There are two reasons why we submerge people.

First, that’s how they did it in the Bible. Take John the Baptist, for instance. He wasn’t standing on the shore of the Jordan River with a cup, sprinkling water on people’s heads; he brought them into the river. He was dunking people.

The Greek word for “baptism” literally meant to plunge, soak, or dip.

Second, we submerge people because of what it symbolizes. When you bury people, you don’t sprinkle dirt on them. You put them into the ground. In baptism, we are being buried with Jesus “by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

Many people think that Scripture presents baptism as a necessary condition of salvation, but this is not what the Scripture teaches.

Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (emphasis added). Confess and believe. That’s it.

Baptism is like a wedding ring. It is a symbol of the covenant relationship that a person has with their spouse. A person does not wear a wedding ring to BE married, but because they ARE married. A person does not get baptized to BE saved, but because they ARE saved; because they have already placed their faith and trust in Jesus.

This is why, by the way, we only baptize after people become believers. If you get baptized before you are converted (say, as an infant), that is not an evidence of your faith. It’s evidence of your parents’ faith. Baptism is the evidence of repentance.

Some people say, “What’s the big deal about baptism? It’s just a ritual. It doesn’t change anything.” Then why did Jesus get baptized?

When Jesus was baptized, he heard the affirmation of God and was filled by the Holy Spirit. “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” When Jesus was baptized, He pleased His heavenly Father. Don’t miss this. Whey we submit ourselves to obedience to our heavenly Father, IT PLEASES HIM. You are declaring “I am a follower of Jesus. He is my Father, and I am not ashamed.”

Your baptism is like a flag you put in the ground that signifies to you and to everyone else that you have put your faith in Jesus and you are not ashamed.