So what does Baptism mean?

Baptism cannot save you. Only Jesus can. But the New Testament doesn’t just command baptism. The meaning is explained.
 
A sign of union with Christ
Baptism points to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for us. When you go into the water, that signifies dying with Christ. When you come back up, that symbolises your union with Christ in resurrection life.
We are 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. (Rom 6:4)
There is an intimate connection between Christ’s cross and resurrection, our conversion and the powerful symbol of baptism.
 
A sign of cleansing from sin
Baptism is a symbolic bath. The waters of baptism cannot make us clean spiritually. Only Jesus’ death can ’make us clean from every sin’ (1 John 1:7). But the physical immersion points to being washed clean by God.
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptised and wash your sins away calling on his name (Acts 22:16)
 
A sign of God’s Spirit in you
From the moment you are ‘born again’, the Holy Spirit lives in you and wants to fill your life. Baptism is a sign of His presence. One of the ways Jesus described the Spirit was ‘living water’, so the waters of baptism point to the ‘streams of living water flowing from within’ (John 7:38)
When Jesus was baptised with water, the Spirit came upon him with an anointing of power (John 1:32). The early Christian leaders often laid hands on those who had just been baptised, praying for them similarly to be filled with ‘power from on high’ (Luke 24:49, Acts 8:17, 19:6)
 
A sign of entering the Church
When you give your life to Christ, God both forgives and adopts you. Now you can know God as your Father! But that’s not all. He gives you new brothers and sisters in the family of believers. This means that baptism is not just a sign of your new relationship with God. It is also a sign of your new belonging in the Church, the body of Christ.
For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body. (1 Cor 12:13)
 
A sign of confession of faith
Without personal faith, baptism is a mere rite, an empty symbol devoid of meaning and value. Baptism cannot give you faith. To be baptised outwardly before you believe inwardly is like trying to push open your front door before you turn the key in the lock - it won’t get you anywhere.
Once you have come to faith, baptism is a public confession of belief, declaring to all that you now belong to God. Invite your friends and family. There is tremendous power in the witness of baptism
 
What shall I do next?
Are you a believer? If not, don’t ask for baptism yet. Talk to Christians, read a Christian book, or ask about an ALPHA Course, to find out more about Jesus for yourself.
Have you become a Christian recently?, You may also benefit from ALPHA or a follow up course. These groups will help you to live for Jesus and will prepare you from baptism.
Do you feel not good enough? That’s fine, because no one is. The whole point of baptism is what Christ has already done at the cross. Your baptism declare the righteousness of Christ which you have received by faith in him.
If you have been a Christian for some years, and have never been baptised, then you should be, out of obedience to Christ.
If you want to be baptised, but physical frailty or some other reason makes immersion difficult or even impossible, please speak to your small group leader, the Pastor or an Elder—we can arrange something special for you.
 
If you were ‘christened’ long before you became a believer, In being baptised you are fulfilling the promises and commitments that your parents or guardians made when they had you christened. We would encourage you to consider prayerfully the New Testament order:
 
Go and make disciples...and baptise them (Matt 28:19)
Repent and be baptised (Acts 2:38)
They believed Philip as he preached the good news… and were baptised (Acts 8:12)