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Glory to God!! Love, peace and joy to you and your family!!
Friends, Baptism is similar to initiation. Our English word "baptize " comes from the Greek verb baptize, " to dip, plunge, immerse." But its ancient usage suggests a more fundamental sense of association between the thing immersed and what it's placed into. The common use became a religious rite of cleansing and identification. In our context, it is the public sign alliance with Jesus Christ.
This simple significant act has been practiced from the beginning of the church (Acts 2:41), but the rite of baptism did not begin with Christianity. Ancient Jews ritually washed their priests, their sacred instruments, and convert to Judaism (Leviticus 8:6; Mark 7:3-4). John the Baptist baptized people as a sign of repentance to prepare for the coming kingdom (Matthew 3:1-2,6). Jesus was baptized to identify with His messianic mission (Matthew 3:13-15)
Both the meaning and the method of Christian baptism is debated. Doctrinal differences usually center on "sprinkling versus immersion " and "baptism at birth versus baptism after salvation. "
Some Christians believe baptism is a sign of being part of God's covenant community, similar to circumcision in the Old Testament. Thus they baptize infants by pouring or sprinkling. Other Christians take the position that baptism symbolizes the Christian's identification with Christ death, burial, and resurrection, dying to the old life of sin and rising to new life in Christ (Romans 6:4,11). In this case, individuals are baptized only after they have made a conscious decision to accept Christ as their Savior--the experience of salvation. Water baptism is the outer portrayal of the inner baptism of the Spirit, by which the Spirit placed the believer in union with Christ at the time of salvation.
Because baptism is a symbol, the method is less essential than what the symbol represents. Nevertheless, the word implies immersion. Different methods offer more or less accurate images of the meaning of baptism. While pouring or sprinkling can be understood to symbolize death, burial, and resurrection, they don't mirror that reality as closely as immersion does-- going under and coming out of the water.
Some Christians believe infants were included in the household baptism of Acts 16:15, 16:33, and 1 Corinthians 1:16. The alternative view is that this claim goes beyond the biblical evidence--every reported baptism is for someone who already expressed faith in Christ. Furthermore, in the view, if baptism symbolizes initial union with Christ and the entrance into the Christian life, it shouldn't be administered to someone who has not yet consciously believed in Christ.
All Christians should be baptized because Jesus commanded us to baptize Christ's disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Doing so reviews the Gospel message for all who watch, and reminds the one being baptized of the new life to live. Baptism is our public initiation that tells others we have been accepted into God's group--the body of Christ.
God bless you and keep you!!