to feel like you're good enough to measure up with God. That's why we need Jesus to begin with. [00:55:57] (16 seconds) #FollowJesusAndLearn

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