Copacabana Resort

John's Baptism
One of the first baptisms we see in scripture is the baptism of John the Baptist. It is this baptism that we get a hint about what one has to do in order to be baptized. In a word, repent. In a phrase, repent of our sins. It is to turn from them. It is to realize that you are a sinner in need of a savior. The baptism of John symbolized a persons need to be cleansed. For this reason, John's baptism was only with water. He spoke of another baptism that Jesus would give, one with fire.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11
It appears that John's Baptism was only good until the coming of the messiah who would give the superior form of baptism. Scripture shows that people who only had the baptism of John would get rebaptized in Jesus' name upon learning about it. There are no scriptures that show people who had been baptized into Christ being rebaptized into John's baptism.

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. -Acts 19:1-5

Christian Baptism- Baptism in the Name of Jesus
When Christians get baptized, not only does it show that they are aware that they need to be cleansed, it shows that they have indeed aligned themselves up with the only cure for sin; Jesus Christ. Baptism in water without the personal confession and belief on Jesus Christ does no one any good. The Bible calls Baptism many things.

Death to the old life and being raised to a new life in Christ.
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: -2 Tim 2:11

It is to clothe oneself in Christ.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. -Gal 3:27

It is compared to the suffering and death of Christ.
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?39And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: -Mark 10:38,39

It is the sharing of that death and resurrection and to be loosed from the control of sin.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. -Romans 6:1-7

Sprinkling and Pouring are not acceptable forms of Baptism.

Since we can agree that baptism is undeniably important to God, is there a certain way we are to be baptized? Does baptism require the believer to be immersed in water or could they be baptized by having water sprinkled or poured over them?

Both the Presbyterians and the Methodist have accepted sprinkling or pouring has an acceptable mode of baptism. Other religions state that "Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant" (Manual of the Church of the Nazarene, 1952, p. 31). Since the ultimate goal of baptism is to be obedient to Christ, these things must be considered carefully.

It's necessary for us to see what the original word for baptize means since the New Testament was written in Greek. It should be noted that Webster gives the origin of baptism from the Greek word "baptidzein" meaning "to immerse".

The best place to look up the meaning of the New Testament word is in a Greek- English lexicon. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, says, "Dip, immerse, submerge, baptize" (Vol. 1, p. 144). There isn't one lexicon of reputation which translates it was "sprinkling" or "pouring". If God wanted us to have water sprinkled or poured on us He would've used the proper word for it. There are four other words for "pouring" and God chose none of them. He chose a word which means "to immerse".

Last, but certainly not least, scriptures alludes to this. It is no coincidence that John and others baptized in rivers and large bodies of water because they knew that the person had to be submerged. There is no scripture stating that they took a bowl to splash or pour it. Scripture says this, "And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." [John 3:23] Apparently, baptism the way that John understood it, took much water. The word for baptism would certainly agree.

Since historians and many biblical scholars proclaim that baptism means immersion, where did sprinkling and pouring come from?

As Christianity quickly spread though the world, a man named Novation was converted. Because he lay ill, bedridden and unable to get up for immersion, it was decided to sprinkle him with water. When Novation later regained his health, he refused immersion. Although it took many years for sprinkling and pouring to gain wide acceptance, the Protestants began to accept them along with immersion after the Reformation.

Water Baptism is not necessary to be saved.

There has been much debate as to whether or not it's necessary to be baptized in order to be saved. First of all, when it comes down to it, there are two baptisms to be considered. One is by water, the other is by Spirit.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. -Acts 1:5

It's plain that baptism by the Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, is totally necessary. In fact it's this very baptism that's evidence of your salvation.

Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5:5

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13,14

Water baptism, being totally submerged in water, is meant to symbolize the burial of the old man and the birth of a new one. It's a symbol of the washing away of sin. It's a symbol of death to the old life and a new life in Christ. It's a symbol of marriage between you and God. It's one of our first acts of obedience.

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. -1 Corinthians 12:13

Water baptism is unquestionably taught in scripture.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? Acts 8:36

What is equally clear in scripture is that we are not saved by works but by faith in Christ. Jesus paid it all, all to Him we owe.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. -Galatians 2:16

When Jesus gave up the Ghost on the cross He exclaimed, "Tel telesti" which means it is finished.

What was finished?

Christ had finished what he had came to do. He had rebuilt the bridge that was separating God and man. He was the perfect sacrifice that God the Father demanded. His blood was pure enough to wash away our sins. So then, being baptized to be saved would mean there is something else man can do to obtain salvation. Water baptism is not necessary to be saved, it's only one of our first acts of obedience. Baptism is one of man's first acts of discipleship. The question isn't whether or not water baptism is necessary for salvation, the question is, if God commands it, and we have truly made Jesus our Lord, and if it's a symbol of our new life, and if it's a symbol of marriage to Him, why wouldn't we?