Rebaptism: Why Would You Be Baptized Again?

 

Millions of men, women and even children are baptized, and that number grows each year. But why would someone ever consider rebaptism?

Matthew 3 begins with the story of John the Baptist’s ministry: “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.”’ …

“Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:1-3, 5-6).

John preached the need for people to repent of their sins, and they understood and were baptized by immersion in water.

This account is important to the question of rebaptism for several reasons. Let’s look further at another related story.

Biblical example of rebaptism

“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ So they said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’

“Then Paul said, ‘John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:1-5).

From this passage, we see the biblical example of individuals being rebaptized. Let’s understand the reasons for this.

Lack of knowledge and understanding

We see that they had knowledge of repentance, but not of Jesus Christ or of the Holy Spirit. They were rebaptized because of lack of knowledge and understanding. (This is evidence of the need to fully understand the biblical requirements before a person is baptized. This is reinforced by the fact that there is no example in the Bible of infants or children being baptized. Baptism is an adult decision that requires maturity and understanding.)

The need for those who were baptized by John to be rebaptized shows that something important was missing at their first baptism. They were not baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, and they did not understand the role of the Holy Spirit.

After Christ’s death and resurrection, He gave some very clear instruction regarding baptism: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

In Acts 2:37-38, a large crowd listened to Peter’s sermon. When they understood who Jesus Christ was and the role that He played in their life, they asked: “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Then Peter told them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The people who were rebaptized in Ephesus had understood repentance; but once they understood who Jesus Christ really was and the need for the Holy Spirit, they were rebaptized.

The lack of vital spiritual knowledge and understanding is a valid reason for rebaptism. If one was baptized as an infant or child, or even as an adult, but later came to the understanding of sin, repentance, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the role of the Holy Spirit, that person should consider rebaptism. Anyone in that situation ought to counsel with a minister who can guide the person through the process of rebaptism.

If a person was “baptized” but was not fully immersed in water, then that baptism would also be inadequate based on the biblical examples and symbolism of baptism: “When He [Jesus] had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16). “Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:38).

What other knowledge is important?

Christ said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

What is that gospel? How can one be properly baptized without knowing and understanding what that gospel is? The Scriptures explain that we need to “believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). For more information about the gospel of the Kingdom of God, please see our section on the Kingdom of God.

The need for the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a vital part of Christianity! When a person believes, repents and is properly immersed at baptism, God promises to give that person the Holy Spirit through the ceremony of the laying on of hands (Acts 8:18). The individuals baptized with John’s baptism did not understand the promise of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Paul showed the need for them to then be rebaptized after being given the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God.

The symbols of baptism go beyond just simply understanding repentance. We are baptized into “the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)—the family and name of God. We allow that Holy Spirit, the power of God, to work in us, and we are to be “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14).

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What if my baptism was done improperly?

Some people question whether their baptism was valid. Some felt ill-prepared or pressured into being baptized. They may ask themselves, “Did I fully understand repentance and repent of the sins I knew I had in my life?” Or maybe they ask, “Did I receive the Holy Spirit after I was baptized?” These are questions that need to be answered.

For more helpful information concerning the answers to these questions, please read the articles on repentance, Christian conversion and baptism.

Only those who have repented of their sins, who believe the gospel and who understand the meaning and commitment of baptism should be baptized. Baptism should be done by full immersion, in the name of Jesus Christ, and should be followed by the laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit.

Rebaptism is not something to take lightly or in a casual manner. Baptism is a covenant that one makes with God, accepting the blood of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and it is a decision that will last for eternity. If you would like to contact a trained and caring minister about your particular circumstances, please use the Contact form to send your request to a minister of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.

Should We Be Baptized in Jesus’ Name Only?

 

Should we be baptized in Jesus’ name only or in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit? Are there two different formulas for Christian baptism?

Many have wondered why the book of Acts speaks of baptizing in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38; Acts 8:16; Acts 19:5), whereas Jesus Himself told the disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

These are not different ways of baptizing, as some suppose.

“In the name of”

The phrase “in the name of” means “by the authority of.” Whether “in the name of Jesus Christ” or “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” the meaning is the same. Either way, it means that when the apostles baptized someone, they were doing so by God’s authority.

That is what the apostles were doing in the above references from the book of Acts. Those references do not tell us the exact words the apostles used when conducting the baptisms. They only indicate that the disciples exercised the authority to baptize given to them by Christ and that they did so in His name.

A minister of Jesus Christ today still baptizes by the authority of, or in the name of, Jesus Christ. Ministers of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, use the words of Matthew 28:19 when they baptize.

Understanding Matthew 28:19

While on the subject, we should point out that Matthew’s words add some unique understanding in referring to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:19, the Greek for “in” is eis and can mean “into,” which is the appropriate way to understand it in this instance. That is, sinners are baptized into the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This implies that before coming to the point of baptism, the person has first learned about God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit. Then, through baptism, the person enters into a personal relationship with God the Father and the Son, thereby receiving “the family name” of God (see Ephesians 3:14-15).

God lives in the converted person through the Holy Spirit, thus enabling him or her to continue to live as God expects.Matthew’s wording also reveals that the Holy Spirit is the agency or power of God, which makes conversion possible. God lives in the converted person through the Holy Spirit, thus enabling him or her to continue to live as God expects. Paul explained this by quoting from the prophet Isaiah: “As it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him’” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Paul continues, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. … Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received … the Spirit [that] is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. … But the natural man [a man who has not been given the gift of the Holy Spirit] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God … because they are spiritually discerned” (verses 10-14).

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The conversion process

In Acts 2:38, Peter was answering people convicted by his preaching, who asked what they should do next. He gave them a summary of the conversion process: “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” 

And the process of conversion is the same today. If you come to repentance, you will have a sober awareness of what sin is, as well as how you have sinned, and you will be making a concerted effort to turn your life around. The Greek word for “repent” means “to change one’s mind.” The implication is a profound change in thinking that will necessarily bring about a correspondingly profound change in the way one lives his or her life.

Only after genuine repentance is it possible to be baptized by God’s ministers in His name.

Learn more by downloading our free booklet Change Your Life!

Do You Have to Be Baptized to Be Saved?

 

Is it essential to be baptized in order to receive salvation? What do the Scriptures say about whether we have to be baptized to be saved?

What did Jesus Christ say about whether we have to be baptized to be saved?

Notice the commission given by Jesus Christ: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

These are the “marching orders” of the Church of God: to go, preach, teach and baptize.

In Mark’s Gospel Jesus states it even more decisively: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16, italics added throughout).

So the answer is yes, one must be baptized to be saved.

Baptism is the term normally used to refer to a two-part ceremony: water baptism by complete immersion, followed by the laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:5-6). The ceremony takes place once a person has repented of his or her sins and determined to leave them behind and live a new life in Christ.

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The teaching of the apostles about baptism

Notice Peter’s exhortation on the Day of Pentecost. After he preached a powerful sermon on that day of the founding of the New Testament Church, his listeners were impacted in their consciences and asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”Peter’s response was decisive and immediate: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (verse 38).

Peter later wrote, in the context of how God saved Noah from the waters of the Flood, “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).

The apostle Paul also taught the importance of baptism, showing that it pictures the death and burial of our old man in a watery grave and being raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Now notice Paul’s comments a little later in the book of Romans: “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you [through the Holy Spirit], the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit [which] dwells in you” (Romans 8:9-11).

Baptism pictures a key step in the conversion process that God commands

We see from the above that water baptism pictures a key step in the process of conversion that God commands Christians to practice to receive the Holy Spirit. God gives His Spirit to those who are His, and He will grant eternal life—salvation—to His people in whom the Spirit dwells when Jesus Christ returns to earth.

What Do the Symbols of Baptism Mean?

 

The word baptize means to “immerse.” Baptism by immersion in water represents the death and burial of the old man of sin, and a type of resurrection to walk in newness of life. We are “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God” (Colossians 2:12).

The apostle Paul wrote that Israel was “baptized” in the Red Sea: “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2).

What did their baptism picture? What does baptism symbolize for us today?

What does baptism mean?

An important fact to understand is that the word baptize means to “immerse.” It comes from the Greek baptizo and means “dip, immerse … wash” (Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 1952, p. 131).

John 3:23 discusses that the place where John baptized was near much water: “Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized” (emphasis added throughout).

Baptism by immersion symbolizes the washing away of our sins, among other things. David, in his psalm of repentance, calls out to God: “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:2). How do we know that this is applicable to baptism? Acts 22:16: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Three important symbols of baptism: death, burial and resurrection

Three important symbols can be found in baptism. First, we are given the command in the book of Acts to “repent and be baptized for the remission of sin” (Acts 2:38). Baptism follows repentance of sin. Knowing that one has repented of sin, Paul then emphasizes the three symbols of baptism in Romans 6:1-4:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

The first symbol of baptism is “death”

How does baptism picture death? To come to see ourselves as we really are and go through the process of repentance can be an excruciating process. Paul continues in Romans 6:6: “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”

Paul compares the process of repentance with being crucified and putting the old man to death with Christ.

This process is emphasized later by Paul. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Putting to death the old man is the first symbol of baptism. It is a process that begins in the mind before going under the water.

The second symbol of baptism is “burial”

It is understood that through baptism (being fully covered by water), we would physically die, if we did not come back up out of the water. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:4). Full immersion shows a complete burial, just as Christ was crucified and buried in the heart of the earth.

Burial shows that the “old man” and the “old way of life” are symbolically put to death, buried and put behind us.Burial shows that the “old man” and the “old way of life” are symbolically put to death, buried and put behind us.

The third symbol of baptism, as explained by Paul, is the “resurrection”

“For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

God expects us, through the covenant made in baptism, to walk in newness of life. After having put the old man to death, we can now walk as if we are a completely different person. No longer are we carrying the burden of broken law and the penalty of death associated with it, but now we have the opportunity to become a new person.

Colossians 2:12-13 tells us that we are “buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses.”

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Following Christ’s example

Israel passed through the Red Sea with the water on both sides and the cloud above, symbolizing their baptism. They had come out of sin (Egypt), and all “Egypt” was to be buried in the sea. They came up out of the sea to walk in newness of life in the Promised Land. However, Israel did not live in newness of life. They continually wanted to go back to Egypt.

We are to follow the example Jesus Christ set. He was crucified and put to death, buried in the heart of the earth, and resurrected by God. We, too, through the symbols of baptism, go through a death, burial and resurrection to walk in newness of life, awaiting our eventual resurrection to spirit life at the return of Christ to this earth.

We must not do as ancient Israel did and go back to sinning, but we must leave the old man buried and now walk in the newness of life. Then the symbols of baptism will have full expression in our changed lives.

What Is Baptism?

 

What does the Bible say about baptism? What is the purpose and meaning of baptism according to the Bible? If you are a believer, should you seek to be baptized?

Baptism is a common practice in many churches. However, there’s much disagreement about what it means and how it’s practiced. Some churches don’t literally baptize at all, others fully immerse people in water, and some just use a little water and pour or sprinkle it. Some churches baptize infants or children, and others baptize only adults.

Considering all these different ideas and practices, we must ask: What does the Bible actually say about baptism? 

What is the purpose and meaning of baptism?

According to the Bible, baptism is a ceremony in which a person is symbolically cleansed of sin by being totally immersed in water. It is followed by the laying on of hands, which is how a Christian receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. A person becomes begotten of God when the Spirit of God dwells in him or her. If this person remains faithful, he or she will become an immortal child of God when Jesus Christ returns.

The basic purpose of baptism is an outward ceremony representing spiritual changes in a person’s life.

What does the word baptize mean?

The Greek word translated “baptize” in English Bibles is baptizō. According to Greek scholar Spiros Zodhiates, this Greek word means “to immerse, submerge for a religious purpose” (The Complete Word Study New Testament, p. 895). Thayer’s Greek Lexicon explains its meaning similarly: “to dip repeatedly, to immerge, submerge.” In ancient times, the word was used to describe the sinking of a ship.

To a Christian, baptism is more than a ritualistic ceremony. It is an outward acknowledgment of a person’s past sins and desire to change, to be cleansed from past guilt, and to become a disciple of Jesus Christ as a member of the Church of God.So the basic meaning of the word baptize is to completely immerse or submerge in water. This, itself, gives strong support for immersion being the biblical mode of baptism. 

Recognizing the meaning of the word, the Jewish New Testament identifies John the Baptist as “the Immerser” in Matthew 3:1 and states that he immersed those who came to him (verse 11).

What mode of baptism is biblical?

In addition to the very meaning of the word baptism being to immerse, the Bible provides additional evidence that the biblical mode of baptism is total immersion.

• “Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized” (John 3:23).
• “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16).
• “And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:38-39).

These scriptures show us three important facts about biblical baptism: baptism requires water, and a baptized person goes down into the water and then comes up out of the water. These descriptions perfectly match the meaning of the word baptize and describe baptism by full immersion.

To be baptized in the biblical manner, a person must be fully immersed in water, from head to toe.

To a Christian, baptism is more than a ritualistic ceremony. It is an outward acknowledgment of a person’s past sins and desire to change, to be cleansed from past guilt, and to become a disciple of Jesus Christ as a member of the Church of God.

What are the symbols of baptism?

The basic meanings of the symbols of baptism are as follows:

• Water. The use of water symbolizes the washing away of our sins and the purification of our life. The old sins are symbolically washed away and cleansed from our record (Acts 22:16).
• Going down into the water and being fully immersed. This symbolizes the death and burial of our “old man” (our old sinful nature and character) in the watery grave of baptism. We are “buried with Him through baptism into death” (Romans 6:4).
• Coming up out of the water. This symbolizes our being raised to a new life (Romans 6:4). We are “made alive together with Him” and are “forgiven” our sins (Colossians 2:12-13).

To explore the meaning of the symbols of baptism in greater depth, read “What Do the Symbols of Baptism Mean?”

Baptism and the beginning of the Church

On the Day of Pentecost in A.D. 31, thousands of people, many from various foreign lands, filled the bustling city of Jerusalem to observe this annual festival. At about 9 in the morning they heard an unusual noise, and some of them went to investigate the cause. Finding Peter and others speaking in different languages, many dismissed them as being drunk. However, Peter denied their accusation and explained to them the reason for the commotion (Acts 2:1-15).

He then recounted an Old Testament prophecy from the book of Joel about the giving of the Holy Spirit and stated that it had been fulfilled that very day! He also showed that Jesus was the promised Messiah whom they had unjustly put to death (verses 16-36).

His words were so persuasive they asked him what they should do. “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (verse 38). And about 3,000 of them did.

It is clear that the early New Testament Church practiced baptism.

To learn more about true Christian repentance, read about “Repentance.”

Origin of water baptism

The New Testament traces the idea of water baptism all the way back to the Exodus from Egypt. The apostle Paul explained that the ancient Israelites went through a type of baptism when they crossed through the Red Sea while under the cloud (1 Corinthians 10:1-2).

They were, in a sense, immersed in water—with water on both sides. This Red Sea baptism marked their transition from slavery to freedom. When a Christian is baptized today, it marks his or her transition from slavery of sin to true freedom (Romans 6:6).

Though many churches practice baptism in some form, very few practice the ceremony of the laying on of hands.In the ceremonial system God set up for ancient Israel, water was often used to represent spiritual cleanliness and purity. Leviticus 15 is especially informative in this regard.

Leviticus 16:4 shows that in fulfilling their priestly duties, the Levites were sometimes commanded to bathe themselves completely before they entered the tabernacle (and later on, the temple). A great basin was erected for that purpose. This was how God taught them the importance of spiritual purity.

Baptism requirements

The Bible’s most basic requirement for baptism is that people must repent—that is, be sorry for their sins, desire forgiveness of those sins, become totally committed in their hearts to stop sinning and start living in accordance with God’s instructions. A person should come to this point prior to being baptized (Acts 2:38).

Repentance is a two-step process that begins as a gift from God (Romans 2:4). He leads us to repentance by opening our eyes to our need to stop living in rebellion to His commands.

Once we humbly see our need to repent, we must then take the second step, which requires us to do our part in changing from the way we had been living to the way God wants us to live.

For a more detailed explanation, read our articles “What Is Repentance?” and “What Is Conversion?”

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What happens after baptism?

After a person is baptized, there is another important ceremony that usually occurs immediately after someone has emerged from the water. The minister baptizing him or her will lay his hands on the person and pray to God, asking Him to give the person the Holy Spirit. This is called the “laying on of hands” (Hebrews 6:2).

It is through this ceremony that God gives a person the gift of His Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Though many churches practice baptism in some form, very few practice the ceremony of the laying on of hands.

To learn more about this important aspect of true Christian baptism, read about the “Laying On of Hands.”

Why is receiving the Holy Spirit so important?

On Pentecost, Peter stated that people should repent and be baptized “for the remission [forgiveness] of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Paul later added that “as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Having God’s Spirit thus identifies us as Christians.

Having God’s Holy Spirit also allows us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit, which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). As we continue to grow spiritually, Christ is formed in us—meaning we take on the same way of thinking and acting as Jesus (Galatians 4:19).

Having God’s Holy Spirit is also our “guarantee” that we will be changed into immortal, spirit beings when Christ returns (2 Corinthians 5:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:49-53).

To learn more about the importance of God’s Holy Spirit, read our articles on the “Holy Spirit.”

Learn more by downloading our free booklet Change Your Life!

Baptism: Does God Want You to Be Baptized?

 

After His resurrection, Jesus Christ gave His disciples their mission: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16).

That work soon began on the Day of Pentecost when the apostle Peter gave a powerful sermon to the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the holy day.

After Peter preached about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, many were convicted of their sins.

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins’” (Act 2:37-38).

Those who responded were baptized, with about 3,000 being added to the Church that day!

Baptism pictures the death and burial of the old self, and the rising up to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4-6 ). Learn more about this deeply meaningful Christian ceremony in the related articles.