Real Life #2: “Do I Really Need to Get Baptized? What Really Happens in the Water” — The Ultimate Guide to the Public Wedding with Christ

by | Jan 9, 2026 | Relationships

Estimated reading time: 15-18 minutes

Series: Real Life: Maturity in Practice (Episode 2)

Keywords: meaning of baptism, water baptism, does baptism save, thief on the cross, romans 6, baptism of jesus, fear of baptism, new life in christ.

Introduction: The Fear of Cold Water (and Exposure)

You have already surrendered your life to Jesus. You pray in your room. You feel God’s love and the change in your heart. But then, at the end of the service, the pastor makes that announcement: “Next Sunday we will have baptisms. Who wants to go down to the waters?”

Your heart races. A mixture of desire and fear takes over. And the doubts arise:

  • “Do I really need to do this? I already believe in my heart, God knows that.”
  • “I’m ashamed to get into a pool in front of everyone.”
  • “What if I get baptized and sin afterward? Isn’t it better to wait until I’m ‘perfect’ so I don’t embarrass the Gospel?”
  • “Does baptism save? If I die without being baptized, will I go to hell?”

These questions are normal and very honest. Baptism is a giant step. It is a watershed moment (literally) in a human being’s biography. Unfortunately, many people treat baptism either as a “graduation” (only for those who know everything about the Bible) or as “magic” (you go in a dry sinner, come out a wet saint).

In this article, we are going to dive—pun intended—into the biblical depth of this act. We will discover that baptism is not about the water; it is about Identity. It is the moment you put on the team jersey. It is the moment you say to the physical world and the spiritual world: “I belong to someone.”

1. The Big Question: Does Baptism Save? (The Case of the Thief on the Cross)

Before explaining why you should get baptized, we need to take a huge weight off your shoulders: Water baptism does not save anyone.

How do we know this? From the classic example of the “Thief on the Cross” (Luke 23:39-43). Jesus was crucified between two criminals. One mocked Him. The other repented right there, at the hour of death, and said: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Think about the theology of this scene:

  • was that man baptized? No (he was nailed to a cross, impossible to go to a river).
  • Did he attend Sunday School? No.
  • Did he return what he stole? There was no time.
  • Did he do good works? None.

Yet, he was saved. Why? Because salvation is by Grace, through Faith (Ephesians 2:8). It is a gift, not a salary. Jesus’ blood cleansed that man, not the river water.

So, why get baptized? If baptism doesn’t save, why did Jesus command it? Because baptism is an Ordinance of Love. Jesus said in the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

  • You don’t get baptized to be saved.
  • You get baptized because you have been saved.

It is the difference between cause and effect. Baptism is the first act of obedience of someone who has already been saved. Those who love, obey. If your King commanded it, you do it, not to earn heaven, but to please the King.

2. The Perfect Metaphor: The Wedding Ring

The best way to understand baptism is to compare it to Marriage.

Imagine a couple who loves each other. They decide to live together. They have a commitment in their hearts. But a day comes when they have a ceremony. They call witnesses. The groom puts a ring on the bride’s finger and says: “I promise to be faithful in joy and in sorrow.”

Think with me:

  • If the groom takes off the ring to take a shower, does he stop being married? No. Marriage is a legal and heart covenant.
  • Does the ring have “magical power” to prevent cheating? No.
  • But is the ring useless? Never.

The ring is the Public and Visible sign of an Internal and Invisible commitment. The ring tells other women: “This man is unavailable.” The ring tells society: “They are one.”

Baptism is your ring.

  • Conversion (accepting Jesus) is the “I do” at the altar of the heart.
  • Baptism is the public wedding party and the putting on of the ring.

Can you be married without a ring? You can. But why would you hide the love of your life? Someone who is ashamed to wear the ring is usually not fully committed. Baptism is you saying to the world, to the devil, and to yourself: “I belong to Jesus. I am unavailable to the world. I got married.”

3. The Funeral and the Birthday: The Theology of Romans 6

Now let’s go to the deep part. What happens spiritually when you enter the water? The Apostle Paul explains this masterfully in Romans 6:3-4. Baptism is a sacred theater that enacts two things: Death and Resurrection.

The Greek word Baptizo means “To dip completely,” “To immerse” (like dipping a fabric into dye to change its color).

Act 1: Immersion (The Burial of the Old Man)

When the pastor lowers you into the water, this symbolizes a Burial. You don’t bury living people. If there is a funeral, it’s because someone died. Who died? Your “Old Self.” That version of you enslaved by sin, selfish, rebellious. On the cross, Jesus died for your sins. In baptism, you identify with His death. You are saying: “That old guy died. He stayed at the bottom of the river.”

Act 2: The Rising (The Resurrection of the New Man)

When you come out of the water, you gasp for air. It is the breath of new life. This symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ.

“Just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

You come out of the water not as an “improved version” of yourself, but as a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is why baptism is emotional. It is your funeral and your birthday in the same minute. You kill the past and are born for the future.

4. The Master’s Example: Why Was Jesus Baptized?

If baptism is for repentance of sins, why was Jesus (who never sinned) baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River? (Matthew 3:13-17). John the Baptist himself didn’t want to baptize Him: “I need to be baptized by you!”

Jesus replied: “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.”

Jesus got baptized for two main reasons:

  1. Identification: He had no sins, but He was identifying with us, sinners. He entered the “dirty water” of our sins to give us the “living water” of His holiness. He dove into our humanity so that we could dive into His divinity.
  2. The Example: He would never ask you to do something He didn’t do Himself. He went first. He paved the way. If the Son of God, perfect and holy, went down to the waters in humility, who are we to think we “don’t need this”?

And look what happened when He came out of the water:

“At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove… And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'”

In baptism, there is a public affirmation of Fatherhood. When you get baptized, heaven opens over you. The Father declares to the spiritual world: “This one here is my beloved child. Do not touch him. He has my mark.”

5. Tearing Down Common Fears (Baptism FAQ)

Let’s be practical and face the excuses the enemy puts in your mind.

1. “I’m ashamed to appear wet in front of everyone.” It is understandable. But remember: Jesus hung naked and bloody on a cross, exposed before His mother and enemies, out of love for you. He endured the shame of the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Can’t we endure the “shame” of wet hair and white clothes out of love for Him? Baptism is an exercise in humility. It is declaring that Jesus matters more than your image.

2. “What if I get baptized and sin afterward? I’ll be a scandal.” This is the fear of perfectionism. Pay attention: Baptism is not a “Saint’s Graduation”; it is “Enrollment in the School of Holiness.” You don’t get baptized because you are perfect; you get baptized because you want to follow the Perfect One. If you sin after baptism (and you will, because you are still human), you have the Advocate (1 John 2:1). Baptism doesn’t lock the door of forgiveness; it opens the door of discipleship. Don’t wait to be perfect to get baptized, or you will only be baptized at your funeral.

3. “Do I need to know the whole Bible beforehand?” No. In the book of Acts, we see the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8). He heard the gospel on a chariot ride and, at the first puddle of water he saw, said: “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” Philip baptized him right there. The prerequisite is not a Ph.D. in theology; it is simple faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you believe, you are ready.

6. The Spiritual World Watches

Baptism is a physical act with nuclear spiritual repercussions. Imagine you deserted from a cruel army (the kingdom of darkness) and enlisted in the liberating army (the Kingdom of Light). Baptism is the moment you put on the uniform of the new army in the public square.

The devil hates baptism. Why? Because as long as you are a “secret believer,” you don’t bother him as much. But when you make it public, you are burning the bridges with the past. You are saying: “There is no turning back. I belong to Christ.” This breaks curses. This breaks bonds of shame. This strengthens your spiritual authority. Many people report that, after baptism, they felt a deliverance from addictions or oppressions that had plagued them for years. Obedience releases power.

Conclusion: The Water Is Ready

If you are delaying your baptism, I want to encourage you today: Stop delaying your party. Baptism is a celebration. It is your wedding day with the Savior.

Don’t look at your imperfection; look at His perfection. Don’t look at the cold water; look at the fire of the Spirit that will come upon you.

Talk to your pastor. Say: “I want to fulfill all righteousness. I want to enlist.” Going down to the waters is the first step of an incredible journey of having nothing left to hide and everything to offer.

The pool (or river, or sea) is just water. But obedience transforms that water into an eternal landmark in your history. Welcome to the family, publicly.

Hearing Him Org — Buried with Him, raised for Life.

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Now that you understand baptism, do you want to know how to stand firm in the daily Christian walk? Our “First Steps” guide teaches you how to pray, read the Bible, and overcome temptations after you come out of the waters:

👉 Start your solid journey here

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