Baptism is a physical act, usually involving immersion, as the Greek word baptismameans “to plunge” or “to immerse.” It always involves water—a physical expression of a spiritual reality. While immersion is the most common practice, the church has historically used other methods, such as sprinkling, which symbolizes God’s promise in Ezekiel 36 to sprinkle clean water and give new hearts. Pouring has also been used, reflecting the pouring out of the Spirit and God’s cleansing power.

At Redemption Gateway, we typically baptize by immersion—often in a horse trough, fitting for Queen Creek! However, we’ve also used pouring when immersion wasn’t possible, like a celebratory Super Bowl-style pour-over. Regardless of the method, water is always involved because baptism is a physical symbol—a powerful and transformative one.

Baptism is similar to a wedding ring. A ring doesn’t make you married, but it reflects the commitment you’ve made. Similarly, baptism doesn’t make you a Christian; it reflects your faith in Christ. Just as a ring is an outward symbol of a marriage, baptism symbolizes the inward reality of your relationship with Jesus.

Imagine a wedding without rings. The absence of rings doesn’t invalidate the marriage, but the symbol carries deep meaning. Baptism functions the same way. If you’ve never been baptized, it doesn’t mean you’re not a Christian, but baptism is a significant act that declares your faith.

This week, I lost my wedding ring during a Zoom call. It rolled under my desk, and I couldn’t retrieve it at the moment. Later, I realized it was still missing and felt uneasy—worried someone might vacuum it up or that people might assume I’d taken it off on purpose. I went back to retrieve it because, while the ring is “just a symbol,” it’s an important one.

Asking why we should be baptized is like asking why we wear wedding rings. Both are powerful, meaningful symbols that reflect and declare something significant.

Baptism Water and Wedding Rings

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