43). If baptism were necessary for salvation, it would appear that Jesus would have baptized people, but he did not (John 4:1,2). Jesus did all that was necessary to save believers he died as the one perfect sacrifice for sin. So those who believe in Jesus are saved (Romans 10:9,10,13; John 11:25,26). Some in the church hold that water baptism is required for salvation. Rather than arguing as to whether or not water baptism is necessary for salvation, let us agree that Jesus commanded that we practice water baptism. So each person should repent and be baptized. Baptism is symbolic it signifies that a believer has given up a sinful lifestyle and has anew life in following Christ. The believer is immersed in water (like Christ was buried, symbolizing that the sinful lifestyle is dead. The believer is raised from the water (like Christ was raised from the grave) to live anew in Christ (Romans 6:1-5). Baptism is important spiritually for the believer the one being baptized should identify with the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ lives forever, and through faith in Christ, the believer lives forever. Baptism is a testimony that the believer is a follower of Christ. As we remember our baptism, we are encouraged to live a Christlike lifestyle. We believers have been baptized with the Holy Spirit to receive eternal life, and then baptized with water as a testimony of our faith, so we are Christians. Let us remember who we are. Baptism is for believers only. Baptism is not for infants, but only for those who have repented of sin and placed their faith in Christ (Acts 2:38,39). Scripture reveals that believers were baptized (Acts 8:12,13,36,37; 16:30-33; 18:8). Scripture calls for believer’s baptism only. It is important that people in the church understand that salvation is by faith in Christ, and not to be misled into thinking that they are saved merely because they were baptized as infants. In Scripture, baptism is by immersion. In fact, the Greek word for baptize “baptizo” means to immerse Biblical examples of baptism show that those being baptized were immersed, because they came up out of the water”(Matt.
