The act of water baptism (being immersed in water in response to receiving salvation) is a very important first step in the Christian life. In Matthew 3:13-17, we see the Lord Jesus Himself coming to His cousin John to be baptized, in order to “fulfill all righteousness.” He then went on to establish baptism as an eternal ordinance for His church, calling every believer to follow in His footsteps.
Chuck Colson states that, “Most Westerners take baptism for granted, but for many in the world the act requires immense courage. In countries like Nepal it once meant imprisonment. For Soviet or Chinese or Eastern bloc believers, it was like signing their own death warrant.”
As a wedding ring is an outward sign that a person is married and a military uniform is an outward sign that a person is involved in that particular branch of service. Similarly, water baptism is a symbol designed by God to identify a person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
However, I use the word “symbol” here with caution. To say that it is “just a symbol” takes away from the depth and beauty of water baptism. Baptism is a symbol, but it is so much more than that. When we are saved, we are spiritually baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27,) and into His Body, we become part of “The Church” (1 Corinthians 12:13.)
Baptism in water is an outward representation of these inward realities. In Biblical symbolism, water represents inner cleansing (Ephesians 5:26, Hebrews 10:22,) and spiritual rebirth (John 3:5,) both of which are central themes of baptism.
Water baptism is, in essence, a funeral. It is an act of faith in which we testify, both to God and to the world that the person we were before is dead and buried, and we are raised as a new creation in Christ. “4 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.”- Romans 6:4. ”12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”-Colossians 2:12
Being baptized is a command from God, not an option.