By Grant Hawley

You don't need to be baptized in order to be saved. If you believe in Jesus, you are already saved.

OK, now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about what baptism is and why every believer should be baptized.

The Greek word for baptism has two basic meanings, dunking and identification. Both are part of the core meaning of baptism.

Dunking

Baptism represents our death and resurrection with Jesus. When you are dunked under the water, it symbolizes that you have died with Christ. When you rise up out of the water, it symbolizes that you are risen to new life in Him.

To be baptized is to agree with God that your old self is dead and that you are now alive in Christ.

Identification

To be baptized is to publically identify with Christ. It says that you are one with Him, that His death was your death, that His resurrection was your resurrection, that His life is your life.

So, go and be baptized, read and meditate on Romans 6:1-14 as you do. Because of the spiritual truth represented by your baptism, you can be truly free and walk in His life.