Water Baptism by Immersion
As taught in the Pentecostal / Charismatic tradition
The ordinance of baptism as a public declaration of identification with Christ's death and resurrection.
The practice of water baptism is one of the most visible and profound acts of the Christian life. In the Pentecostal tradition, we view this not merely as a traditional rite of passage, but as a robust and public declaration of a believer’s identification with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a moment where the internal reality of faith meets an external act of obedience. We often speak of it as an 'ordinance'—a practice ordained by Christ himself for his church to observe until his return. To be immersed in water is to participate in a living parable of the Gospel: we go down into the 'liquid grave' to signal the death of our old, sinful nature, and we rise from the water to symbolise our new life in the Spirit. This lesson aims to guide the intermediate student through the scriptural foundations, the theological significance, and the practical implications of baptism by immersion.
By the end of this lesson
- Identify the Great Commission as the primary scriptural authority for water baptism.
- Explain the symbolic significance of burial and resurrection within the mode of immersion.
- Contrast the Pentecostal view of believer's baptism with the practice of infant baptism.
- Analyse the relationship between water baptism and the baptism in the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts.
- Describe the role of a 'good conscience' in the internal experience of the baptismal candidate.
- Formulate a pastoral response to common questions regarding the mode and necessity of baptism.
Scripture
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