Baptism - An Outward Expression of an Inward Change
What is Baptism?
Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. In baptism, the believer identifies with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism doesn't save a person, it simply points others to the new life to be found in saving faith in Jesus. We believe that baptism occurs after salvation, and that it involves the immersion of the believer into the water - a picture of entering a watery grave and proceeding up out of the waters. There is no magic in the water - it's just water - the glory of baptism is obedience to the Lord and finding identity in Jesus.
Romans 6: 1-11 ESV
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 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. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.