Baptism is an opportunity to identify with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection. When we follow Him and make Him our Savior and Lord, we die to our old self and are raised to new life in Him. Baptism by immersion in water is a symbol of this internal reality. Baptism isn’t what saves us, but it is an opportunity to declare our faith publicly. 

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him 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 (Rom 6:3-4).

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus was baptized when He began His ministry, and He commanded His followers to follow His example. It’s a chance to demonstrate that you identify with Him by faith and want to glorify God by sharing it with others! 

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him (Matt 3:16).

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:18-20).

Anyone who has become a follower of Jesus and has trusted Him as Savior and Lord should prioritize taking this step of faith to identify with Jesus. 

So those who received His word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41).

But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women (Acts 8:12).

The Bible prioritizes being baptized as soon as possible following belief in Jesus. It does not mean someone who hasn’t been baptized isn’t saved, it simply solidifies a person’s commitment and desire to follow Jesus in obedience and witness to others. 

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36).

Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8).