Symbols, like an engagement ring on the hand of a young lady or a crown on the head of a King, signify things about us and mark our lives. They identify things about us and communicate who we are where we stand. The New Testament teaches that baptism is a symbol in the faith walk of a believer. It testifies to the world of something that has already become true for you. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, He asks you to be baptized as a public marker symbolizing your devotion to him. Being baptized does not save you. It is an outward sign of what Christ has already done in your heart. Baptism identifies you as a Christian and displays to God and those around you a willingness to obey Jesus, not only in the early days of your faith, but all the days of your life.

A person who identifies as a Christian is someone who has come to believe that Jesus' death on the cross was the sacrifice for their sin and therefore the only way to be reconciled to God. By baptism, a believer is saying; "I have put my trust in Jesus Christ alone for my salvation!"

See Matthew 28:19-20 on this question. If you would like to read more about what the Bible says about baptism, check out these verses; Romans 6:1-11, Acts 2:41 Acts 8:12 and again in Acts 10:47-48.

If you are considering baptism, there are two important questions to ask yourself.

1. Have I made this type of public commitment to have Jesus be my Lord and Savior?

2. Am I ready to publicly share my faith story with my friends and family?