Main article: The Ordinance of Baptism
Related: John’s Baptism
Baptism (baptisma) simply means “to dip, or submerge.” The word is used many times in scripture, in several different contexts. The Baptism of the Spirit is a reference to the formation of the Church on the Day of Pentecost (1 Cor. 12:13). Water baptism is a ceremony that is performed by submerging a person in water. There are two types of water baptism mentioned in scripture, (1) the baptism of John and (2) Christian baptism (see Acts 19:3-4). In both types of baptism there are common attributes.
- Baptism involves passing a person under water
- Baptism speaks of death
- Baptism disconnects you with something OLD
- Baptism is “unto” or “in view of” something NEW
- Baptism puts you in the place of a disciple
- Baptism puts you into a new testimony