Baptism

First and foremost, Jesus asked us to make disciples and baptize them. Mathew 28:18-20 reads “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Secondly, it is modeled for us. Matthew 2:13-16 reads “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus replied, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.” Jesus, who didn’t need to be baptized, was baptized anyways to identify with us and show us that he values the public profession of faith.

Finally, baptism gives us an opportunity to glorify God by proclaiming publicly what has happened to us spiritually. Romans 6:4 reads “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.