What Does Baptism Mean?
Baptism is one of the most significant practices of the Christian faith. While Christians may differ on the mode or timing of baptism, Romans 6 gives the clearest picture of its meaning. Baptism by immersion vividly portrays the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. When a believer is lowered into the water, it symbolizes burial with Christ; when raised up, it represents resurrection to new life.
Baptism is not a mere ritual or outward ceremony. It is a declaration of faith, a visible sign of repentance, and a public confession of belonging to Christ. For Paul, baptism is inseparably tied to the Gospel. It means dying to the old self, living in the power of Christ, and anticipating the hope of eternal life.
This article will explore the meaning of baptism according to Romans 6, its connection to faith, its role in the church, and its significance for Christian living.
1. Baptism as Union with Christ
Romans 6:3–4 teaches, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too might walk in newness of life.”
Baptism is a sign of union with Christ. It represents participation in His death and resurrection. The old self is crucified with Christ, and a new identity is given. This is why immersion powerfully captures the meaning of baptism—submersion in water signifies burial, and rising from the water depicts resurrection.
Paul does not treat baptism as an empty ritual but as a visible enactment of a spiritual reality. Through faith, believers are united with Christ, and baptism is the sign that proclaims this reality.
2. Baptism as Death to Sin
One of Paul’s main points in Romans 6 is that baptism signifies freedom from sin’s power. Verse 6 says, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
Baptism means that the old life dominated by sin has ended. The believer is no longer under sin’s rule because of union with Christ’s death. This does not mean sin is eliminated, but its dominion is broken. Baptism is thus a declaration of war against the old self and a public testimony that the believer now lives under the reign of Christ.
This also reflects the reality of spiritual warfare. Baptism is not only a sign to the church but also a declaration to the powers of darkness that their claim is broken. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, sin and death are defeated, and baptism marks the believer’s participation in that victory.
3. Baptism as New Life in Christ
Just as baptism represents burial, it also signifies new life. Romans 6:4 declares that baptism into Christ’s death leads to walking “in newness of life.” The act of rising out of the water points to resurrection with Christ.
This new life is both present and future. Presently, it means living in obedience to God and walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16–17). In the future, it anticipates the resurrection of the body at the return of Christ. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 6:5: “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Baptism, therefore, is not only about repentance and cleansing but also about hope. It proclaims that death is not the end, for those united to Christ will be raised with Him in glory.
4. Baptism as a Public Declaration of Faith
In the early church, baptism was the visible boundary marker of Christian identity. To be baptized was to publicly declare allegiance to Jesus Christ as Lord. This was especially significant in contexts of persecution, where baptism meant leaving behind former allegiances and often facing hostility.
Acts 2:38 shows baptism tied to repentance and faith: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” For credobaptists, baptism follows personal faith in Christ, making it a conscious act of obedience.
Through baptism, believers testify that they have turned from sin, trusted in Christ, and entered into His community. It is both personal and communal, expressing an individual’s faith and the church’s recognition of that faith.
5. Baptism as Incorporation into the Church
Baptism also signifies entrance into the body of Christ. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”
To be baptized is to belong to Christ and to His people. It marks a believer’s visible incorporation into the church, the family of God. This is why baptism is closely linked to discipleship and mission. It is not only an individual act of faith but also a covenantal act of belonging to the people of God.
The unity expressed in baptism reflects the Gospel itself: people from every nation and background are brought together into one body through Christ.
6. Baptism and the Ongoing Christian Life
While baptism is a once-for-all act, its meaning continues to shape the Christian life. Paul appeals to baptism in Romans 6 to remind believers of their new identity: “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).
This means that baptism is not merely a past event but an ongoing reminder. Believers are called to live out what baptism signifies—turning from sin, walking in holiness, and persevering in faith. Baptism becomes a constant anchor, pointing back to Christ’s work and forward to the hope of resurrection.
7. Baptism as a Sign of the Bigger Gospel
The meaning of baptism cannot be separated from the Gospel itself. Baptism points to the larger story of creation, redemption, and new creation. It is a sign of dying with Christ, living in the Spirit, and awaiting the resurrection.
By immersion, baptism proclaims that the believer is part of the bigger Gospel—God’s plan to renew all things in Christ. Baptism testifies that the powers of sin and death have been defeated, that the church belongs to Christ, and that one day all believers will be raised to eternal life.
In this sense, baptism is both a personal testimony and an eschatological sign. It looks back to the cross, anchors the believer in the present, and points forward to the return of Christ, when faith will become sight.
Conclusion: The Lasting Meaning of Baptism
Baptism means union with Christ in His death and resurrection, death to sin, new life in the Spirit, and incorporation into the body of Christ. According to Romans 6, baptism by immersion vividly portrays this reality. It is not just a ritual but a declaration of faith, a sign of the Gospel, and a witness to both the church and the spiritual powers.
For believers, baptism is both a decisive act and a lifelong reminder. It means that the old self is gone, a new life has begun, and the hope of resurrection is certain. To ask, “What does baptism mean?” is to ask about the Gospel itself—Christ died, Christ rose, and in Him believers are given new life.
Bible Verses about the Meaning of Baptism
Romans 6:3–4 – “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death… so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Galatians 3:27 – “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Colossians 2:12 – “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith.”
Acts 22:16 – “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 – “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:21 – “Baptism… now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience.”
Ephesians 4:5 – “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
