Baptism Intro

Water is a natural symbol and it is possibly one of the oldest symbols in human history. Ritual washings, cleansings, and bathings are common in many religious and were even part of the ancient religions of Egypt and Mesopotamia (Martos, 148). It tends to symbolize many things: life, death, cleansing, refreshment, etc. Even today, Hindus bathe in the Ganges river as a symbol of paying homage to their ancestors and cleansing themselves in sacred waters. Similarly, in Judaism Mikvehs (pools with fresh water) have been used for ritual purification washings after sexual intercourse, childbirth, or other activities.

John the Baptist preached a message of conversion and repentance of sins and the many people that underwent his ritual washings in the river Jordan accepted his call for a change of heart. Bapto in Greek means to dip or immerse. It is likely that in the early church adults were fully immersed or submerged in water when they were baptized. It is unlike, however, that children were baptized in the early church. Baptism was mostly for believing adults that had expressed or professed some faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism comes from the Greek word, bapto which means to dip or immerse.

Throughout most of church history there has been a heavy emphasis on the change of heart of conversion that happens with baptism. Conversion is the sincere change of mind, heart, and desire to turn from evil and sin towards God.