Water Baptism: Your “I Do” to Jesus (Why Immersion Matters + What It Breaks Off Your Life)
- The Love Church
- Jan 21
- 5 min read
Water Baptism Feels Like a Wedding… in the Best Way
Amen. Today I want to talk a little more about water baptism—and I’ve always felt like a baptism service is kind of like going to someone else’s wedding.
If you’ve already been baptized, coming to a baptism service can be like being married and watching another couple exchange vows. You grab your spouse’s hand, give it a squeeze, and you remember your own vows. People do it differently, but it has a way of refreshing what you already committed to.
That’s what baptism does for the church family too. We remember our own “yes” to Jesus.
Jesus’ Baptism Shows Us the Pattern (Mark 1:9–11)
Let’s look at Mark 1:9–11:
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized Him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens split open and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are My dearly loved Son, and You bring Me great joy.”
We learn a lot from Jesus’ baptism.
Why Immersion Matters
Here’s a simple point from the text: Jesus came up out of the water—because He went down into the water.
If sprinkling were all that was required, nobody needed to go to a river. You could just bring a little water wherever you were. But the picture we see in Scripture is immersion.
Your Baptism Tells a Story (And It Might Be Your First Sermon)
Your water baptism today tells a story.
For many people, it’s your first sermon—because your life is speaking to the world:
“I have decided to follow Jesus.”
“I’m going to follow Him for the rest of my life.”
“I’m a believer.”
“I’m a new creation.”
“I’ve been born again.”
“I’ve been saved.”
Those are scriptural terms, by the way. And baptism is often one of your first big steps of obedience—and one of your first powerful witnesses.
Baptism Depicts Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Baptism depicts something. It’s a portrayal.
It depicts:
Christ’s death
His burial
His resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 says Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.
And Colossians 2:12 explains baptism like this:
When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in baptism you were also raised with Christ.
So what happened today is a burial and resurrection—a sacred reenactment.
And no—we don’t keep you under for three days. It just doesn’t work well. 😄 But immersion symbolizes burial and resurrection with Jesus.
“Baptize” Literally Means Dip (Not Sprinkle)
The English word baptize comes from Greek words that carry the idea of being dipped—immersed.
The transcript gives a helpful example: if you dye a garment, you don’t sprinkle dye over it—you dip it. It comes up changed.
And if baptism represents the burial of the old you, we believe it’s important that the old you is properly and completely buried.
(And yes—sometimes we have to do the “double dunk” if somebody’s forehead didn’t get wet the first time. We’re just making sure all of you goes under. 😄)
Baptism Is Also Weaponry (Because the Enemy Hates It)
Here’s something many people don’t realize until they live it:
When Jesus was baptized, the devil immediately came to tempt Him.
We tell people being baptized today: don’t be afraid—but be aware. Satan hates baptism. He’ll try to put thoughts in your mind like:
“Maybe that didn’t work for you.”
“Maybe you’re not really saved.”
“Maybe it’s a dud.”
But you answer the way Jesus did:
“It is written.”
Baptism gives you a line you can point to—something you can stand on when the enemy tries to drag you backward.
Faith Isn’t Just Agreeing—It’s Basing Your Life on Jesus
The transcript gives a great picture of faith:
You believe the chair you’re sitting in will hold you up—otherwise you’d be standing. Faith isn’t just “I think it’s true.” Faith is putting weight on it.
That’s what we do with Jesus. We give Him our life. We put our trust in Him.
Baptism Doesn’t Save You—But It Publicly Shows You Believe
Let’s be clear:
Baptism does not make you a Christian.
It shows you already believe.
Ephesians 2 teaches we’re saved by grace through faith—it’s God’s gift.
Baptism is the public demonstration: “I belong to Jesus.”
Baptism Cancels Satan’s Claims: “Moved. Left. No Forwarding Address.”
One of the strongest parts of the transcript is the spiritual line baptism draws.
It’s like you’ve gone through a door. Before baptism, even if you’ve believed, there can be “attachments” from the old life—hooks, strings, old shame trying to stay connected. But in baptism, we believe those ties are severed.
Baptism cancels Satan’s claims.
So if the devil comes knocking after baptism, he finds a sign that says:
“Moved. Left. No forwarding address.”
And if Satan tries to remind you of your past?
You remind him of his future.
Sometimes you’ve got to put your foot down and mean business: “Not today. I belong to Jesus.”
Baptism Is Your “I Do” to Jesus (And It’s a Point of No Return)
Baptism is a response from a clean conscience toward God—your “I do” to Christ.
The transcript ties baptism to powerful “crossing the line” moments in Scripture:
Noah crossed the threshold, and God shut the door—baptism pictured as crossing into safety.
Moses and Israel passed through the Red Sea—another picture of baptism and deliverance.
Jesus stepped into the Jordan—marking the beginning of His public ministry.
And then this phrase: the point of no return. Like aviation—there’s a moment where you’ve come too far to turn back. Baptism is a mark of obedience, a mark of love, and a declaration: “No turning back.”
The Order Matters: Repent → Believe → Be Baptized
The transcript emphasizes the biblical order:
Repent
Believe
Be baptized
And in places where the Spirit is highlighted, there’s often a fourth step: be filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is also why many people who were sprinkled as infants later choose believer’s baptism: loving parents may have had good intentions, but repentance and faith are personal. Parents can’t repent for children. We each respond to God from our own heart.
If you haven’t been baptized since making your own decision to follow Jesus, consider this your invitation.
Have you repented, believed, and taken that step of obedience?
If you’re ready, reach out through our contact page or sign up for the next baptism service.
And if today refreshed your own vows to Jesus—share this post, leave a comment about what baptism meant to you, and subscribe so you don’t miss the next message.
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You can also watch the full sermon on our Youtube page below.
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