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Why Should I Get Baptized?
Pastor Alex Sosa
14 de agosto de 2025
If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, one of the most important steps you should take next is baptism. But maybe you’re wondering, “Why? What exactly is baptism? And do I really need to do it?”
Those are good questions, and many new believers ask them after placing their faith in Jesus. So let’s talk about what baptism is, what it isn’t, where it comes from, and why it matters for your life.
What Baptism Means
Baptism is a public and external declaration of a personal and internal decision. It’s your way of saying, “I’ve given my life to Jesus, and I’m not turning back.”
When someone is baptized, they’re lowered into water and then lifted back out. That simple act is full of meaning, representing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It also symbolizes that your old life is gone and your new life has begun.
Romans 6:4 says it this way:
“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might walk in newness of life.”
You’re not going for a swim, you’re identifying yourself with Jesus.
What Baptism Doesn’t Mean
Regardless of doctrines you may have heard, baptism doesn’t save you. It’s not a ritual to earn God’s favor and it doesn’t make you a Christian.
Salvation comes by grace through faith, not through water. Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us,
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
So if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, you are already saved. Baptism is simply your response to that salvation.
Where Baptism Comes From
In the Bible, baptism is the first step a new believer takes after believing in Jesus.
It’s kind of like a wedding. You can get married without a wedding, but the ceremony is what commemorates the covenant that a husband and wife are making to love one another for a lifetime. In the same way, baptism is a public ceremony that commemorates our commitment to follow Jesus!
Although baptism does not save us, it’s a crucial step in the life of the believer. In fact, Jesus commands us to take this step.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by calling people to repent and be baptized. Then, when Jesus begins His ministry, He Himself is baptized; not because He needed cleansing, but to set an example for us.
And after Jesus rose from the dead, He gave His followers this command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” – Matthew 28:19
The Early Church took this seriously. In the book of Acts, every time someone believed in Jesus, they were baptized (often immediately).
Why You Should Do It
Let me say it plainly: If you’ve said yes to Jesus, baptism is your next step.
Not because it checks a religious box, but because Jesus asked you to do it. It’s your way of going public with your faith. It’s a line-in-the-sand moment that declares to the world, “I belong to Jesus.”
If you’ve been following Jesus privately, this is your chance to follow Him publicly!
And if you’re nervous, I get it. I’ve baptized people of all ages who told me they were scared to get up in front of others. But every single one of them has come out of the water expressing the same sentiment: “I’m so glad I did that.”
Get Baptized at Christ Fellowship Church
If you’ve given your life to Jesus and haven’t been baptized yet, I want to invite you to take that step with us at our Beach Baptisms on Saturday, August 23rd at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park!
There’s something powerful about standing in the ocean, surrounded by your church family, declaring that your life belongs to Jesus.
We’ll laugh, celebrate, and most importantly, we’ll obey Jesus together. Click here to sign up!
Don't wait. Jesus is calling.